Fall foliage, hiking trails, and things to do in the Bay Area's national parks
It's the season we fall in love with the national parks of the Bay Area. Sunny days, raptors overhead, and maybe even a yellow leaf or two.
We might not get the same fall foliage as Vermont or New Hampshire, but there's still plenty to do in your coastal parklands every autumn. Best of all, these iconic national park sites are woven into the everyday fabric of the Bay Area—often just a bus, boat, or BART ride away. Check out our Transit to Trails guide for easy ways to reach your next outing by public transportation, no car required. For more on why these "urban gateway" parks matter as everyday spaces for connection and celebration, read this op-ed from our CEO on how national parks are woven into daily Bay Area life.
Here are staff picks for great fall outings in the parks:
For the best fall foliage and autumn leaves, our Native Plant Nursery experts recommend looking for big leaf maples and creek dogwoods in riparian zones (along creeks and rivers). Here are staff selected trails for great autumnal outings in the parks to go leaf-peeping:
Fall Activities in the GGNRA
Sunny days, raptors overhead, and maybe even a yellow leaf or two. Here are staff picks for great fall outings in the parks:
Golden Gate National Recreation Area Trails
Pathways to Adventure
Beatrice Kilat / Parks Conservancy
From park-wide volunteer weekends to Sunrise Ceremonies by the Indians of All Tribes, fall in the parks has something for everyone:
John Rusk
Debbie Ballentine
Matt Lavin
Paul Asman & Jill Lenoble
Franco Folini
Peggy A. Lopipero-Langmo
© 2026 Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. All rights reserved.
