When is peak fall foliage in June Lake?

In a typical year, fall color in the June Lake area peaks around October 3, with the best viewing from roughly October 2 to October 10. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.

How long does peak color last in June Lake?

Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around September 21, and most leaves are down by about October 16.

Is June Lake early or late compared with the rest of California?

June Lake typically peaks about 5 days earlier than the California average of Oct 9. It ranks 6 of 11 California destinations from earliest to latest.

Foliage map › Destinations › California › South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe, California fall foliage

In a typical year, fall color in the South Lake Tahoe area peaks around October 13, with the best viewing from roughly October 12 to October 20.

Typical peak: October 13
Best viewing: Oct 12 – Oct 20
Color starts: Around Oct 1
Leaves mostly down: Around Oct 26
Elevation: 6,250 ft

2026 foliage season

Typical season

Peak around October 13. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.

The season at a glance

Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.

Open South Lake Tahoe on the foliage map

Where to see the color around South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe sits at the south end of Lake Tahoe, at about 6,250 feet, and its best color is in the aspen along the creeks and meadows near the shore. At the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, a paved path winds through the meadow and forest along Taylor Creek, where kokanee salmon spawn in early October. Nearby, golden aspen line the route to Fallen Leaf Lake, and a little farther along Highway 89, the overlooks above Emerald Bay look down on the bay and Fannette Island.

Scenic drive

Highway 89 follows the southwest shore of the lake past Emerald Bay, with views down to the water. To the south, Highway 89 climbs over Luther Pass to Hope Valley, one of the best places for aspen near the lake.

If you arrive too early or too late

Too early? Still mostly green

Head higher

Hope Valley, CA (12 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 5 days earlier, and Monitor Pass, CA (27 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 11 days earlier.

Too late? Already past peak

Head lower

Yosemite Valley, CA (85 miles away, lower down) typically peaks about 16 days later, and Quincy (Plumas County), CA (86 miles away, lower down) typically peaks about 14 days later.

Nearby destinations

Trees you’ll see turning

Common questions

When is peak fall foliage in South Lake Tahoe?

In a typical year, fall color in the South Lake Tahoe area peaks around October 13, with the best viewing from roughly October 12 to October 20. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.

How long does peak color last in South Lake Tahoe?

Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 1, and most leaves are down by about October 26.

Is South Lake Tahoe early or late compared with the rest of California?

South Lake Tahoe peaks close to the middle of the California season, about Oct 11 on average across the 11 California destinations we track.

What trees color up around South Lake Tahoe?

The main fall color in this area comes from quaking aspen and willow. See the leaf guide to identify them.

Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.