Mendocino County is a great place to enjoy fall leaves. Specifically, the town of Ukiah. However, there are many stops along the way where you can see beautiful fall leaves. We like Ukiah for fall leaf peeping for several reasons. Ukiah has a charming downtown, an 80 acre park with hiking trails right near downtown, and it is surrounded by wineries, as well as a very architecturally interesting monastery. If you want to find a new fall foliage destination in Northern California, take a trip on Highway 101 to Ukiah.
Ukiah isn’t an unknown town– it has a population of 16,728 and is located right off of Highway 101 just north of wine country. But many of us don’t often think of this Mendocino County town when it comes to fall leaves.
Ukiah experiences a beautiful fall with all shades of orange and yellow in its trees. To make the most of your visit, walk around downtown, hike in the local park, and enjoy some of the many activities just a few minutes drive from Ukiah.
Downtown Ukiah has many charming shops and the streets are lined with trees with leaves turning shades of orange. We recommend you enjoy a walk around town, and end it with a good meal from one of the local restaurants.
Stop in to Mama’s Cafe where they serve breakfast all day. Or enjoy a leisurely brunch at Ukiah Brewing Company, or an upscale fine dining lunch at Patrona. Downtown Ukiah has many food options!
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After enjoying some food from one of the excellent local restaurants, head north toward Low Gap Park for some hiking. The 80-acre park is a great place to explore and see beautiful fall scenery.
(We just had to include this photo, even though it is in a Costco parking lot, it illustrates how colorful Ukiah is in the fall. You'll find beauty everywhere this time of year!)
This moderately challenging 2.8-mile route is open year-round, and provides hikers with views of Ukiah and the surrounding nature. The weather this time of year is not too chilly, but crisp enough that you’ll need a warm sweater or jacket.
Another place that is not too far from Ukiah where you can see beautiful leaves is Talmage.
Just a couple miles east of Ukiah is this census-designated area called Talmage. In this little enclave you can appreciate the fall foliage at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas monastery.
After exploring downtown Ukiah and hiking City View Trail, you might have gotten your fill of leafing. In which case, check out some of the local wineries.
The wineries in this area are not overly crowded. If you want some more leafing, we suggest you make a day use reservation at the nearby Vichy Hot Springs. Soak in a pool while admiring the fall leaves, or hike around the spa’s property.
The best time to experience this fall foliage destination in Northern California is late October through early November. We bet you didn’t know you could go leaf-peeping in Mendocino County! Tell us, what areas of Northern California do you think have the most beautiful fall foliage?
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