The gold, orange and red colors of fall foliage can make you feel like you’re in an artist’s painting. In the Bay Area and California, it’s not as easy to find these vibrant autumn shades as it is in some other parts of the country. But if you know where to look, you will be treated to Mother Nature’s colorful show.
San Francisco
San Francisco Botanical Garden. This 55-acre garden in Golden Gate Park is full of fall foliage – from the ginkgo trees that change to bright gold to the dogwoods that go deep purple-red. Head to the Moon Viewing Garden for the colorful Japanese maple leaves. Open 7:30am with last entry at 6pm. (Closes earlier in later fall and winter.) $6.75-20.75 non-residents, FREE for 4 and under, San Francisco residents and military and veterans, $30.75-34.75 families (two adults and children in the same household).
Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way, San Francisco
Japanese Tea Garden. The oldest public Japanese Garden in the country, this is a great place to view changing foliage, with showy Japanese maples set against pagodas, koi ponds and a Zen garden. Open 9am through last entry which changes seasonally: Spring-Summer (March-October) last entry is 5:45pm; Fall-Winter (November-February) last entry is 4:45pm. $6.75-21.75, FREE for 4 and under, San Francisco residents and military and veterans.
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
Peninsula
Filoli Gardens. Fall is full of events where you can see the changing leaves at this world-renowned garden in Woodside. Upcoming autumn events include Orchard Days through Oct. 27, Halloween: Nightfall at Filoli Oct. 16-Nov. 3 and Pumpkin Sculpting on Oct. 30. Open daily 10am-5pm. $24-36, under 5 FREE.
86 Cañada Road, Woodside.
South Bay
Rancho San Antonio Preserve. The maples, oaks and flowering persimmon trees at this spot in Cupertino are a feast for the eyes this time of year. Stop by Deer Hollow Farm to check out the animals before you head off on one of the many hikes that the preserve offers. Open a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. FREE.
22500 Cristo Rey Drive, Cupertino
openspace.org/preserves/rancho-san-antonio
Henry W. Coe State Park. Check out this park in Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties in October, when maples turn yellow and black oaks show some reds. Always open. Day use fee: $6-8
9000 E. Dunne Ave., Morgan Hill
East Bay
Sycamore Grove Park. The big leaves on the sycamore trees at this Livermore park offer beautiful changing colors during the fall. The 847-acre park has trails for hiking and biking as well as picnic tables. Open daily 7am-sunset. $5 parking fee.
1051 Wetmore Road, Livermore
Tilden Regional Park. The hills above Berkeley put on a show with their ever-changing leaf colors. Head to the botanical garden to witness the colorful leaves of the cottonwood and dogwood trees, among others. The park is open 5am-10pm.
Entrances off Wildcat Canyon Road and Grizzly Peak Boulevard, Berkeley
Points North
Napa and Sonoma Wine Country. The changing colors of the grape leaves draw visitors to wine country each fall. Head to the Anderson Valley or Dry Creek areas to see some majestic reds and oranges. If you time your visit well, you might luck out and catch some of the crush season activities, from grape stomping to parties, that happen through October.
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. This is a great spot to set up a tent or rent a historic cabin or yurt, and explore during the fall months. Follow the Redwood Trail to find colorful maple leaves in addition to the trail’s namesake giants. 8am-sunset. Camping fees apply. Day use parking $4-10.
3801 St. Helena Highway North, Calistoga
napaoutdoors.org/parks/bothe-napa-valley-state-park
Beyond the Bay Area
Bishop and Bridgeport. Around Bishop and Bridgeport in the eastern Sierra, travelers are treated to an aspen show along highways 158 and 168 or along US 395 near Conway Summit.
Hope Valley. If traveling through the Sierra mountain range during the fall season, you are bound to come across the vibrant colors of the changing aspen trees. South of Lake Tahoe in Hope Valley, dense aspen groves offer golds, oranges and brilliant reds.
visitlaketahoe.com/a-beacon-of-hope-in-history-hope-valley
Nevada City. In Gold Country during the fall in Nevada City, you can view sugar maples and American sweetgums changing bright reds.
Paso Robles. Like the wine country in and around the Bay Area, the vineyards in central California’s Paso Robles make this a wonderful spot to enjoy autumn’s vibrant colors. Prime spots to view fall foliage are Highway 46 West or Adelaida Road.
For more ideas and California destinations outside the Bay Area, visit californiafallcolor.com