10 pretty places to explore this fall in LA

People gravitate to LA, at least in part, because the weather is beautiful year round. What visitors and recent transplants might not realize is that subtle as it may be, Southern California does actually experience a change of seasons. While the air might not qualify as crisp, fall in LA is the perfect time to get outside of the city and immerse yourself in nature.

Drive just 30 minutes from LA to Saddlerock Ranch and Malibu Family Wines, and you’ll feel like you’ve arrived on a movie set. You may even get to meet a film star, albeit one of the 4-legged variety. Regardless of which wine safari you book, you’ll get to tour the property in an open-air safari vehicle, stopping to taste wine and feed exotic animals, many of which have retired to Saddlerock after careers on the silver screen. If you book the Giraffe Safari, you’ll get to meet and feed the ranch’s biggest star, Stanley the Giraffe whose film credits include The Hangover 3.

Where: 32111 Mulholland Hwy, Malibu, CA

While the mountain’s official name is Mt. San Antonio, most locals don’t know the peak by anything other than Mt. Baldy, so-named because of its bare, treeless summit. Regardless of what you call it, as the highest peak in Los Angeles County, Mt. Baldy is on every So Cal hiker’s bucket list. The recommended route to the top is an 11.3-mile loop, but there are a number of ways to shorten or lengthen your hike. Thanks to a ski lift that operates on weekends, you can bypass the least interesting section of the hike and shorten your hike to 6.6 miles round trip. While no technical climbing is required to reach the summit, this is a tough hike, but the reward is an unparalleled view that extends from the Pacific to the Mojave on a clear day.  

Where: 6700 Mount Baldy Rd, Mount Baldy, CA

Nothing says fall like apple pie, and while apple picking in LA requires a bit of a drive, it’s well worth it for the satisfaction of returning home with a peck or two of apples you picked yourself. Brian Ranch is located just 40 miles outside of LA, and beginning in late August, you can pick pears and plums in addition to Braeburn, Golden Supreme, Red Fuji, and Royal Gala apples. If you hold off until October, you can also take advantage of their pumpkin patch. During the picking season, they are open from 8am to 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Where: 34810 Largo Vista Rd, Llano, CA

The first craft brewery in Conejo Valley, Ladyface Ale Companie has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best breweries in LA. The brewery has a variety of their award-winning French, Belgian, and American-style ales on rotating taps, and you can always grab a growler to go. Even if you’re not a beer drinker, Ladyface is well worth a visit. The kitchen serves up comfort food with a twist, and you can enjoy the seasonal fare on the spacious patio while taking in the incredible views of the nearby Agoura Hills.

Where: 29281 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills, CA

Given the prevalence of palm trees and the temperate weather, you might be surprised to learn that there are places in and around LA that have displays of fall foliage that rival what you’d find in New England. You just have to know where to look. The Arboretum in Arcadia is full of maples, crepe myrtles, and pin oaks that provide a striking array of reds, oranges, and yellows. The best color will be found in the Celebration and Meadowbrook Gardens where you’ll also enjoy a striking view of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Where: 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA

Once you’ve checked out the traditional fall foliage at the Arboretum, head to the Huntington for a different kind of seasonal display. There, the golden gingko leaves combine with desert blooms to provide a uniquely Southern California vision of fall. Thanks to the purple salvia, the coral aloe, and the bright fuchsia of autumn sage, fall color at the Huntington goes far beyond your traditional reds and oranges. Keep an eye on their calendar for seasonal festivities like the Harvest Moon Celebration and their very popular annual fall plant sale.

Where: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA

For 7 weekends in September and October, Lake Arrowhead is transformed into a Bavarian alpine village for their annual Oktoberfest celebration. The festivities are free and open to all ages, but if you plan on imbibing, you’ll need to buy a commemorative beer mug for $20, which includes the cost of your first beer. German food vendors will be on hand to keep you fed, and bands will be performing traditional German music each day of the festival, so put on your lederhosen, grab your accordion, and make your way to Lake Arrowhead for some beer and brats.

When: September 16–October 29, Saturdays (12pm–8pm) and Sundays (12pm–6pm)
Where: 28200 State Hwy 189, Lake Arrowhead, CA

Located just south of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (RSABG) is committed to preserving and celebrating California’s native plants. With over 6,000 native plant species, California has the richest diversity of flora of any state in the US, and RSABG has dedicated itself to protecting and promoting this natural resource. Thanks to the cooler temperatures and impending winter rainfall is Southern California’s prime planting season, and the Grow Native Nursery at RSABG should be your first stop when planning your own garden. In addition to tons of native plants, the nursery offers free gardening classes and workshops from October through May.

Where: 1500 N College Ave, Claremont, CA

If you’re not quite ready to tackle Mt. Baldy, the Ice House Canyon Trail, located just southeast of the behemoth, is a great alternative. At just over 3.5 miles and 2,600 vertical feet, Ice House is a more manageable, but still beautiful, hike in Angeles National Forest. As with the Mt. Baldy hike, there are options for extending your venture, making it into an 8-mile, full day hike. Most hikers aim to reach the saddle, which provides views of both Mt. Baldy and Ontario Peak.

Where: 7698 Ice House Canyon Road, Mount Baldy, CA

The Ortega Highway is a 25-mile stretch of State Route 74, which begins in the coastal city of San Juan Capistrano and winds its way east through the Cleveland National Forest. Recognized as one of the most scenic drives in Southern California, the Ortega Highway offers yet another chance to catch some of that elusive fall foliage. Best of all, if you’re looking to get an early dose of Halloween, the Ortega is said to be haunted; so if you make the drive this fall, keep an eye out for flickering lights and ghostly apparitions.

Where: Begin at the interchange of Highway 74 and the I-5

Los Angeles has plenty of places to find a taste of fall; you just have to seek it out. The best part is, you can enjoy fall fun secure in the knowledge that you won’t see so much as a frost this winter.