Cottonwood Springs Oasis, Joshua Tree NP (11/23/14) Eric Trumbauer
Color spotter Eric Trumbauer posted this photo of Cottonwood Springs Oasis in Joshua Tree National Park on our FB page with the Monty Pythonesque comment, “something a bit different…” Eric wins accolades for posting this first-ever shot of fall color at Joshua Tree NP in California’s Mojave Desert.
Joshua Tree National Park (Peak 75-100%) – Cottonwood are peaking at Cottonwood Springs Oasis. GO NOW!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-24 17:09:472014-11-24 17:09:47Peak of the Week: Joshua Tree National Park
Sentinel Rock, Yosemite NP (11/23/14) Susan Taylor
Cook’s Meadow (11/23/14) Susan Taylor
Susan Taylor writes on our FB page that she had hoped for a dusting of snow on Yosemite Valley when she visited, yesterday. We’re glad she found a dusting of fall leaves, instead.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-24 16:56:482014-11-25 09:35:24Yosemite Valley Short of Snow, Long on Color
Lake Siskiyou and Mt. Shasta (11/23/14) Cory Poole
Color spotter Cory Poole reports that there’s still a lot of color to be seen around the edge of Lake Shasta, though because the lake level has dropped so significantly, it isn’t reflected in the lake. However, travel north to see Mount Shasta and fall trees reflected in the still waters of Lake Siskiyou.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-24 08:01:052014-11-24 08:01:05Reflections of Fall Color at Lake Siskiyou
Alexander Valley (Peak 75-100%) – Color spotters Larry and Debbie Trettin posted on our Facebook page today that each November, they make a point of driving Geysers Rd, north of Healdsburg, to see the color before it disappears. As the skies were clearing today, they got this shot of the Alexander Valley freshly washed by rainfall and kissed by sunlight.GO NOW!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-22 23:09:382014-11-22 23:09:38Sunlight Kisses the Alexander Valley
Crepe Myrtle and Japanese Birch (11/20/14) Frank McDonough
Red Maple and Liquidambar (11/20/14) Frank McDonough
Tulip Tree (11/20/14) Frank McDonough
Sticks on Fire (11/20/14) Frank McDonough
Japanese Laquer Tree (11/20/14) Frank McDonough
Red Maple and Sweet Gum (11/20/14) Frank McDonough
Pin Oak (11/20/14) Frank McDonough
Turtle Pond Path (11/20/14) Frank McDonough
Looking back at the brilliant photographs of this past autumn, one is struck by the beauty. It has been a glorious autumn and given California’s record drought, who would have thought it could be?
Color spotter Frank McDonough of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Gardens wonders whether the show is building to be their best, too.
He writes, “Color is still coming along nicely; our red maples just exploded and the Liquidambars are on track to look pretty good. If we don’t get a driving, leaf-stripping rain between now and Thanksgiving, it looks this week may be one of our best this year.” Here’s the proof in photos he took, yesterday.
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden (Near Peak 75-100%) – Red maple, liquidambar, sticks on fire, crepe myrtle, sweet gum, pin oak, persimmon and Japanese birch are full of color at the LA County Arboretum. GO NOW!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-21 10:02:382017-07-21 10:28:22Could This Be The Best Year Ever For Fall Color?
Brandy Creek Falls, Whiskeytown NRA 11/18/14) Jack Kirchert
Color spotters from across the Shasta Cascade were reporting enduring spots of fall color until today. Then, a series of rain storms began passing through northern California. They have dampened and spotted the remaining color, pushing most areas of northeast California past peak.
Butte County (Peak to Past Peak) – When last reported, walnut groves along Hwy 99 were nearing peak. though the last of peak color on the CSU Chico campus, in Bidwell Park, downtown Chico and Paradise is being rained upon and is moving past peak. GO NOW!
Tehama County (Past Peak) – The Sacramento River, Red Bluff and Cottonwood have moved significantly to past peak this week with storms wetting remaining color. What little remains will probably be gone by this weekend. YOU MISSED IT.
Landscape tree, Anderson (11/18/14) Brittany Pozek
Shasta County (Past Peak) – The last of the fall color in Shasta County flared this past week at Brandy Creek Fall in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, west of Redding, though as Jack Kirchert’s photo shows, it’s now well past peak. Landscape color is still developing in Anderson. YOU MISSED IT.
Trinity County (Past Peak) – Weaverville was the center of attention this week for Trinity County fall color spotters, with the Gold Rush era town framed by autumn color. YOU MISSED IT.
Modoc County (Peak to Past Peak) – Color has descended throughout the Modoc National Forest to its lowest elevations. GO NOW!
Siskiyou County (Past Peak) – Native foliage throughout Siskiyou County is now past peak, though color is reported at the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens where exotic Japanese Maples, Eastern Redbud and Pacific Dogwood are reported to be still showing red, yellow and rose. YOU MISSED IT.
Plumas County (Past Peak) – The show is finally over in Plumas County, though a few spots of color are seen near Quincy and down the Feather River canyon. YOU MISSED IT.
Plumas County (11/18/14) Mike Nellor
Lassen County (Past Peak) – Peak color has gone though there’s a lovely mix of yellow and red color and bare branches still to be seen off Hwy 44E. YOU MISSED IT.
Until this past weekend, fall color in the San Bernardino Mountains has survived a lack of Santa Anas, though winds are predicted to begin rising this week. Nicholas and Alena Barnhart toured the SB Mountains’ major fall color viewing locations: Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Grass Valley Lake, Lake Gregory and Silverwood Lake to bring back this update.
