Leaf Peeping In California: Fall Color, Arguably, Rivals East Coast

CALIFORNIA — Hey leaf peepers, you don't have to go to New England to see the leaves change color.

Currently, the Golden State's native fauna is putting on a colorful display, a veritable "leaf peepshow," with many national, state and regional parks aglow with fall hues.

"California hosts approximately 6,500 species, subspecies, and varieties of plants that occur naturally in the state, and many of these are found nowhere else in the world," the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports.

This week, Patch snapped a handful of pics of native color on display in Southwest Riverside County — a valley and foothill area bordered by Orange and San Diego counties. The region abuts the Cleveland National Forest.

All of the plants pictured below — and thousands more — are found throughout much of the state.