Summary
- California offers a variety of hiking trails that showcase beautiful fall foliage, such as the Castle Rock Trail in the San Bernardino National Forest.
- The Sagehen Creek Loop Trail in Tahoe National Forest is another great option, with vibrant yellow aspen and willow trees against a backdrop of pine trees.
- The Lundy Canyon Trail in the Hoover Wilderness, near Yosemite National Park, provides stunning views of fall foliage, particularly from the aspen trees that turn brilliant yellow.
California is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the US, with sandy beaches, towering mountains, and everything in between. Despite the abundance of evergreen forests and desert landscapes in the state, there are plenty of places in California to enjoy some Fall color for those who know where to look.
As is often the case when enjoying the Golden State, many of the best views of Fall foliage in California can only be found along the hiking trails, some of which are considered some of the top hikes in America. California has over 350 recorded hiking trails across the state, ranging from casual strolls to true backpacking excursions. Spread all across this truly massive state, these are some of the best hikes to find fall foliage in California.
10
Castle Rock Trail, San Bernardino National Forest
Fall foliage along the shore of Big Bear Lake, California
Southern California may be most famous for its beaches and Joshua trees, but there are plenty of places to enjoy Fall foliage as well. In San Bernardino National Forest, the Castle Rock Trail is peppered with shifting oak trees among a variety of pines, earning it a place among the best hikes in California with fall foliage.
The grand finale, Big Bear Lake, is also surrounded by a collage of color, with oaks and smaller foliage all full of yellows and reds. A moderately challenging hike thanks to its rather steep incline, the Castle Rock Trail ends in a scramble over boulders to enjoy panoramic views of the colorful forest below.
About the Castle Rock Trail
- Distance: 2.7 miles
- Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
- Time to Hike: ~2.5 hours
- Park Entrance Fee: $5/person
9
Sagehen Creek Loop Trail, Tahoe National Forest
An aerial view of the fall foliage in the Sierra Nevada
As visitors to California move into the Sierra Nevadas, evergreens quickly become the dominant plant life. Thankfully, even in the heart of the California mountains, there is plenty of Fall foliage to be found.
Just over an hour north of South Lake Tahoe, which has plenty of its own activities to enjoy year-round, the five-mile Sagehen Creek Loop in Tahoe National Forest is framed by aspen and willow trees, both of which turn vibrant yellow during the Fall. Particularly against the backdrop of the pine trees, this secluded trail is easily one of the best Fall hikes in California.
About the Sagehen Creek Loop Trail
- Distance: 5.2 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time to Hike: ~2 hours
8
Whiskeytown Falls Trail, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Red Maple Leaves against the blue Autumn Sky
Many of California’s best springtime hikes lead to waterfalls (with fields of wildflowers along the way), but the Whiskeytown Falls Trail is a beautiful Fall hiking destination that swaps the flowers for foliage. As the rain returns to the region, the waterfall gets an autumn rush, making it nearly as full as its Springtime counterparts.
Along the trail, dogwoods, bigleaf maples, and oaks frame the hike with reds and yellows, and two natural viewing platforms at the falls themselves make it easy to photograph some of the best Fall views in California.
About the Whiskeytown Falls Trail
- Distance: 3.4 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time to Hike: ~2 hours
- Park Entrance Fee: $25/vehicle
7
Lundy Canyon Trail, Hoover Wilderness
Fall colors in Lundy Canyon, California
Unlike many of the wilderness hikes in California, the Lundy Canyon Trail in the Hoover Wilderness, not far from Yosemite National Park, is primarily surrounded by aspens. Turning brilliant yellow each Fall, aspens, like Pando (which is the largest tree in the world) in Utah, provide some of the best Fall colors in the US.
In Lundy Canyon, this string of yellow ends in calm lake views, fed by a series of three waterfalls that are stunning even in the Fall. With a steep elevation gain and several stream crossings, this challenging hike promises some of the most stunning Fall foliage in California to make the effort worthwhile.
About the Lundy Canyon Trail
- Distance: 5.9 miles
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Time to Hike: ~3 hours
6
Main Loop Trail, Wildlands Conservancy Oak Glen Preserve
An oak tree in California in the Fall
The Wildlands Conservancy’s Oak Glen Preserve is a unique 900-acre family-friendly wildlife preserve with an apple farm, botanical garden, and children’s discovery center. Protecting ponds, wetlands, forests, and woodlands, the preserve is an excellent place to enjoy some Fall foliage in Southern California.
There are a variety of hiking trails that explore the Oak Glen Preserve, including several loops around the park. Along the way, leaf peepers can enjoy yellowing oaks, sycamores, and box elders, as well as a variety of wildlife scrambling through the foliage.
