Weather Insider: Fall Foliage in Idyllwild
Southern California is world-renowned for its pleasant weather and plentiful palm trees year-round. Given the moderate temperatures, there aren't many places across the region that provide people with a chance to see some fall foliage. One of those places is just an hour away, up in Idyllwild. Most of the trees up in our local mountains are conifers like pine trees. Conifers are evergreen, meaning they don't change colors or lose their leaves. There are a few deciduous (trees that lose their leaves) species, like Black Oaks.
As the days shorten and the temperature cools, the leaves of deciduous trees begin to produce less chlorophyll (the chemical that makes leaves green and allows them to photosynthesize). This allows more carotenoids to dominate, turning the leaves shades of red, orange, and yellow (depending on the species).
There are many trails and parks around Idyllwild. A great place to visit when in town is the Idyllwild Nature Center, a Riverside County Park. The park offers a number of trails and different tree species, including the aforementioned black oaks, whose leaves change color and eventually fall.
Leaves are currently in the process of changing color and falling. The peak time of fall foliage in Idyllwild is early to mid-November, so you still have time to see the fall colors.
