While SF summer is just starting, we’re still excited about the beginning of fall. The Bay Area might not exactly be New England when it comes to fall foliage, but there are still some great places to see the autumn in action.
Luckily, you don’t have to do a lot of guesswork on when the best time to see fall foliage is in the Bay Area. This interactive map by the Smokey Mountains website predicts when certain areas will reach their peak fall colors. While it’s not 100% accurate, it does give an idea of when to plan your day trips to get your fill of the fall colors.
You can use a toggle to change the date, starting September 2 and ending in mid-November. From there, you can see when certain areas are expected to have certain levels of fall foliage.
SF and the Bay Area is expected to peak relatively late in the season, around early November. Other areas close to the Bay Area along the coastline are expected to peak in late October. Before the peak, you’ll still see a change in colors, but the map can be helpful to plan those festive fall activities.
Places to see fall foliage near SF
There are plenty of places within driving distance to see the fall leaves and even some areas in San Francisco where you can get a real taste of fall. Here are just a few of our favorites:
SF Botanical Garden: Located right in Golden Gate Park, the SF Botanical Garden is an easy way to check out fall foliage. Plus, you can explore the rest of the park or go to an exhibition at the de Young afterward.
Mount Tamalpais: Just a short drive from SF, this is the perfect place to hike and see some fall foliage.
UC Berkeley Campus: Right across the Bay Bridge, you can see some beautiful fall foliage. The iconic school is beautiful during the fall, so we definitely recommend putting it on your bucket list.