About the Main Loop of the Oak Glen Preserve
- Distance: 1.8 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time to Hike: ~1 hour
- Admission: FREE
- Address: 39611 Oak Glen Road, Building 10, Oak Glen, CA 92399
In addition to numerous free hiking trails and loops, the Wildlands Conservancy Oak Glen Preserve has numerous free guided programs throughout the year. The variety of trail programs available makes this an excellent destination for those looking for easy hiking trails in California to find Fall foliage.
5
Convict Lake Loop Trail, Inyo National Forest
Fall colors along the shore of Convict Lake, Mono County, California.
Convict Lake is just one of the amazing lakes in California (that isn’t Lake Tahoe), and it is at its best in the Fall. With a fairly level loop trail going all the way around the lake, it is easy for hikers of all ages and abilities and their off-leash dogs to enjoy the Fall color at this scenic destination.
Despite its location in the Eastern Sierras, Convict Lake is surrounded not only by pines but by aspen trees as well. The abundance of color not only lights up the path itself but reflects off the cool mountain water for a true feast of color.
About the Convict Lake Loop Trail
- Distance: 2.5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Time to Hike: ~1.5 hours
- Park Entrance Fee: $5/person
While the trail is fairly level and well-maintained, flooding can occur at some points around the lake, even during the Fall. Hikers should be prepared for shoes and socks to get wet.
4
Tuolumne Grove Trail, Yosemite National Park
Sunset over Tuolumne Grove, Yosemite National Park, California
There is truly no bad time to explore the natural beauty of Yosemite National Park and its best hiking trails. Full of dramatic rock formations and crashing waterfalls, the abundant foliage in the park can quickly fade into the background. For those looking for the best spots in all of California to see Fall colors, however, Tuolumne Grove is nearly unbeatable.
The hike to Tuolumne Grove is a fairly level three-mile out-and-back trail. While the towering sequoias along the trail are stunning and green any time of year, it is the dogwoods closer to the ground that deliver the spectacular color. Turning shades of gold and purple, this bright stretch color in a sea of green and granite truly stands out.
About the Tuolumne Grove Trail
- Distance: 2.7 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time to Hike: ~1.5 hours
- Park Entrance Fee: $35/vehicle
3
Ritchey Canyon Trail And Coyote Peak, Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
A beautiful view of a vineyard in Napa Valley in the fall, California
Napa Valley is one of the best towns in California to visit during the Fall, and the region has numerous hiking trails that make the Fall colors easy to enjoy. In Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, the Ritchey Canyon Trail, in particular, offers excellent fall views of both the natural landscape and the expansive vineyards that make the valley famous.
The Ritchey Canyon Trail and Coyote Peak is a somewhat challenging five-mile loop that passes through heavily wooded areas that include both classic redwoods and a variety of maple and oak trees. This colorful array is complemented by the vineyards below the trail, which are also shifting to yellows during this time of year, elevating this unique trek to one of the best Fall foliage hikes in California.
About the Ritchey Canyon Trail and Coyote Peak
- Distance: 5.1 miles
- Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
- Time to Hike: ~2.5 hours
- Park Entrance Fee: $10/vehicle
Poison oak is abundant in this region, including right along the trails. Long pants are highly recommended for all hikers.
2
Deer Creek Tribute Trail, Nevada City
Fall foliage along a creek in California
Nevada City (which, despite the name, is in California) is somewhat famous for its bigleaf maples, which frame the historic streets and Victorian homes. The colors are so popular that visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour of the town courtesy of Nevada City’s Chamber of Commerce.
Not far from the city, those looking for some quieter ways to enjoy fall color can hop on the three-mile Deer Creek Tribute Trail, which features plenty of the classic California color-changers like maples along a well-shaded path. Additionally, the trail utilizes a suspension bridge to complete the out-and-back hike, which offers both a unique hiking experience and a one-of-a-kind Fall foliage viewing experience.
About the Deer Creek Tribute Trail
- Distance: 3.1 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time to Hike: ~1.5 hours
1
Burney Creek Trail, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
Fall colors frame the rushing Burney Falls in Burney, California
Even during the Fall, Burney Falls in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is one of the most scenic waterfalls in California. The various trails to and from Burney Falls are also some of the best hiking spots to find Fall foliage in all of California.
The nearly three-mile Burney Creek Trail starts at the beautiful 129-foot Burney Falls before continuing along the creek, where hikers can see splashes of yellow, orange, and red peeking through the ever-present evergreens of California. In addition to offering stunning views of California’s Fall colors, the Burney Creek Trail is also a great option for those looking for a less-crowded Fall California hike, as a majority of visitors tend to stay close to the falls themselves.
About the Burney Creek Trail
- Distance: 2.8 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time to Hike: ~1.5 hours
- Park Entrance Fee: $10/vehicle
