California Fall Color

Dude, autumn happens here, too.

50 – 75% – Redding – Salmon are running up the Sacramento River, attracting fly fishermen to what is rated as the world’s third best tail water.  The Fly Shop in Redding (said to be one of the world’s largest fly fishing retailers) reports that salmon, rainbow trout and steelhead fishing on Redding area waters has been the best in seven years.  This photograph captured by Charissa Gilmer below Sundial Bridge shows the colorful scene.  Redding is approaching peak with lots of beautiful color.  The nation’s second sunniest city has been burning with color the past two weeks, but will be at full peak in time for Thanksgiving Day.  Go Now!

75 – 100% – Trinity County – Trinity County has reached peak. Most of the color has matured with yellow, orange and red filling the forest.

75 – 100% – Eagle Lake – The BLM is reporting Eagle Lake at peak with red, orange, and golden leaves fluttering through the air as they decorate the forest duff.

30 – 50% – Red Bluff – The best fall color in Red Bluff is to be seen in riparian areas of the Sacramento River.  There’s a range of orange, red and yellow to be seen.  The redbud are a mix of yellow and lime.  Look for peak in two weeks.

50 – 75% – Butte County – Much of the color in Butte County has matured, particularly in Chico, where it’s been spectacular.  There is still lots of red and yellow to be seen.  Peaking will occur across the next two weeks.  One of our favorite trips is to Bidwell Park, where a lovely deciduous forest is to be enjoyed in one of the largest urban parks in America.  Travel north of Chico to Vina to visit the Abbey of New Clairvaux with its authentic 800-year-old Gothic chapter house, which is surrounded by a walnut orchard that flutters with gold and green leaves.  In Chico, watch art glass being blown at the Orient and Flume Art Glass, then tour the Sierra Nevada Brewery with lunch at their superb restaurant before returning home along Hwy 99.

Past Peak – Lassen Volcanic National Park – Snow has now closed the Main Park Road, limiting fall color viewing in the national park.  There are a few spots of fall color still left to be seen on the east side of the park in the lower elevations, but for the most part fall color in the national park is past peak.

Past Peak – Plumas County – Snow has blanketed the Northern Sierra, bringing to a close the fall color season in Plumas County.  There’s still vibrant color to be found near Oakland Camp, at Graeagle and Portola, though it’s being lost fast due to recent rain and snow.

Past Peak – Siskiyou County – Although a few trees are showing color, most are now past peak.  Oaks are umber and discarding their leaves.

Past Peak – Modoc National Forest – Only a few trees are holding bits of color.

Past Peak – Alturas – Same for Alturas.

           

Location: Redding, Calif.
Temperature: 50 °F
Humidity: 76%
Dew point: 42.8 °F
Wind speed: n/a
Wind direction: n/a
Cloud cover: n/a

Color spotter Charissa Gilmer of the City of Redding sends these photos of fall color, intensified by the overcast of recent rain clouds.

Shasta County

50 – 75% – Redding - This capital city of northeastern California is also the second-sunniest city in the nation, providing for ideal conditions (warm clear days and cold nights) to intensify color.

Within the City of Redding, a variety of color is now being seen, from various types of maple trees now showing a palette of lime, yellow, orange, scarlet and purple. Sycamores and Eastern Redbuds are displaying bright yellow leaves along the Sacramento River Trail.  Photinia throughout town are changing to deep red. The colorful Strawberry Tree displays green leaves and bright red, orange, and yellow fruit.  And, stunning fuschia stems of Dogwood stand out along the Sacramento River.  This color should develop over the next two weeks, though many species are peaking now.

Although it is embraced by the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada and Coastal Range, Redding  has a Mediterranean climate that allows for a remarkable blend of native and exotic flora.  City streets show this diversity, as does the McConnell Arboretum and Gardens on the north side of Sundial Bridge, which features plantings from all five of the world’s Mediterranean climates.

Because Redding has climates varying from the northern central valley to three, very different mountain ecosystems, an array of color develops within short distances of Redding, making it an attractive base for leaf peeping excursions.  To plan a trip, go to VisitRedding.com

50 – 75% – Siskiyou County – Color change has been slow for Siskiyou County. Trees in the lower elevations are at their peak, while those at higher elevations are past peak.  Look for red dogwoods, yellow bigleaf maples and umber oaks.  Fun!   First time anyone’s reported “umber”.

