California

When will fall leaves peak at Yosemite National Park? Here’s the best time to go

By Brooke Baitinger

September 28, 2025 5:00 AM

Fall leaf season is a special time, especially in California. It’s also fleeting.

Yosemite National Park is one of the best national parks in America for fall foliage, according to the National Park Service.

The federal agency recently ranked the top 10 spots across the nation for “amazing fall color” — and Yosemite landed on the list at No. 10.

The best national parks to visit in autumn boast “crisp air and “vibrant foliage” this time of year, as well as “fewer crowds” and “unforgettable oudoor experiences,” business news publication Quartz said.

“Yosemite National Park in California shows a subtler version of fall,” Quartz contributor Ben Kesslen wrote in a Sept. 2 article. “Aspen groves near Badger Pass and colorful oaks in Yosemite Valley give the park a calmer, less crowded beauty this time of year.”

However, it can be tricky to plan the right time to visit. Aspens at higher elevations can peak much sooner than the oaks down in the valley.

Here’s the best time to visit Yosemite for some of the best leaf peeping in the country:

When will fall foliage peak in Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite National Park consistently ranks on among the top spots to see fall leaves in the United States, The Fresno Bee previously reported.

Fall foliage at the highest elevations in Yosemite is expected to reach its peak in late September and early October, according to a map on travel website Explore Fall.

At lower elevations in Yosemite Valley, fall colors should be in full swing mid-to-late October and into early November, according to the map.

The National Park Service recommends visiting Yosemite in late October to see fall leaves at their finest, depending on light and weather.

The range of colors on display ranges from “golden yellows” to “dark oranges” and “brilliant reds,” the federal agency said.

A grove of yellowing trees is seen below Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Fresno Bee Staff Photo

Where should I go in Yosemite for fall leaves? See top spots

Where you should go to see fall leaves depends on what you’re looking for, the National Park Service said.

Quaking aspen can be found in “some favorite glades within the park,” the park service said, while it’s easy for leaf-peepers to drive by “roadside stands along the Tioga Road near the Tuolumne Grove trailhead and the Yosemite Creek picnic area.”

“More isolated aspens grow along the Glacier Point Road past Summit Meadow,” the National Park Service said. “Consider a gentle walk along the old road from Badger Pass ski area to Bridalveil Creek Campground that leads to aspen groves.”

According to the National Park Service, these are the best spots for fall color in Yosemite, and what you can expect to see:

Yosemite Valley: Bigleaf maple in riparian areas along the southern wall of Yosemite Valley from below Bridalveil Creek past Sentinel Creek and beyond Happy Isles, plus black oak, dogwood, black cottonwood and sugar maple trees.
Glacier Point: Deer brush, quaking apsen and low-growing shrubs.
Wawona: Black oaks, dogwood, bigleaf maple and black cottonwood trees.
Tuolumne: Low-growing shrubs, with a few small aspens along the Highway 120 corridor.
Some meadows: Indian hemp, bracken ferns, sedges and grasses.
El Portal: Willows, Fremont cottonwoods, black cottonwoods, oaks, wild grape vines and poison oak.

N05_LEAVES — From deep reds to bright yellows, the plants and trees in Yosemite National Park put on a show in November. Marci Stenbert Merced Sun-Star

What are best times to see fall colors in California?

Across California, fall colors should be at their brightest toward the end of November, though it really depends on when the weather starts cooling off and the days grow shorter, Explore Fall said.

“Two primary factors control the timing of fall foliage: daylight and temperature. This means that the further north and the higher in elevation a tree is, the earlier it will reveal it’s colorful canopy,” the website said. “Photosynthesis grinds to a halt when the days grow short in the fall, and leaves no longer have a need for their excess stores of chlorophyll.”

Generally speaking, fall foliage peaks early to mid-November in California, so your best bet is to check out fall leaves on the later end between Halloween and Thanksgiving.