Fall guide to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Discover the autumnal activities, fall foliage & more

Fall colors of the Arroyo Willow.

Ryan Curran White / Parks Conservancy

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. Here are staff picks for great fall outings in the parks:

Trails to Hike in the GGNRA this Fall Season

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:

See more self-guided hikes

Cataract Trail

Difficulty Level: Moderately Strenuous

Trail Length: 2.70 miles round trip

Dipsea Trail

Difficulty Level: Very Strenuous

Trail Length: 9.44 miles round trip

Ecology Trail

Difficulty Level: Easiest

Trail Length: 1.60 miles round trip

Matt Davis Trail

Difficulty Level: Very Strenuous

Trail Length: 13.60 miles round trip

Dog walker takes her leashed dog through Oakwood Valley

Oakwood Valley Trail

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Trail Length: 2.58 miles round trip

Tennessee Valley Trail

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Trail Length: 3.40 miles round trip

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:

A couple hiking a dirt trail in the Marin Headlands. A Golden Gate Bridge tower can be seen peeking through the green mountain range in the background.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area Trails

Pathways to Adventure

A group of Alcatraz visitors admire a family of geese walking through the historic landmark

Alcatraz Tours

A brown-colored Merlin flying wings spread against a pale blue sky

Raptors of Hawk Hill

A humpback whale is seen breaching off the coast of California in 2010.

Expert Tips for Whale Watching in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

A Muir Woods visitor enjoying the accessibility or the wheelchair accessible boardwalk.

Learn more

Accessible Trails

Fall Events in the GGNRA

Sunrise Ceremony by the Indians of All Tribes on Alcatraz Island

Sunrise Ceremony 2021 by the Indians of All Tribes on Alcatraz Island.

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:

Find a volunteer opportunity

Coastal Clean-up Day 2025

Sat, Sep 20, 2025, 9:00am - 12:00pm

TBD

Access to Adventure Day at the Presidio Tunnel Tops.

Access to Adventure Day 2024

Sat, Sep 28, 2024, 11:00am - 3:00pm

Crissy Field Center

People enjoying the Trails Forever Dinner in the Golden Gate national parks.

Our Work

Trails Forever Dinner 2025

Hands in the air at the Give Back Kick Back

Events

Active Events in the Parks

Fall foliage and autumn leaves in the GGNRA

Like other deciduous trees, Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) is a native show-stopper when its leaves turn bright yellow. It is found along riparian areas.

John Rusk

California buckeye during the fall season.

California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) look like Mother Nature hung ornaments on its bare branches. When the leaves drop, large brown seeds are the only thing left hanging.

Debbie Ballentine

Creek Dogwood (Cornus sericea) can be found in riparian areas. The species makes its presence known as its leaves drop, showcasing bright red branches underneath.

Matt Lavin

While best viewed from a distance, Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) offers reds, purples, oranges, and yellows in the fall. Viewer beware—the plant retains its itch-inducing oils even without its leaves.

Paul Asman & Jill Lenoble

While many other species of oaks in California are deciduous (they lose their leaves), the Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) is evergreen. Watch as acorns mature (usually from Sept. to Nov.) before dropping.

Franco Folini

Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis) reveals why it is named after the trickster canine in the fall. When the seed clusters of the plant open, they expose a crown of white hairs that resemble the fur of a coyote. These fine hairs are technically known as “pappus” and allow the attached “achene” (seed) to disperse by wind.

Peggy A. Lopipero-Langmo