Alvarado Road, Salinas Valley (10/23/13) John Poimiroo
The old Spanish highway from San Diego to San Francisco (U.S. 101) is called the El Camino Real (the king’s highway) and near King City in the Salinas Valley, oaks and cottonwood along the Salinas River are dressed regally.
GO NOW! 75 – 100% – Salinas Valley – Oaks and black cottonwood along the Salinas River are backlit yellow-green to orange on a morning drive south through the Salinas Valley. Stop in King City and just south of it for the best show.
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Aspen, Mammoth Lakes Basin (10/22/13) Susan Morning
Edina Ingram reports, “the weather in Mammoth Lakes remains gorgeous. With daytime temperatures in the mid 60s: crisp air, bright blue skies and a forest of yellow, now is a perfect time for sightseeing, hiking or mountain biking.” The Mammoth Lakes area is in full peak at lower elevations and past peak at higher elevations.
Aspen, Mammoth Lakes (10/22/13) Susan Morning
GO NOW! 75-100% – Mammoth Lakes (7,500′) – Fall color is peaking at Mammoth Creek, and Convict Lake, just south of Mammoth. The trail around Convict Lake, ten minutes south of Mammoth Lakes, remains beautiful. The aspen grove at the backside is fully vibrant. In Mammoth Lakes Basin, hike the trail ascending from the Twin Lakes parking lot to spots of great color.
Past Peak – Above 8,000 feet – Fall color is just past peak. This includes upper regions of the Lakes Basin in Mammoth Lakes and the Devils Postpile National Monument (closes Oct. 31).
DK from Glenbrook on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe pitches us these shots of the east shore still glowing at Lake Tahoe.
Glenbrook, Lake Tahoe (10/21/13) DK
Tahoe City (10/19/13) Linnea Wahamaki
Donner Summit (10/18/13) Linnea Wahamaki
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Lake Tahoe – Cottonwood and aspen are still dressed in gold along the shore of the lake, though each day more leaves flutter to the forest floor. Linnea Wahamaki sends these snaps of Tahoe City and Donner Summit.
Black Oak, Mt. Laguna, Eastern San Diego County (10/19/13) Charlene Burge
Color spotter Charlene Burge reports she was happy to discover “Southern California has lots of natural fall color” when she moved there, two years ago. Mount Laguna in eastern San Diego County is “flush with fall color as California Black Oaks are close to peaking, with exposed trees in full color, and understory trees, in many cases, still in the lemon-lime stage. Many areas along the northern part of the S1–Sunrise Highway–were burned during the Rim fire, but from about Laguna Campground, south, there’s plenty of blazing oaks. This area is roughly between Julian and Pine Valley, along the S1 north of Highway 8. The highway 8 corridor east of the S1 has big cottonwoods.
Black Oaks, Mt. Laguna, Eastern San Diego County (10/19/13) Charlene Burge
Mt Laguna Observatory and Black Oak (10/19/13) Charlene Burge
Highway 8, Eastern San Diego County (10/19/13) Charlene Burge
GO NOW! 50 – 75% – Mt. Laguna – Oak and cottonwood are putting on a colorful show in eastern San Diego County near the Mt. Laguna Observatory (operated by San Diego State University) in eastern San Diego County.
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Shootin’ the curl along Hwy 89 in Plumas County (10/20/13) Richard McCutcheon
Color spotter Richard McCutcheon was riding beneath a crest of fall color along Hwy 89 in Plumas County. He says driving through the overarching canopy of beautiful fall color in the Northern Sierra is like shootin’ the curl of a big break off the California coast.
Oaks, Hwy 89, Plumas County (10/20/13) Richard McCutcheon
Oaks, Indian Valley (10/22/13) Richard McCutcheon
Taylorsville (10/22/13) Richard McCutcheon
75 – 100% – Hwy 89 – Plumas County – It’s full peak and glorious along California State Route 89 through Plumas County and into the Shasta Cascade. Looking down on the Indian Valley from 7,000′, groves of oaks add orange color to the landscape. McCutcheon describes it as, “just about as pretty as you will ever see it,” and he should know as he’s certainly the most observant and reliable spotter along this route.