Elsewhere in the Shasta Cascade, color spotter Grace Smith reports:

Shasta County

75 – 100% – Whiskeytown National Recreation Area – The national park is reporting lots of yellow in the forest, with some reds near the visitor’s center. Trees near Whiskeytown Falls are showing brilliant yellow against greens.  Recent rains are causing trees to lose leaves, so give it a week more before past peak.

50 – 75% – Trinity County – Most of the deciduous trees near Trinity Lake, Trinity Center and throughout the county are showing yellow with some orange!   Some stands are approaching past peak, with leaves falling due to recent rain.

Modoc County

75 – 100% – Modoc National Forest – Cedar’s Pass is still showing yellows, orange, and red on aspen.  All other areas of the forest are past peak.

Past Peak – Alturas - Not many leaves are left to be seen.

Lassen County

75 – 100% – BLM Eagle Lake – The BLM is reporting the trees around Eagle Lake to be at peak and beautiful, with aspens busy changing to gold, orange and red.

Tehama County

75 – 100% – Lassen Volcanic National Park – Manzanita Lake is at full peak, with aspen golden and maples starting to turn red. Cottonwood trees near Hat Creek standout with bright yellow-orange. Dogwoods have started to change pink to red. Again, this past week’s rains have felled leaves, though the color that remains is gorgeous.

30 – 50% – Red Bluff – Catalpa trees in town are turning with their dark green leaves now brightening and showing yellow. The Redbuds  are beginning to show a golden color. Expect Redbluff to peak in three weeks.

Butte County

30 – 50% – Butte County – Slightly higher than Red Bluff, Chico has experienced quite a bit of color change, with lots of reds, yellows, and a lot more orange. Maples are starting to turn while the ashes have a purple tint to them! Trees will be hitting their peaks in the next two weeks, especially at Bidwell Park in the City of Trees!

75 – 100% – Plumas County – The show moves down in elevation to 6,000’ along Hwy 70, which is populated with lively fall colors from red and gold to yellow.  Traveling south on Hwy 89 towards Graeagle, cottonwood and aspens remain bright along the Feather River.  The past week’s rain is predicted to turn to sunny weather over the weekend, a final weekend to see the color in Plumas County before it’s past

Location: Redding, Calif.
Temperature: 64.4 °F
Humidity: 56%
Dew point: 50 °F
Wind speed: n/a
Wind direction: n/a
Cloud cover: n/a

Indian Rhubarb always provides early ruby to leaf peeping in the Shasta Cascade Wonderland (northeastern California).  Color spotters Jeff Titcomb and Mike Nellor provide these photos of bright colors seen this week in the Shasta Cascade.

30 – 50% – Siskiyou County – Siskiyou is seeing change, though extended warm nights have slowed its progression. The forest is highlighted with lime, yellow and some red among the maples.

30 – 50% – Modoc County – Modoc National Forest and Alturas area are reporting a shift to the bright yellow and orange.

 

Lassen County

30 – 50% – BLM Eagle Lake / Bizz Johnson Trail & Lassen National Forest – Aspen have begun to change to yellow, with a few oranges and reds. The change has been sudden,  perhaps due to the extended, dry summer.

Shasta County

15 – 30% – Whiskeytown NRA – Elms turning to bright yellows and oranges around the visitors center.

15 – 30% – Shasta Lake – Slight change is occurring in the forest.

Trinity County

15 – 30% – Coffee Creek – Lime and yellow are beginning to appear.

 

Tehama County

30 – 50% – Lassen Volcanic National Park – Tmost of the change is occurring above 8,500 on the northside of the national park.  Look for color showing first among riparian areas (willows) and aspen groves.  The southern area of the park has not yet experienced much change.

0 – 15% – Red Bluff -  The Central Valley has not yet shown much color.

0 – 15% – Butte County – A little lime and yellow is showing, though the best color is expected in mid October.

 

15 – 30% – Plumas National Forest -  Native locust trees and bigleaf maples are showing yellow, dogwoods are turning rose to red. At higher elevations, the color is more intense. Spanish Creek is a riot of ruby, yellow and lime Indian rhubarb.

Location: Redding, CA
Temperature: 71.6 °F
Humidity: 41%
Dew point: 46.4 °F
Wind speed: n/a
Wind direction: n/a
Cloud cover: n/a

Most of the color in the Shasta Cascade is found above 8,000’ in Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Aspen are showing bright yellow there.  Other areas are several weeks away from peak.  Color spotter Brittini McGuire sends the following report:

0 – 15% – Siskiyou County – Colors in Siskiyou County are just beginning to appear, with about 10% of trees showing lime & yellow.

