March 29, 2024
Busting the myth that California has no fall colors
YOSEMITE - If you hear East Coast visitors or transplants complaining that they miss New England’s autumn color display, point them to Yosemite, where black oaks are peaking with bright orange and yellow leaves sparking glints of sunny colors in the dark Merced River.

Or to Weaverville, awash in pink, yellow and orange hues from liquidambar, yellow bigleaf maple, rosy dogwood and golden mountain ash lining the way to TrinityLake.

Or most of Shasta County, where oaks and maples are peaking, especially along the Sacramento River Trail, McConnell Arboretum, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Shasta Lake, Battle Creek Wildlife Area and Anderson River Park.

Those East Coasters might be surprised to learn that California has the longest and most varied display of fall color in the country, if not the world. This is the word from the folks at Californiafallcolor.com, which has been tracking the fall phenomenon since 2009 with the help of vetted photographers and naturalists who serve as “color spotters” throughout the state.

Our “autumn” show actually begins in August, and pockets of color last well into December. That’s partly because the Mediterranean climate supports a wide variety of exotic as well as native species; even when some trees have dropped their leaves, others will be in full color. Californians also have more leaf-peeping opportunities because the color moves by elevation, beginning in the high Eastern Sierra and moving progressively lower throughout the season. When higher elevations have already turned, the color is just gathering steam at lower altitudes. In New England, color drops by latitude, so you have to be there at just the right time or you’re out of luck.

It varies by weather and tree species, but the fall display generally begins above 9,000 feet in the Bishop Creek Canyon near Sabrina, South and North lakes in Inyo County, peaking at 8,500 to 10,000 feet in mid- to late September. By early October, storms will have stripped some of the trees whose leaves have turned, and color starts to show in areas of Plumas, Lassen, Shasta and Tehama counties above 6,000 feet. By mid-month, alder and maple trees are starting to turn in the NorthCoast redwood parks, vineyards are coloring up and, in Southern California, LakeArrowhead and Big Bear are going strong.

Late October into early November is prime time between 5,500 and 7,500 feet, with most locations either gaining momentum or approaching peak. Color descends to coastal areas in -November, when elevations above 5,000 feet are past their peak. Late-season color is best in the state’s urban forests of San Francisco and the Peninsula, the South Bay and East Bay, the vineyards, Gold Country, the Central Coast and Southern Californa.

Much of the state, especially the areas mentioned in the opening of this post, is at full peak, and color is appearing now at lower elevations. Storms predicted for next week could strip many trees now at their peak, making this weekend the time to get out to those higher elevations. One sad note: The Los Angeles County Arboretum reports that pests and disease are killing many of the liquidambar trees whose fiery hues light up Los Angeles and Orange counties. Liquidambar, along with the luminous Ginkgo biloba, is just starting to peak, so this is the year to see the dramatic bursts of orange, yellow and red in the state’s southern latitudes. (Source: San Francisco Chronicle)

Story Date: December 3, 2013
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