Bay Area Fall Guide 2026: Pumpkin Patches, Fall Colors & Corn Mazes
We’re very lucky here in the Bay Area for our beautiful autumn weather. We have our gorgeous “Indian Summer” to thank for that which extends a bit of warmth and brings us plenty of dry days to get outdoors.
Despite the warm temps, you can still get into the fall spirit by eating local, seasonal autumnal produce, seeing the beautiful leaves change color, and exploring a corn maze on a pumpkin patch.
Updated 9/24/26
Fall Colors of the Bay
The Bay Area may not be renowned for its fall colors, but with a bit of planning, you can still see the beautiful leaves change.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
San Francisco | While the color of the leaves in San Francisco will never be confused for Vermont in the fall, that doesn’t mean there isn’t gorgeous fall foliage to be found. San Francisco’s own Botanical Garden is a great place to do some leaf-peeping since their 55-acre garden features plants from around the world. The Garden is one of the most beautiful spots in the city when its Moon View Garden and Temperate Asia Garden begin to turn. Be sure to check out the bright gold Ginko trees and deep purplish-red Dogwoods. The fall peak typically lasts about 2 weeks, often in November. Follow the Garden to see how the leaves are changing on a daily basis.
Filoli Winery and Gardens
Peninsula: Woodside | The vast woodside estate has gorgeous gardens that feature flora from China, Japan, England, Spain as well as other countries. Come late November through early December, you’ll see gorgeous autumnal colors from Japanese maples, cherries, Virginia creepers, hawthorns, fruit trees, viburnums, ginkgos and other rare plants spread out throughout the gardens.
Henry W. Coe State Park
South Bay: East of Morgan Hill | Take a stroll in the state park in October to see the Bigleaf Maples turn bright yellow and the Black Oak trees turn shades of red. You’ll want to explore the forests on the north-facing slopes which have many deciduous trees.
Wine Country & North Bay
National Geographic named Sonoma County the best place in the country to see changing fall foliage for its stunning autumn colors on both leaves and vines. They suggest a scenic drive through Sonoma Valley along Arnold Drive which is lined with colorful Oak and Maple trees. Then continue through the Russian River Valley, to see fiery orange, yellow and red vineyards.
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park (Calistoga) and Trione-Annadel State Park (Santa Rosa) both have Bigleaf Maples and Black Oaks too which when the temperatures cool, the leaves turn, creating a dramatic and colorful display.
Find more great places to see fall colors in the Bay at parks.ca.gov.
Farmers Markets & Fall Produce
Autumn is a wonderful time to hit up the Farmers Markets. Because of California’s ideal climate and soil conditions, we’re lucky to have an extended season of summer crops plus early fall crops too. Tomatoes are still in season until mid-November, as well as potatoes and eggplants.
The arrival of apples and pears signals the start of fall. Look out for Gravenstein and Pink Lady apples and Bartlett pears. Persimmons and pomegranates appear in late September and pick up in October and November when juicy citrus fruit crops come in.
Find more about what’s in season and check out Foodwise (formerly CUESA), SF Environment Department‘s Farmers Markets List, or Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association to find a farmers market near you. Here’s our Funcheap’s Ultimate Guide to Bay Area Farmers’ Markets with 115+ different farmers’ markets in San Francisco and beyond.
Apple Picking
Want fresh fall produce? It doesn’t get any fresher than straight from the tree. Get out of the city and head to a local farm to pick your own apples. Peak apple-picking season near the Bay Area is typically September and October. But don’t wait; many people who wait until later in the season are disappointed that many varieties have slim pickings.
Apple-A-Day Ratzlaff Ranch
Sebastopol | Located in the rolling hills of Sonoma County, pack a picnic and head to a local, family-run farm focused on apples and pears. Their ranch has picnic tables and ample parking. In addition to apples, you can also take home some of their award-winning crisp apple cider. Their “U-pick” season is typically offered September through early December (exact dates vary year to year) where you can harvest your own Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, and Roman Beauties apples.
Swanton Pacific Ranch
Davenport (Santa Cruz County) | This gorgeous 3,200-acre Cal Poly ranch features lush redwood forests, riverine ecosystems and expansive coastal grassland overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Normally closed to the public, it’s owned and operated by Cal Poly as an educational and research facility focused on sustainable agriculture and natural-resource management. Each fall, the ranch opens its certified-organic U-Pick apple orchard to the public. The 2-acre orchard grows 16 apple varieties that ripen progressively throughout the season, including early varieties like Gingergold, Red Gravenstein and Royal Gala, followed by Fuji, Jonagold, Granny Smith, Golden Russet and Suntan. The 2026 season opened September 18, with picking available Fridays-Sundays until supplies last. Check the Harvest Calendar for current availability.
