Fall colours are peaking across the San Francisco Bay Space
If you didn’t make it to the sierra this year to see the fall foliage, you’re still in luck. Fall colors are currently peaking in many areas of the Bay Area.
Although there is minimal natural fall color in the California coast, there are still plenty of options for foliage in the area. Options include coastal mountains, public gardens or arboretums, and the Wine Country vineyards.
“When it comes to the Bay Area, the San Francisco Peninsula is often good,” said John Poimiroo, who runs CaliforniaFallColor.com. It publishes daily blog updates with photos showing the latest fall color conditions across the state.
Fall colors on display along Acapulco Drive in Campbell.
John Poimiroo / Courtesy CaliforniaFallColor.com
The best places to see the fall foliage in the East Bay are Danville, which Poimiroo says has peaked, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. On the peninsula, Burlingame should be many dark colors, as should Los Altos, Hillsborough, and Campbell.
“Instead of driving around aimlessly, I’ll find a sidewalk cafe in Danville or Burlingame Avenue and then maybe enjoy some of the neighborhood colors,” said Poimiroo.
The Santa Cruz Mountains have some beautiful fall foliage, including Uvas Canyon County Park, Patchen Pass, Summit Road, Roaring Camp, Highway 9, and Stevens Canyon Road. However, the colors at higher elevations are most likely above the peak.
In this photo, Vishal Mishra found beautiful fall foliage along Stevens Canyon Road in Cupertino.
Vishal Mishra
According to Sandy Steinman of California Fall Color, the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden is the most reliable color in the Bay Area. “The streets of Berkeley are full of color,” she noted. “A mix of early, full colors and past highlights, especially the Liquidambars.”
A nice hike to see some fall colors in the East Bay is the Wildcat Creek Trail in Tilden Regional Park.
Fall colors are abundant along the Wildcat Creek Trail in Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, California.
Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE
In San Francisco, the Japanese Tea Garden and the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park have some lovely lace colors.
In Marin, trees that change color line many streets of downtown San Rafael. If you’re heading to West Marin, the drive on Sir Francis Drake through Samuel P. Taylor State Park features some beautiful patches of golden and yellow fall colors interspersed with sequoia trees.
Fall colors will peak on November 18, 2021 along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Samuel P. Taylor State Park in West Marin.
Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE
Another good bet is to go to Wine Country. “The vineyards are really beautiful. Each vineyard has a different type and variety, so the autumn colors appear at different times, ”said Poimiroo.
“The tip color is found in late-ripening vineyards,” he continued. “So go to areas where Cabernet Sauvignon is grown. The Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley in northern Sonoma County are a destination.
“And of course you can add wine tasting with the fall color viewing,” added Poimiroo.
The Trentadue Winery vineyards look beautiful and will turn color in November 2020 in Geyserville, California.
David Laurence Sharp
For the latest California fall conditions, visit californiafallcolor.com.
