National Forest·California·1,311,102 acres
Sierra National Forest
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Friday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
Weather Wind to 40 mph Saturday. Color may come down before it turns.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Sierra National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Sierra National Forest around Oct 22, and the four days to aim for are Oct 21 to 24.
The forest runs from about 2,228 to 11,109 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 35 days: the high stands around Sep 17, the low ground around Nov 8. That's 2 days earlier than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 to Sep 6 | Still green | |
| Sep 7 to Sep 13 | Still green | |
| Sep 14 to Sep 20 | Still green | 10,000 to 12,000 ft |
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Still green | |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Starting to turn | 8,000 to 10,000 ft |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Starting to turn | |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Nearly peak | 6,000 to 8,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Peak color | |
| Oct 26 to Nov 1 | Just past peak | 4,000 to 6,000 ft |
| Nov 2 to Nov 8 | Just past peak | 2,000 to 4,000 ft |
| Nov 9 to Nov 15 this week | Fading | |
| Nov 16 to Nov 22 | Leaves down | |
- 10,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 1714%
- 8,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2926%
- 6,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1224%
- 4,000–6,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 2619%
- 2,000–4,000 ftPeak colorpeak Nov 813%
Height off 3DEP inside the forest’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the forest stands in it.
That’s 2 days earlier than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Wednesday, October 21 to Thursday, October 22
You’ll find it leaves down up high, starting to turn lower down.
Up at 10,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 17; down at 4,000 feet they hold on until about Nov 8. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 10,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 17
- 8,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 29
- 6,000–8,000 ftJust past peakpeak Oct 12
- 4,000–6,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 26
- 2,000–4,000 ftStarting to turnpeak Nov 8
- Where to drive
- US Route 395 (Eastern Sierra), about 30 miles · June Lake Loop (Route 158), about 35 miles · Bishop Creek Road (Route 168), about 35 miles
- What turns
- California black oak, blue oak, Fremont cottonwood, white alder, willow
What turns, and when
- California black oak23%
- blue oak20%
- Fremont cottonwood19%
- white alder13%
- willow13%
- valley oak10%
Also named across California, outside what the canopy read measures here: Quaking Aspen, Bigleaf Maple.
Eastern Sierra aspens turn brilliant gold against granite walls, black oaks in Yosemite Valley go bronze and russet, and cottonwoods line the desert creeks in pale yellow.
Questions people ask about Sierra National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at Sierra National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at Sierra National Forest around Oct 22, and the four days to aim for are Oct 21 to 24.
- Where is the best fall color at Sierra National Forest right now?
On Nov 10 the forest is fading. By elevation, the color is at peak at 2,000 to 4,000 feet.
- How long does peak last at Sierra National Forest?
About four days at the top, Oct 21 to 24, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 35 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 39 days.
- Is Sierra National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 22, and on Nov 10 it's fading.
- What trees turn color at Sierra National Forest?
Quaking Aspen, Black Oak, Bigleaf Maple, Fremont Cottonwood, White Alder. Eastern Sierra aspens turn brilliant gold against granite walls, black oaks in Yosemite Valley go bronze and russet, and cottonwoods line the desert creeks in pale yellow.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. Out here we score it against NASA's satellite record of when the canopy shuts down, read inside each unit’s own boundary: two dates in three land within 12 days of it. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
John Muir Wilderness and Inyo and Kings Canyon and Yosemite and Mono Basin National Scenic Area are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Oct 8 best Oct 7 to 10
Fall color roads near Sierra National Forest
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- US Route 395 (Eastern Sierra)
The stretch from Bridgeport to Lone Pine. Every canyon draining the Sierra's east side holds aspens, and the backdrop of 14,000-foot peaks is unmatched.
- June Lake Loop (Route 158)
A short loop off US 395 with dense aspen groves around four alpine lakes. The most concentrated aspen color in California.
- Bishop Creek Road (Route 168)
Climbs from the Owens Valley to South Lake and Lake Sabrina. Aspens line the creek the entire way, peaking in early-to-mid October.
- Sonora Pass (Route 108)
A remote Sierra crossing with scattered aspen groves and wide alpine meadows. Less visited than 395 but equally beautiful.