Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento
California Sycamore (historic) Mathias J Alten, University Art Center
Color spotters Debi Wages and Denae Gomez report that sycamore and maple at southern Monterey County and northern San Luis Obispo County Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento are beginning to show color and the ground is littered with oak acorns. These Central Coast destinations are not expected to near peak until late October.
In late October, oaks and willows along the banks of the Salinas River (US101) show lovely yellow and orange up to King City. If driving north or south, US101 (El Camino Real) is a better bet for fall color than I-5 or CA-99, though the vineyards, orchards and fields in the Central Valley can be beautiful.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento – Now at the lower end of this scale, the oaks at Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento will develop slowly, nearing peak in mid to late October.