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Almond Bloom and Fall Color Seasons

Almond orchards around Chico bloom white and pale pink between mid-February and mid-March, the Almond Board of California says, and beekeepers bring hives in to pollinate them. In autumn, the Forest Service points to aspen, willow and alder color around Lake Almanor in Lassen National Forest. Neither agency prints a peak week, so watch the trees, not a calendar.

Checked October 29, 2026

  • Mid-Febto mid-March: almond bloom
  • 34,278bearing acres of almonds, Butte County 2025
  • Aug-Octalmond harvest
  • AlmanorForest Service fall color pick
Almond trees in white bloom near Chico in Butte County
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Almond Bloom

“Between mid-February and mid-March, almond tree buds burst into beautiful white and light-pink blooms,” the Almond Board writes; another of its pages simply says February and March. During bloom, beekeepers bring hives into the orchards, and the board notes that almond pollen and nectar are the bees’ first natural food of the year. After almonds, the hives are trucked on to other crops. Harvest runs from mid-August to October.

Butte County had 34,278 bearing acres of almonds in 2025, a crop worth $144.7 million. The orchards are private farms: enjoy them from public roads, and keep clear of the hives.

Fall Color

The Forest Service fall colors page names Lassen National Forest, near Lassen Volcanic National Park: aspen groves, willows and mountain alder, especially around Hat Creek Rim and Lake Almanor. It lists the California trees to watch: quaking aspen turning gold up high, bigleaf maple, black oak and canyon live oak, dogwood, and sycamore and cottonwood going yellow along rivers and canyons.

Plan a color drive with our Feather River to Lake Almanor loop or the Lake Almanor guide.

Season What to look for Source
February to March Almond bloom, valley orchards Almond Board of California
Mid-August to October Almond harvest Almond Board of California
Autumn Aspen, willow and alder near Lake Almanor and Hat Creek Rim USDA Forest Service

Choosing when or how far to go? See What to Do Around Chico by Season, Day Trips From Chico.

Coming Up in Chico

October 2026

November 2026

December 2026

Sources: each card links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we checked it. This list shows the next 45 days; see every upcoming event.

What We Could Not Verify

  • No agency we read prints a typical peak week for fall color in this area. Not confirmed
  • We found no fall color page for Plumas National Forest and no Forest Service fall color hotline. Not confirmed
  • We have no true photo of local fall color yet, so the photo shows almond bloom near Chico.
  • Orchard etiquette is our own advice; the Almond Board pages we read do not address visitors.

Questions People Ask

When do almonds bloom near Chico?

Between mid-February and mid-March, per the Almond Board of California.

Where is the best fall color near Chico?

The Forest Service points to Lassen National Forest, especially around Lake Almanor and Hat Creek Rim, for aspen, willow and alder.

Can I take photos in an almond orchard?

From a public road, yes. The orchards are private farms, and bee hives are placed in them during bloom.

Place Pages for This Guide

More Guides

Sources

  1. Almond Board of California, almond lifecycle: https://www.almonds.org/why-almonds/growing-good/almond-lifecycle (checked October 29, 2026)
  2. Almond Board of California, bloom to snack time: https://www.almonds.org/why-almonds/almond-living-magazine/almond-lifecycle-bloom-snack-time (checked October 29, 2026)
  3. Almond Board of California, honey bees: https://www.almonds.org/why-almonds/growing-good/honey-bees (checked October 29, 2026)
  4. USDA Forest Service, fall colors: https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/fall-colors (checked October 29, 2026)
  5. Butte County, 2025 Agricultural Crop Report: https://www.buttecounty.net/Archive.aspx?ADID=1244 (checked October 29, 2026)

On The Map

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Cite this page: It's Chico, “Almond Bloom and Fall Color Seasons”, itschico.com/guides/almond-bloom-fall-color/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.