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Freeman’s maple, LA County Arboretum (10/17/13) Frank McDonough
Chinese pistache, LA County Arboretum (10/17/13) Frank McDonough
Color spotter Frank McDonough always sends great shots of what’s turning at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. While it appears the San Bernardino Mountains are at peak or a little bit past peak (We welcome reports from So. Cal.), the LA County Arboretum is warming up. These shots tell it all:
15 – 30% – LA County Arboretum – Always a sure bet for long-lasting fall color, the LA County Arboretum in Arcadia has begun to warm up. Trees that show early, such as exotic Chinese pistache are now turning. A tupelo tree provides a botanical frame to a bench in the arboretum and a Freeman’s apple is on fire at its crest.
Tupelo tree, LA County Arboretum (10/17/13) Frank McDonough
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Mono County has come into magnificence with reports from color spotter Alicia Vennos of areas of this Eastern Sierra County that we haven’t seen previously. This is most definitely the weekend to head to the East Side. Now that the federal shutdown has ended, Yosemite National Park has reopened (Tioga Pass remained open throughout the shutdown). So, this is likely the last, best weekend to head across the Sierra through Yosemite (Hwy 120 – The Tioga Road).
McGee Creek Canyon (10/16/13) Ethan James
McGee Creek Canyon (10/16/13) Ethan James
GO NOW! 75 – 100% – McGee Creek Canyon – Alicia reports that “There is a real mix of color right now at McGee — some trees are past peak, some are perfect, and others are still tiptoeing towards lime green and yellow. The campground area is the richest in color, right now, but the hiking trail has some gorgeous gold and orange, too.
Convict Lake (10/16/13) Convict Lake Resort
Silver Lake (10/12/13) Alicia Vennos
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Convict Lake – The entire canyon is at peak. There are lots of spectacular colors to be seen on the ride to the lake, including intense yellow, brilliant orange and, recently, traces of burnt Sienna. This is about the last weekend to see full color at Convict Lake, as large sections along the upper creek above the lake are dropping their leaves. If you’re going, take advantage of these deals and offers:
Convict Lake Resort is offering Fall Lodging Specials through Oct. 31st starting at $379+tax (Sunday thru Thursday – 2 Nights for 2 Persons). Includes $100 Restaurant Credit & Full Day Motor Boat Rental.
Late Fall Lodging Specials from Nov 3rd to Nov. 15th starting at $199+tax (Sundaythru Thursday – 2 Nights for 2 Persons). Includes Full Day Motor Boat Rental.
Convict Lake Resort’s annual fall fishing derby, “Ambush at the Lake” is happening now through Nov. 15, with $6,000 in resort prizes. A $2,000 Cash Bonus Weekend occurs Nov. 1-3.
Double Eagle Resort & Spa, June Lake Loop (10/13/13) Ralph Lockhart
June Lake (10/14/13) Rachel Jackson
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – June Lake – 100% – Alicia reports that “It is pretty much perfection right now around everyone’s favorite “loop”, a.k.a. Hwy. 158″ We’ll add, that if you can get away, this is the prime weekend to see the June Lake Loop in all its glory. We’ll probably be reporting past week, next week. Ralph Lockhart at the Double Eagle Resort and Spa reports the entire north end of the June Lake Loop is “Exploding, right now.”
Therese LaChance Ely paints fall color at Parker Lake (10/12/13) Alicia Vennos
Parker Lake (10/12/13) Alicia Vennos
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Parker Lake – 100% – This small, but majestic lake, attracts many young families, a few anglers, photographers and – this past weekend – even award-winning artist, Therese LaChance Ely, well-known for her “Sierra-scapes.”
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Lundy Lake – We’re amazed that Lundy has been so spectacular for so long. This could be the last weekend to see it at peak. Alicia describes it as “at peak and glorious, especially along Lundy Lake Road.” The popular hiking trail at the end of the dirt road, past Lundy Lake Resort, is past peak with just a few bright trees left.
