Find out when the color season arrives - it usually lasts from early October to early November, though leaves will start changing color earlier at the highest elevations (above 7,000 feet). For updated information about color in national forests, call (800) 354-4595.
For good half-day drives, consider heading out from Lake Tahoe, traveling through Hope Valley out of Markleeville and along Highway 88. Or loop through the Trinity Mountains from Redding through Weaverville to Yreka, then back again on Interstate 5.
For weekend drives, either choose one spot as a base for day trips or do a circle tour through an area. For the central Sierra, either North or South Lake Tahoe can serve as a good base. Yosemite National Park puts on a show of aspens at higher elevations and oaks and dogwood in the valley. In the north, Redding offers a wide range of accommodations with easy access to the Trinity Mountains and the Lake Shasta/Mount Lassen region, and smaller towns also have lodging. Explore Highway 299 to Eureka, or travel through Shasta National Forest on Highway 89.