0 – 15% – Modoc County – The Modoc National Forest and Alturas area are reporting 10% change. Though there is very little to no change at this point, cooler nights portend the shift to orange and yellow.

Lassen County:

0 – 15% – BLM Eagle Lake / Bizz Johnson Trail still only 5%.

0 – 15% – Lassen National Forest – 5% of aspens are exhibiting color.

Shasta County:

0 – 15% – Whiskeytown NRA – 10% of elms turning bright yellow and orange near the visitors center.

Trinity County:

0 – 15% – Weaverville Chamber – Lime and yellow is seen on 15% of trees.

Tehama County:

50 – 75% – Lassen Volcanic National Park – At 8,000′ and higher, aspens are approaching peak, with some losing leaves. At 6000’, the aspen are 30-40% and willows at 60%. Around 5000’ the aspens have a way to go, with 15% showing yellow.

0 – 15% – Butte County – Mostly lime green and yellow and just starting.

Plumas County:

0 – 15% – Plumas National Forest – The forest is beginning to show lime green and yellow on bigleaf maple. Some leaves are edged with red.

Location: Redding, CA
Temperature: 95 °F
Humidity: 16%
Dew point: 41 °F
Wind speed: n/a
Wind direction: n/a
Cloud cover: n/a

If awards were given for fall color reports this autumn, Alicia Vennos of Mono County, Katie Shaw from the Shasta Cascade,  Frank McDonough from Los Angeles County, Richard McCutcheon of Plumas County and Jared Smith from Inyo County would be the nominees, as each supplied lots of great reports.

The latest comes from Katie who says it’s all Past Peak in the Shasta Cascade.  Here’s her latest report:

Butte County:

Past Peak- Butte County- Most of the color is gone, see you next year!

Past Peak – Whiskeytown National Recreation Area-  Wow, that was a quick season change for the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area!   Basically, the park is just past peak with many golds and yellows still dotting the forest. The colors are fading as fast as the leaves are dropping, so if you want to catch this color make sure to visit this week.

Past Peak- Burney Falls State Park – While there are a few leaves still clinging to the trees, the fall colors have mostly receded till next year.

Tehama County:

Past Peak- Lassen Volcanic National Park- Lassen is past its peak and due to weather there is very little left in terms of fall color.

Lassen County:

Past Peak- Bizz Johnson Trail- There is still some color left on the Trail, especially near the waterways. In general though, the forest is covered with brown leaves clinging to their trees and evergreens.

Siskiyou County:

Past Peak- Mt. Shasta- Due to weather conditions, very few leaves are left on the trees. Old Man winter is now in charge.

Trinity County:

Past Peak- Weaverville- Winter has moved into the Weaverville area, but patches of color can still be seen for the avid adventurer.

Plumas County:

Past Peak- Plumas County-  Due to snow, the majority of the fall color is gone, but don’t be surprised if you see a few oak trees hanging onto their color with an iron fist.

Modoc County:

Past Peak – Modoc County- Due to the cold and windy conditions, Fall is pretty much over in Modoc county except for maybe a few tough leaves.

Thanks to Katie and all the other CaliforniaFallColor spotters who have so diligently reported the change of season this autumn.  We’ll continue to post reports as received, as there’s likely still a lot of great color to be seen.  Presently, it’s raining leaves in the Central Valley and Sierra Foothills, with orange, gold, red and auburn littering the landscape with beauty.

Color spotter Cynthia Shedd provides the final fall color report before Thanksgiving Day, reporting that there’s still color to appear at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, though the national park is vibrant with red, orange and yellow.

Butte County:

Past Peak- Butte County- Don’t worry, be happy! Though it’s past peak in Butte County, there is still quite a bit of color to be seen.   The Maples and Oaks are hanging on strong to their leaves. Rustic reds and modest yellows are the primary colors covering the trees up high and the forest floors down low.

Shasta County:

50-75% – Whiskeytown National Recreation Area- Come out to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area if you are still seeking fall color. The park is slowly growing closer and closer to reaching peak and the Oranges, Yellows, and Reds are all vibrant.

 Past Peak- Burney Falls State Park – While there are a few leaves still clinging to the trees, the fall colors have mostly receded till next year.

 Tehama County:

Past Peak- Lassen Volcanic National Park- Lassen is past its peak and due to weather there is very little left in terms of fall color.

Lassen County:

Past Peak- Bizz Johnson Trail- There is still some color left on the Trail, especially near the waterways. Winter winds have picked up so grab a jacket and make sure to hike through this whirlwind of tranquil color.