Little Walker Lake (10/14/13) Alicia Vennos
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Little Walker Lake – Little Walker is a beautiful, lesser-known lake in dramatic Bloody Canyon, just north of the June Lake Loop. Directions: At the north end of Hwy. 158, take Parker Lake Road and then the first right, following the signs. The trail starts high with a lovely view down to the lake.
Grace Smith reports from the Shasta Cascade that color change is rapidly approaching peak. Go Now! alerts have been issued for Plumas and Siskiyou Counties.
GO NOW! – 50 – 75% – Siskiyou County – McCloud, always famous for its beautiful fall colors is reporting significant color changes this past week in town and surrounding town. That presents a lovely foreground to views of Mt. Shasta. Tip of the Week: visit McCloud Falls, in McCloud.
Oaks, Hideaway Hotel, Greenville (10/14/13) Jeff Titcomb
Oaks, Greenville (10/14/13) Jeff Titcomb
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Plumas County – Karen Moritz reports full peak throughout Plumas County. She says, “We’re at 100 percent on most everything. The oaks on the hillsides are perfect. Aspens and dogwood are in full color too. Willows and Indian Rhubarb showing everywhere along rivers and streams. Some trees have lost quite a bit of their leaves due to wind and snow, though there still are great colorful pockets of yellow, gold, red, and orange. Aspen are turning beautiful shades of gold and yellow in the Lake Davis area. Oaks near Portola and Greenville are turning a yellow, gold, and a slight hint of red. The oaks near Graeagle and Quincy are changing slower than the rest of the area.
30 – 50% – Tehama County –Color is beginning to appear in the Northern Sacramento Valley. Though, quite a bit of green is still seen in riparian woodlands along the Sacramento River. Look for spots of yellow, orange, red, and gold at the Sacramento River Discovery Center and Woodson Bridge Recreation Area.
Pin Oak on Pine, Redding (10/17/13) Grace Smith
30 – 50% – Shasta County – Bigleaf maples in Anderson have flushed with lots of yellow, orange, and quite a bit of red. The cottonwoods are showing yellow and gold. Head to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Anderson River Park, the Sacramento River Trail in Redding, and the McConnell Arboretum at Turtle Bay for the best fall color viewing.
Bidwell Park, Chico (10/16/13) Stephany Fernandez
30 – 50% – Butte County – Green, yellow, and red are all adorning the trees of Chico this week. Bidwell Park, Highway 32 Corridor, the Esplanade, CSU Chico, and Mangrove Avenue have the best displays. Saturday Oct. 19 is the 25th Open Art Studio in Chico. For more information, call (530) 895-8726 or visit www.chicoartcenter.com.
Color spotter Jared Smith of Parchers Resort reports that a solid week of sub-zero temperatures finished what was left of fall color up Bishop Creek Canyon. Inyo County’s show now moves down in elevation to the Owens Valley. Here’s Jared’s last report of autumn, 2013:
Overall Conditions above 8500ft Past Peak
A solid week of frigid weather did in most of the color that was left. The color arrived a little early this year and while it was beautiful for a while, it’s mostly gone now. Hopefully next fall lasts a bit longer.
Overall Conditions below 8500ft Past Peak
Still some color lower in the canyon, especially near Bishop Creek Lodge and Big Trees Campground, however much of the brilliant yellow is more of an auburn after the cold temps of the last week. It’s safe to say that the best color has come and gone, even in the lower reaches of the canyon.
Parchers Resort closes for the season Sunday 10-20-13 and with most of the fall color gone, this will be our last report of the season. We would like to thank everyone who followed our reports and all of those who provided positive feedback. We look forward to 2014 and another batch of fall color reports. Feel free to email us to join the fall color list any time and we’ll make sure you get the latest greatest reports as soon as we start them next year.
We are indebted to color spotters Jared Smith and Krisdina Karady for supplying such detailed and colorful reports. Because of their reports, California Fall Color is left with memories of beautiful color on an early, but long-lasting show up Bishop Creek.
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