Best Spots to Experience San Diego Fall Foliage

There are many states that experience an abundance of fall foliage. The leaves on their trees change as soon as pumpkin spice season hits. Amber hues are as common as pumpkin foods, flavored lattes, and Ugg boots. Unfortunately, California is not one of those states.

In San Diego, we are blessed with near-perfect weather year-round and a seemingly endless summer. It can be difficult to find traces of fall, winter, and spring anywhere in the county. Luckily, with just a little bit of a drive, you don’t have to book a cross-country flight to get a taste of Autumn. You can take in San Diego fall foliage simply by knowing where to look for it.

Stay tuned because we are about to expose where to see the best fall foliage in all of San Diego.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Drive about an hour and fifteen minutes east of San Diego and you’ll find one of San Diego’s most glorious state parks, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. It features over 100 miles of hiking opportunities, a plethora of camp sites, and 24,700 acres of oak and conifer forests. At an elevation of 5,000 feet, the seasons come and go similar to Northern California. There is a distinct difference in scenery between fall, summer, winter, and spring. Whenever I am in need of a good hike and dose of nature, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is my go-to location.

If you’re in need of a good dose of San Diego fall foliage, I’d highly recommend a trip to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Just about every hiking trail will have something to offer in terms of cool autumn hues on the surrounding trees. There are also plenty of hiking options ranging in length and difficulty, making this a great option for both kids and elderly hikers.

Check Out this Trail

The Azalea Glen Loop Trail is a short 3.8-mile trail located near the Paso Picacho Campgrounds, which features plenty of changing colors on the abundance of trees found along this trail.

Julian

What was once a prominent gold mining town, Julian is now known for its famous annual apple harvest. A bounty of delicious apple pie aside, Julian is also known for more than just its rich history and delectable desserts. It’s also known for having four distinct seasons: in winter snow is known to dust the countryside landscape, in spring flowers bloom, and in autumn there are no shortage of burnt leaves falling to to the ground.

If you want a true fall experience, Julian is your town to visit. You can experience true San Diego fall foliage as well as the town’s famous apple harvest in the same outing. Spend a day walking the historic streets, visiting an old gold mine, or hiking the nearby trails, or better yet, make a weekend out of it. You can find Julian by driving about an hour and fifteen minutes east of San Diego.

Check Out this Trail

Hike the 1.65-mile Canyon Oak Trail in William Heise County Park to get some of the best fall foliage views from the canopy of oaks looming above.

Palomar Mountain State Park

Some weekends it’s nice to leave behind our hectic lives and hit the road to a quiet place to be one with nature. Palomar Mountain is the ideal destination for just this. Palomar Mountain State Park features over 11 miles of trails through oak forests, chaparral, expansive meadows, and staggering fir and cedar woodlands. The views are scenic, the air is crisp, and the foot traffic is minimal.

Aside from all its scenic glory, Palomar Mountain is also worthy of the hour and a half drive to simply see its fall foliage. Thanks to its dense woodlands, high elevation, and remoteness, it is the dream location to watch the leaves change colors. Bring the family or simply a friend to walk one of the park’s many trails. Varying in both length and difficulty, there’s a trail for everyone to enjoy.

Check Out this Trail

The French Valley to Weir Trail is a relatively flat 3.8-mile trail that showcases the best of Palomar Mountain’s woodlands and is a prime destination for fall foliage because of this.

Mount Laguna

If you are a follower of this blog, you know my dedication to Mount Laguna. At just an hour drive east of San Diego, I’m a frequent visitor for many reasons. One of those is its closer than the other destinations mentioned on this list. The main reason, however, is it’s undoubtedly the best place for San Diego fall foliage. There I said it and wrote it, and I understand that’s a bold claim. But it’s one I feel comfortable making and hopefully you’ll agree to if you make the journey out to Pine Valley.

Mount Laguna sits at close to 6,000 feet above sea level in a Forest of Jeffrey pines. It lies on the eastern edge of Cleveland National Forest and features a general store, a restaurant/bar, campgrounds, and plenty of hiking opportunities. It’s also one of the only areas of San Diego to receive snowfall after large storms. Come in fall or even winter for divergent San Diego views, and plenty of outdoor adventures.

Check Out this Trail

The Sunset Trail is a 3.25-mile trail that takes hikers through a dense pine forest. In fall, the trees are dotted with vibrant hues of marigold and mustard.