Siskiyou County:

Past Peak- Mt. Shasta- Due to weather conditions, very few leaves are left on the trees. Old Man winter is now in charge.

Trinity County:

Past Peak- Weaverville- Winter has moved into the Weaverville area, but patches of color can still be seen for the avid adventurer.

Plumas County:

Past Peak- Plumas County-  Due to snow, the majority of the fall color is gone, but don’t be surprised if you see a few oak trees hanging onto their color with an iron fist.

Modoc County:

Past Peak – Modoc County- Due to the cold and windy conditions, Fall is pretty much over in Modoc county except for maybe a few tough leaves.

 

Ginkgo trees are gold and bold in Redding, according to an article posted today by the Redding Record.  The showy trees are described as, “Pretty, prehistoric and sometimes putrid…” “tough enough to withstand an atomic bomb; and old enough to be called living fossils.”

“The trees have quite a track record,” the Record reports, having “outlived the dinosaurs. Even an atomic bomb didn’t faze them. Several ginkgos survived the blast of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in World War II and are still living, notes the The Ginkgo Pages, a website devoted to ginkgo trees.”

Marie Stadther, lead gardener for Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, which has among its facilities the Mediterranean-focused McConnell Arboretum and Garden, praises the Ginkgo for its”deep roots” which make “them unlikely to pop walkways or crack patios the way shallow-rooted trees do.”

The ginkgo tree is the lone survivor of the ancient family Ginkgoaceae. Fossils of ginkgo leaves date back more than 250 million years, according to an Oregon Department of Forestry publication. It is thought to have once covered the globe, but then the ice age shrank the tree’s territory and the tree was thought to be extinct until 1691, according to the Record.  There male and female ginkgos with female trees producing seeds with a yellow, fleshy exterior that drop in autumn and begin to ferment, giving off an offensive odor.  “Because of the stench, there’s little demand for female trees,” the Record reports, “Places to see mature ginkgos in Redding include Oregon Street near the downtown post office, the Sundial Bridge parking lot and the northeast side of Shasta College’s theater building. And now is the time to take a look. Ginkgos are in their glory in autumn.”

CLICK HERE to read more.

With bigleaf maple turning at 3,000′ and color descending in the High Sierra, color spotter Katie Shaw reports where color can now be seen in the vast Shasta Cascade region of northeast California.

Butte County:

15-30%- Butte County- Expect some changes this week as high wind is predicted this week along with rain on Thursdayto bring some dramatic change. With warm sunny days and cold nights, the trees have turned brilliant shades of orange and red, despite beginning to drop their leaves!

Shasta County:

30-50% – Whiskeytown National Recreation Area- The place to be this week in the park to see fall’s change is around the waterways and waterfall. Brilliant reds, yellows, and purple leaves are surrounding the park’s proud waterfalls, and providing a welcome sight for all who see. This change is expected to continue for while, but don’t forget to catch this part of the show while you still can!

100%- Burney Falls State Park- Make sure to catch the peak of fall color change happening this week at Burney Falls State Park! The Oaks are magnificent yellow and brown, and the Maples are beginning to shed their leaves in wondrous form. See the park in full fall color!

Tehama County:

50-75%- Lassen Volcanic National Park- The Oaks, Cottonwoods, and Aspens are all a radiant shade of yellow, and are simply coloring the park. Don’t miss out on this brilliant show of color, because with colder temperature and even snow projections, the transition into the winter season will be a quick one!

Lassen County:

75-100%- Bizz Johnson Trail- The trail and surrounding areas are radiating vibrant colors of red, yellow, and orange as the fall season is brought to its peak! This brilliant display of nature’s creativity is expected to last for another week or two, so whether you bike, walk, or drive make sure to check out the show. 

Siskiyou County:

75-100%- Mt. Shasta- Multiple colors of Oaks and Maples line the roadways around Mt. Shasta, displaying a cornucopia of rustic reds, dazzling oranges, and golden yellows. While some trees reach their peak, others are still fighting to hold onto their spring colors. However, storms and high winds at the end of the week are expected to bring all color change to a halt and produce a shower of multihued leaves.

Trinity County:

15-30%- Weaverville- Fall is still in beginning to show in Trinity County. The Oaks and Locusts are starting their shift into a subdued yellow, while the Maples are turning a scarlet red.  No big weather changes predicted in the near future so the trees are expected to continue their unhurried shift to their fall crest.

