Time to See the Aspen Grove!

Go see the Aspen Grove in the San Bernardino Mountains now! Note that this is the only aspen grove in Southern California. A detailed hike description with directions and photos of the grove over several years is contained here on The Hiker’s Way as the Aspen Grove Hike. The leaves have turned and should be in their glorious golden hues for the next week or so.

These colors don’t last for very long at peak so definitely go this week or by next weekend at the latest!

Note that while the Aspen Grove is the best and brightest example of fall color in Southern California, there are certainly others. Anywhere in our local mountains, especially in the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains, you can find patches of fall color. In the LA area you can check out Icehouse Canyon and Santa Anita Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains, both of which have defined trail heads. And for those more adventurous you can take the Lower Holcomb Canyon adventure hike that features lovely maples along a desert stream as it descends from the high mountains.  Also in the California State Park of Silverwood Lake Recreation Area off Interstate 15, east Highway 138, past Highway 143 out of Hesperia, there exists a nice autumn vista of black oaks nestled in pines. The area around Big Bear Lake features some great patches of color as well.

In Orange County check out Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and the San Juan Loop Trail. For the more adventurous in the OC, lovely Harding Canyon hosts a number of beautiful old maple trees. There are many others as well throughout Southern California, so do some exploring. But don’t wait too long, because as we all know, fall color is beautiful but fleeting.