Gizdich Ranch
Watsonville | Bring the family to this popular U-Pick orchard, where you can pick fruit right off the tree or vine and picnic among the apple trees and rolling hills. Gizdich Ranch’s “Pik-Yor-Self” program has been a family tradition since 1965, with seasonal picking for strawberries, Olallie berries, boysenberries and apples. After picking, stop by the ranch’s pie shop and deli for its famous homemade pies, fresh-pressed apple juice, sandwiches and other treats. Apple U-Pick opened September 12 for the 2026 season, with weekend hours of 9am-5pm. Check the U-Pick page or call (831) 722-1056 before visiting to confirm availability.
Apple Hill
Greater Placerville (about 50 miles east of Sacramento) | If you’re up for a little road trip to a countryside getaway, drive along Highway 50 between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe to a bountiful Gold Country with 50 locales featuring fruit orchards, roadside stands, ranches, breweries, tree farms, wineries and even a spa. Fall is especially popular, when apples, pumpkins and other seasonal crops are ready for picking. Check the Harvest Calendar to find out what’s in season, browse the 2026 Apple Hill Growers map, or download the dedicated app for updated information on farms, food, lodging, events and more.
Apple varieties and picking dates vary throughout the season, so check with individual farms before heading out. For more trip-planning tips, see Sactown Mag’s Ultimate Guide to Apple Hill.
Corn Mazes & Pumpkin Patches
Get into the fall spirit by embarking on an adventure through a corn maze or picking out your favorite pumpkin at a local pumpkin patch.
Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch & Mini Hay Maze
San Francisco | Keep it local at this San Francisco pumpkin patch, a neighborhood staple for more than 70 years. Find pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, plus gourds, corn stalks, and Indian corn. October visitors can also spot ghosts in the trees, scarecrows, and live turkeys. Clancy’s website mentions a corn maze and hayride, too, though we couldn’t confirm whether both attractions are operating for 2026. The patch is open daily through October 31, from 9 am to 9 pm.
G&M Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
Livermore | It twists, it turns, it dead-ends. G&M Farms’ six-acre corn maze is a classic East Bay fall outing, and the farm has been featured twice on The Late Show with David Letterman. There’s also a free straw bale maze, corn box, and farm animals. On weekends, you can add paid attractions including pony rides, a cow train, pedal carts, and jumping pillows. General admission is free, but the corn maze costs $10, with children 5 and under free. The farm is open Wednesday through Sunday through October 31, 2026.
Petaluma Pumpkin Patch & A’mazing Corn Maze
Petaluma | This four-acre maze is more than a walk through the corn. Farmer Jim creates a new layout each year, with 10-foot-tall stalks and second-story viewing platforms to help you get your bearings. There’s also a little kids’ maze, farm animals, a corn kernel sandbox, and a straw mountain, plus extra-cost attractions like pony rides and a Jump Zone. The farm is open through October 31, with free admission to the patch and parking. The daytime maze costs $9 for ages 6 and up, while the nighttime maze on Fridays and Saturdays costs $13.
Swank Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
Road Trip: Hollister | Worth the drive, Swank Farms has a 9-acre corn maze where you solve riddles to find your way out. The Fall Festival also features a pumpkin patch, sunflower field, farm animals, jumping pillow, cow train, corn box, games, and photo ops, with live music on weekends. For extra Halloween thrills, the Trail of Lights & Terror in the Corn combines a lighted trail with a haunted cornfield on select October nights. General admission starts at $15 on weekdays and $20 on weekends, plus online fees. Children under 3 are free. The 2026 festival runs through October 31.
Find more epic corn mazes in our roundup of the Best Corn Mazes in the Bay Area.
For more seasonal stops, check out Marin Mommies’ 2026 guide to pumpkin patches in Marin and Sonoma.
Awesome Fall Fairs & Festivals
Fall in the Bay also means several big Bay Area events to look forward to.
Fleet Week 2026
October 4-12, 2026San Francisco’s largest annual civic sponsored event, San Francisco Fleet Week is a series of free, family-friendly events that honor the contributions of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. The highlight of Fleet Week is The U.S. Navy Blue Angels dazzling air show, taking place over three consecutive days.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026
October 2-4, 2026One of the largest, free-est and beloved music festivals in the country is held annually the first weekend in October. Be one of over 750,000 attendees over the three-day musical extravaganza in beautiful Golden Gate Park.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass photographed in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA on October 06, 2019 ©Jay Blakesberg
2026 Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival (Oct. 17-18, 2026)
Want to see a pumpkin that weighs almost as much as a Smart Car? Witness the humongous, mind-bending, Volkswagen-sized weigh-off champion pumpkin on display, plus, stare in awe at the mesmerizing and remarkably talented “Picasso of pumpkin carvers” sculpt and shape monster pumpkins into one-of-a-kind masterpieces.
Fall Activities
