Fall Colors in Yosemite National Park

Photo by: Pacheco via Flickr [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0]

Yosemite is often not considered as a prime fall-color national park destination like its eastern relatives. However, there are many outstanding opportunities for witnessing fall colors in Yosemite National Park.

The contrast of autumn's yellow, gold and amber against a backdrop of dark green coniferous forests is quite an amazing site. A variety of colors can be seen throughout the valley floor in autumn. Bigleaf maple trees shine bright gold along the southern wall of the Valley from Bridalveil Creek to Happy Isles and beyond. Dogwood trees glow red, pink and yellow. Black oaks turn orange and brown, and the black cottonwoods impress with vibrant displays of bright yellow.

A favorite spot in the park during the autumn season is near the Yosemite Chapel, where you will find a large (non-native) sugar maple that explodes into brilliant red and makes for some stunning photo opportunities.

Quaking aspens can be found throughout the park as well, especially along Tioga Road near Tuolumne Grove trailhead and the Yosemite Creek Picnic area. There are also several places to spot golden aspens along Glacier Point Road past Summit Meadow and near the Bridal Veil Campground.