RECREATION / Nature : Fall Daubs Colors on Canyons : Yellow- and Rust-Colored Leaves Begin to Warm the Backcountry of Orange County

Orange County will never be mistaken for New England, but there are places to find splashes of fall color in the local backcountry.

“Fall color means canyons,” advises Jerry Schad, author of “Afoot and Afield in Orange County.” The oak trees that cover large stretches of hillside don’t turn color, but deeper in the canyons, the ground will soon be carpeted with yellow- and rust-colored leaves.

Three native tree species contribute most of the local show: California sycamores, big-leaf maples and arroyo willows. In some areas, the trees are visible from roads, but by far the best way to enjoy the foliage is to take a walk in the woods.

The season is just getting under way and could last through December, but the intensity of fall color may be hurt by the continuing drought. In any case, after the heat of summer, the cooler temperatures of fall make this an ideal time of year to explore the county’s remaining wilderness. And the canyons can be the most beautiful places of all.

Schad recommends the following local canyons for a touch of fall:

Trabuco Canyon: Drivers and mountain bikers can take unpaved Trabuco Canyon Road part of the way into the canyon; beyond the road’s eastern end, a 3.6-mile loop trail takes hikers back into the upper reaches of the canyon. The loop connects with the West Horsethief Trail for more ambitious walkers.

Trabuco Canyon includes the southernmost natural stand of big-leaf maples in the United States, according to Schad. The leaves typically turn a bright yellow, with their color peaking in November.

Silverado Canyon: Another of the major canyons in the Santa Ana Mountains, Silverado is largely accessible by car, although it can also be hiked or biked. Where the pavement ends on Silverado Canyon Road, a dirt road (called Maple Springs Road) continues up the grade. “You’ll get into some pretty good fall color in the first three miles or so,” Schad says.

Bell Canyon: Within Caspers Regional Park off Ortega Highway, Bell Canyon offers rich stands of sycamore and other trees within easy distance of the trail head. “It’s a nice, easy walk,” says Schad. A 2 1/2-mile stroll will take in the best of the trees.

Moro Canyon: The inland side of Crystal Cove State Park offers some fall color as well, in the wooded reaches of Moro Canyon. “It has some pretty nice color in the willows and the sycamores there,” Schad says.

Hiking is one way to reach the trees, but the park is most popular among mountain bikers. The Moro Canyon loop is 8.2 miles.

‘Tis the Season--Fall brings not only the color of autumn leaves but also cooler temperatures that signal the start of a localhiking season that stretches to June. Summeris simply too hot and dry in these parts to allow full enjoyment of the backcountry.

It can be hard to believe, stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Costa Mesa Freeway, but dark, cool, tree-shaded canyons can be found within half an hour’s drive of most of the county’s populated areas. Several guidebooks can help the uninitiated find those idyllic spots.

“Afoot and Afield in Orange County” (Wilderness Press). This is part of a series of books by Schad that started with San Diego County and will soon include Los Angeles County. The book, first published in 1988, includes 59 hikes throughout the county. Schad has also written “Cycling Orange County,” which includes a section devoted to mountain bike rides.

“Santa Ana Mountains Trail Guide” (Whale and Eagle Publishing Co.). Ken Croker’s great little book is the granddaddy of local guidebooks. First published in 1976 and updated several times since, the guide focuses on the Santa Ana Mountains, where the best local hiking can be found. Croker has been hiking these hills for more than 20 years, and organizes trail-building and maintenance efforts for the local chapter of the Sierra Club.

“Canyon Hikes in Orange County,” published by the environmental studies department at Saddleback College. While the preceding guides can be found in many local bookstores and most outdoor and camping shops, this new book is available only through the Saddleback College bookstore. The guide lists six canyons--Black Star, Holy Jim, Bell, Trabuco, Silverado and Harding. Information: (714) 582-4715.

Some other books, notably “101 Southern California Day Hikes” by Bill McKinney, include hikes in Orange County but take in a wider geographic area.