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Fall Folliage in California

This page was taken from the website Traveller’s Elixir and lists 15 fall foliage spots in California. They are listed below with some comments made by writers of this webpage.

See: https://www.travellerselixir.com/best-fall-foliage-spots-california/

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1. Bishop

  • Located at the northern end of the Owens Valley, Bishop is surrounded by majestic peaks and is a gateway to Bishop Creek Canyon.

  • Places to explore: North Lake, Lake Sabrina and South Lake.

2. June Lake Loop

  • Located in California’s Eastern Sierra near Mono Lake and Mammoth Lakes.

  • Look especially around the four lakes: June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake and Grant Lake. 

3. Big Bear Lake

  • Big Bear Lake is in the San Bernardino Mountains.

  • Hike Castle Rock Trail and find festive Oktoberfest celebrations. 

4. Lundy Canyon

  • Lundy Canyon, located just off Highway 395 near Mono Lake and north of Yosemite National Park. 

  • Hike around Lundy Lake. 

5. Napa Valley

  • Enjoy wine tastings and scenic drives along the Silverado Trail and Highway 29. 

  • Hike through Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. 

6. Bass Lake

  • Bass Lake is a short drive from Yosemite National Park.

  • Enjoy hiking and mountain biking through the colorful forests. 

7. Healdsburg

  • Healdsburg, Sonoma County, has numerous vineyards and wineries offering wine-tasting.

  • See Healdsburg’s cafes, art galleries and boutique shops.

8. Rock Creek Lake

  • Rock Creek Lake is between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes. 

  • See Little Lakes Valley, accessible from the nearby Mosquito Flats trailhead.

9. Hope Valley

  • Located about 20 minutes south of South Lake Tahoe.

  • Highway 88 offers one of the most scenic drives through Hope Valley during the fall. 

  • Hike Burnside Lake Trail.

10. Julian

  • Julian, in the Cuyamaca Mountains, is an hour east of San Diego. 

  • The town is famous for its fall foliage and particularly for its apple pies, which are a major draw during the autumn season.

  • Explore scenic hiking trails like those in Volcan Mountain Preserve. 

11. Lake Arrowhead

  • Lake Arrowhead is in the San Bernardino Mountains

  • See Lake Arrowhead, a scenic drive along the Rim of the World Highway, take a boat tour on the Arrowhead Queen, or hike trails like the Heart Rock Trail.

12. Sacramento

  • Sacramento, the “City of Trees.” 

  • Visit neighborhoods like East Sacramento and Midtown, where ginkgo and scarlet oak trees light up the streets and McKinley Park.

  • The American River Bike path is beautiful in the fall.

  • The University Arboretum at Sacramento State is known for its diverse collection of trees and fall colors.

13. Yosemite National Park

  • The dogwoods, maples and oak trees transform into a bright display of reds, oranges and yellows, especially during October and November. 

  • Visit Yosemite Valley, Tioga Road, and trails like the Mirror Lake Trail, especially during October and November.

14. Truckee

  • In late September and October Truckee has an interesting historic downtown, and the Donner Summit Canyon Trail has beautiful fall foliage.

  • Drive along Highway 89 and Old Highway 40. 

15. Quincy

  • Quincy, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains and known for its breathtaking fall foliage, especially along the Feather River Scenic Byway (Highway 70) and the Cascade Trail.

  • Quincy has a historic downtown.

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