Silverwood Lake (11/16/14) Alena Barnhart
Big Bear (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Big Bear (11/16/14) Alena Barnhart
Silverwood Lake (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Grass Valley Lake (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Grass Valley Lake (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Lake Gregory (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Lake Gregory (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
San Bernardino Mountains (Peak to Past Peak) – Nick reports, “Silverwood Lake is one of the SB Mountains largest lakes, located on the backside of the mountains heading towards the desert (Apple Valley/Victorville). So, most people miss it when they head up to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear and even fewer photographers spend time there. It has a Mountain/Desert look to it, and offers Fishing/Boating, Camping, Hiking, Bicycling, Waterskiing, and has places around to eat.
“Since it’s the lowest Lake in the mountains, Silverwood Lake usually stays warmer/drier longer-lasting fall color than the other SB Mountain lakes.” Silverwood Lake was peaking this past weekend though, like other SB Mountain fall color spots, is susceptible to wind.
Nick confirms that autumn is “winding down” at the SB Mountains’ other lakes: Big Bear, Arrowhead, Grass Valley (not to be confused with Northern California’s Grass Valley) and Gregory, though spots of fall color remain. and the sunsets… well, they’re Southern California worthy. GO NOW!
Dogwood, Doane Valley Nature Trail (11/16/14) Scott Turner
Modern Hiker’s Scott Turner recommends the Lower Doane Valley Loop/Weir Trail as an easy three-mile hike on San Diego County’s Mt. Palomar in the Cleveland National Forest. The trail has brief episodes of climbing (300-400′), but is otherwise smooth, well-traveled, easy to follow and travels past some fine black oaks with bold gold and orange leaves.
Temperatures along the trail now hover in the mid to upper 50s, so carry a light layer should warmth be needed. Sturdy shoes should be worn and at least a liter of water should be carried. You will also want to bring along a good camera not just for the foliage but for frequent wild life sightings, including mule deer, wild turkey, bobcats, coyotes, and even banana slugs. Yes, banana slugs!
Doane Valley Nature Trail (11/16/14) Scott Turner
Doane Valley Nature Trail (11/16/14) Scott Turner
Doane Valley Nature Trail (11/16/14) Scott Turner
Doane Valley Nature Trail (11/16/14) Scott Turner
Mt. Palomar State Park (Peak 75-100%) – Color spotter Scott Turner reports that “Mt. Palomar State Park is at full peak with some really beautiful color in the black oaks and some of the riparian vegetation along Doane Creek and the Weir Trail. Oaks along Thunder Ridge and Boucher Hill are also looking pretty good, but the best color is near Doane Pond and in Lower Doane Valley. Sadly, the foliage near the Observatory is past peak, so there were no classic foliage/Hale Telescope shots to be found. Now is the time to go up, as the Santa Ana wind event forecast over the next few days could have its way with the foliage.” GO NOW!
Hike of the Week: Lower Doane Valley Loop/Weir Trail – Find the trailhead at the Doane Pond parking lot on Mt. Palomar. You’ll need $8 cash for parking. The trail enters a dense patch of willows before crossing the road and descending to follow a creek bank. Continue right onto the Doane Valley Nature Trail when it splits from the Weir Trail (your return route). Follow the Nature Trail until it junctions with the French Valley Trail. Turn left and follow this trail as it splits off toward Doane Valley. At the next junction, turn right to cross Lower Doane Meadow.
After a few tenths of a mile, the trail connects with the Weir Trail. Turn right to follow the trail to the Weir where some of the best fall color is seen. Use extreme caution on the rocks here, as they get very slippery even when dry. Return along the Weir Trail and stay straight at the junction. The Weir Trail will merge back onto the Doane Valley Nature Trail as it passes through dense forest with a number of fully-turned black oaks and riparian vegetation to add a splash of color. The trail will return to the parking lot where your hike will conclude.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-17 17:34:592014-11-17 17:39:55Hike of the Week: Doane Valley Nature Trail
US Post Office, Valyermo (11/16/14) Frank McDonough
Duck Pond, Valyermo (11/16/14) Frank McDonough
Abbey of St. Andrews, Valyermo (11/16/14) Frank McDonough
Cottonwood, Valyermo (11/16/14) Frank McDonough
Valyermo (Peak 75-100%) – Usually, we find Frank McDonough reporting from the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, but this past weekend he traveled to Valyermo, a tiny community in the San Gabriel mountains. He writes, “I was amazed at the intensity of the Fall color. It’s easily 70-80% there.”
Valyermo has not been reported previously on California Fall Color. Kudos to Frank who joins only two other color spotters, this autumn, who provided reports and photos of areas not previously seen on CaliforniaFallColor.com.
Frank notes that the Valyermo area’s location on the east slope of the San Gabriel Mountains is “spared the coastal influence that could make it too mild for good color change, plus the days are sunny and the nights are quite cold for an extended period of time compared to Southern California’s coastal areas.” Of note there is the Abbey of St. Andrews and the “iconic Valyermo post office.” GO NOW!
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Santa Cruz (Peak 75-100%) – Color spotter Anson Davalos was “soaking up the nice waves and weather” this past weekend in Santa Cruz, while noting that landscaped trees are nearly past peak there, with Chinese pistache, sweet gum, pepper and autumn blaze maple providing hot spots of orange-red, yellow, and auburn. GO NOW!
