Fall Colors in Plumas County
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Plumas County has spectacular fall colors that dazzle year after year. Masses of burnished golds and sunlit yellows flecked with brilliant reds and rich magentas, set against the majestic greens of the mountains and the royal blue sky qualify Plumas County as a must-see destination for nature lovers and camera buffs during late September, October and early November.
The season is also a good time to take in the crisp mountain air, enjoy a more quiet pace, and join in the fun of harvest festivals and other events.
Plan to be here this fall, and don't forget your camera. Take one or more of the easy scenic drives described here, and be treated to some of the most dazzling fall foliage in California.
The following self-guided tours are worth exploring. You also may want to obtain a free copy of the Plumas County Fall Color Guide, a map that outlines the best routes in the county, illustrates common species and explains why leaves change color. Pick one up at visitor information centers, order by email at info@plumascounty.org or call (800) 326-2247.
Feather River Canyon. Scenic Byway Highway 70, from north of Oroville to its intersection with Highway 395 northwest of Reno, offers one of California's most glorious drives any time of year, but it is particularly stunning during the autumn season.
Arrays of golden oak flanked by blazing dogwood and occasional quaking aspen ranging in color from chartreuse to flaxen yellow, all intermixed with evergreens, make the drive along the Feather River a breathtaking experience.
As you head east, the oaks become sparser and the clusters of aspen and other deciduous trees stand out among the cedar, fir and ponderosa pine.
Lake Almanor Area. The lake, with Mt. Lassen looming in the background, is a scenic masterpiece year-round.
Autumn brings miles of reddened dogwood on Highway 36, thickets of glowing birch and aspen along Juniper Lake Road and Warner Valley Road to Drakesbad. The meadow by the causeway east of Chester glows with hues of gold from late September through October.
The Benner Creek area north of Chester is a good place to see the stunning dogwood.
Another beautiful drive is along Highway 32, which parallels Deer Creek and offers many opportunities to pull off and enjoy the alders, oaks and other brilliant trees.
Indian Creek/Indian Valley. One of the county's most pastoral drives begins where Highway 70 intersects Highway 89, heading toward Greenville and Lake Almanor.
The road follows Indian Creek. On one side are masses of golden oak, chokecherry and dogwood, and on the other, the crystalline waters of the stream are lined with amber willow and Indian rhubarb, which becomes flaming red.
Nearing Taylorsville, the entire valley becomes visible at the base of Mt. Hough. Broad bands of oak and quaking aspen descend the ravines of the mountain, resembling giant saffron waterfalls.
Near Greenville, the road to Round Valley Lake has large groves of dogwood and cottonwood that make it a worthy side trip.
Quincy/Oroville Road. From Quincy, drive southwest for about 16 miles on Bucks Lake Road-also known as the Quincy/Oroville Road.
If you take the Big Creek route to the top, you'll be treated not only to some of the largest concentrations of dogwood in the county, but also to an incredible view of the valley below. Near the top there are several meadows with groves of aspen and creek willow.
Coming north from Oroville, the road climbs from 200 to 5,100 feet, offering an incredible array of brilliant hardwoods, including big-leaf maples, set against the dark green backdrop of conifers. A popular, longer loop tour brings you up this road to Bucks Lake and Quincy and back down again the following day via the Feather River Canyon.
Quincy/La Porte Road. 
Quincy is the county seat and the courthouse on Main Street is surrounded by a fortress of maples, sycamores and liquid ambers.
Coming into town southeast on Highway 70, travelers will be treated to a montage of oak, maple and poplars sprinkled among the homes that rest against the backdrop of the western Sierra.
Going east through Quincy, turn right on La Porte Road. Less than a mile south on the old Thompson Ranch stands an enormous English maple.
The only one of its kind in the area, its leaves turn incredible shades of champagne pink and deep scarlet.
The drive to the historical town of La Porte winds through canyons, crosses the Middle Fork of the Feather River and is a spectacular color excursion.
Lakes Basin Recreation Area. South of Graeagle between Highways 89 and 49 is the Lakes Basin Recreation Area.
Over 9,000 acres of wilderness, lakes, streams and bountiful trees comprise this beautiful and rugged part of the county.
Because of the high altitude, the quaking aspens are some of the first trees to turn in the fall and provide splashes of luminous color throughout the area.
Portola/Sierra Valley. The drive up to Lake Davis and Frenchman Lake in the eastern section of the county takes you past stunning groves of quaking aspen and cottonwood that jump out against the dark green conifers. Spectacular foliage can also be seen along Rocky Point Road in Portola, which parallels the Middle Fork Feather River.
Off-road color. Some of the county's best color is hidden off the roadways. You can view some glorious autumn leaves on a hike, on horseback, on a mountain bike, while hunting, or while fishing or boating.
When do they peak?
Check the “Awesome Autumn” link (see below) on the Plumas County Visitors Bureau website (www.plumascounty.org) for up-to-date reports on fall color and the best places to find it. We post “leaf peeper” reports as soon as fall colors appear, beginning around the last week in September. The reports continue as long as the color lasts, usually through mid-November, depending on weather and elevation.
If you’re planning a trip around the fall colors, you may also call the Plumas County Visitors Bureau (800) 326-2247 or the Plumas and Lassen National Forest Service offices.
 Click on the leaf graphic to go to the Awesome Autumn blog.
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