Plumas County:

75-100% Plumas County- The Oak and Dogwood trees are beginning to really reach their peak with warm oranges and vivid yellows. The Cottonwoods and Maples are beginning to embrace their winter coats this week, while the creek beds are still rich with Indian Rhubarb in wondrous shades or red and orange. Over on the north side of the county, the Aspens are in full bloom with tones of yellow, and the rest of the forest is still alive with autumn color.

Modoc County:

75-100% Modoc County- The drive through Modoc County is a true feast for the eyes. With the Aspens and Cottonwoods changing into a lush golden yellow, and low lying shrubs a brilliant red, the view is pretty remarkable.

0 – 15% – Redding - With color descending throughout California (now peaking at 6,000′), we begin to get reports from our urban forests.  From Redding, color spotter Jenny Zink reports that color is appearing two weeks later than normal – which we’ve noticed across the country.  She attribute’s Redding’s clear skies and warm daytime temps (second sunniest city in America) as helping to keep the trees green so far, this autumn.  However, the first signs of yellow are now appearing in riparian areas long the Sacramento River.  Here, you see people walking across the historic Diestelhorst Bridge in downtown Redding as trees glow with the first tints of gold.  Autumn for Redding cannot be far behind.  If heading north, you’ll find color in the higher areas surrounding Redding: Hwy 299 between Redding and Weaverville, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and MacArthur Burney Memorial Falls State Park.  Plan on this area coloring up over the next two weeks, weather permitting.

From Shasta Dam to Redding along the Sacramento River Trail, Trees of Heaven (Ailanthus) are showing first gold at elevation 1,000 ft in the Shasta Cascade.

The non-native Trees of Heaven were imported from China to be planted beside the river in the 1930s along with other colorful exotic plants, such as pink flowering oleander (Morocco), to prevent erosion of the hillsides as the railroad leading to the dam was constructed.   Today, the native forest of manzanita brush, knobcone pine, tanoak, madrone and ponderosa pine is filled with Ailanthus, particularly beside the trail which was the original railroad route.

Two other outdoor writers, representatives of the Bureau of Land Management and I toured this national recreation trail yesterday, during an Outdoor Writers Association of California conference in Redding.  And, though the photo at left shows a specimen of Ailanthus as bright green, many Trees of Heaven throughout BLM’s forest were turning yellow, providing pleasant contrast to the blue-grey-green leaves and deep red trunks of the native manzanita.

Travel Tip: Bring a bike to ride the Sacramento River Trail downhill from Shasta Dam to Redding (19 mi) or ride sections.  Bikes can also be rented on weekends in Redding near Sundial bridge.  The color should be glowing in coming weeks, weather permitting.

Here’s more from color spotter Katie Shaw about what’s happening in the Shasta Cascade region of northeast California:

Butte County:

0-15%- Butte County- Color is now appearing in the spectacular urban forests of Chico, seen in its gingko’s, sycamores, and aspen, with yellow to reddish hues.

Shasta County:

0-15% – Whiskeytown National Recreation Area- This national park isn’t experiencing significant change as yet, except for non-native trees, and a few native bigleaf maple. The few aspen in the park are just now starting to change.

0-15%- MacArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park- Though not much color had appeared until Monday, the sudden cold snap followed by warm daytime temps is just what locals say was needed to jump-start the color change.  Park officials are predicting colors and foliage will be changing soon, so stay tuned.

Tehama County:

0-15%- Lassen Volcanic National Park- The aspen in the Warner Valley are starting to change to vibrant yellow to golden shades.  Drakesbad Guest Ranch has now closed for the season, though its last guests had the treat of being able to have this lovely corner of the national park almost to themselves with hikes among the changing aspen.

Lassen County:

0-15%- Bizz Johnson Trail-   Aspen along the Bizz Johnson Trail are now changing color with mostly green to lime-green and some yellow showing.

Siskiyou County:

0-15%- Mt. Shasta- The Mt Shasta area is not experiencing any change of color as yet, though the warm days and cool nights should intensify the color, quickly.

Trinity County:

0-15%- Weaverville- The historic gold rush town of Weaverville is just now showing change, especially in the Coffee Creek area.  They anticipate more color change, after yesterday’s rain showers.

Plumas County:

15-30% Plumas County- Plumas County remains one of the most spectacular places in the region to witness the signs of the changing seasons.  Leaf peepers have already started recording sightings, which can be viewed on the Plumas Visitors Bureau’s webpage (linked at left).

For a free leaf peeper kit, stop at any of the local chambers in Plumas County.  It includes recommendations on scenic drives.