Mike Nellor shares this video taken off LaPorte Road near Quincy. Many of the best fall color trails are forest service dirt and gravel roads that lead from main roads in the Shasta Cascade.
Seen in the video are rosy dogwood and golden bigleaf maple.
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Here’s a video of #SierraFallColors taken this week by Jeff Simpson of Mono County Tourism. Most of the yellow color is California Aspen, though orange-yellow willows are also shown.
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Aspen Grove, San Bernardino National Forest (10/12/13) Lisa Wilkerson-Willis
A grove of California Aspen near Big Bear in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, listed as one of only two naturally-occurring aspen groves in Southern California, will recover from this past year’s Summer’s Lake fire in a couple of years, according to a report in Big Bear Today.
The article quotes Steve Alarid of the USDA Forest Service who predicts that, “Aspens are going to dominate this area for the next 50 year,” because the entire forest was incinerated.
Alarid was quoted as saying that both pine and aspen have coexisted in Southern California since the Ice Age, “in deep canyons where cooler air settles…” and where there are, “…creeks flowing nearby.”
For the aspen, however, “shade” was their biggest enemy, but now that the surrounding pine forest was consumed, the aspen whose root system is intact will flourish.
Already, juvenile aspen stems are seen sticking up out of the charcoal forest floor at “Aspen Grove,” and that color will begin to reemerge in two years,”their green presence in the Moon-like landscape is a welcome reminder that popular Aspen Grove, closed for the next year or so after the inferno, will be back,” Alarid said.
Willows are also recovering quickly. Big Bear Today reported that some willow shoots, “are six feet high already.”
Rock Creek Rd, John Muir Wilderness (10/14/15) Clayton Peoples
Yesterday, color spotter Clayton Peoples hiked into the Little Lakes Valley (Inyo County) which is within the John Muir Wilderness and Inyo National Forest.
Rock Creek Rd, John Muir Wilderness (10/14/15) Clayton Peoples
He confirms what others have been reporting that Rock Creek Rd, portions of which are both in Mono County and Inyo County) is definitely peaking.
Many aspen groves along the road are showing gorgeous color with nice variation of yellow, orange “even deep reds in pockets.”
Little Lakes Valley itself is also “peak” status. Although there are fewer aspens along the trails and lakes, there is plenty of brush sporting bright yellow and/or rusty orange, which really helps accent the stunning beauty of the area.
Rock Creek Rd, John Muir Wilderness (10/14/15) Clayton Peoples
Peak GO NOW! – Little Lakes Valley, John Muir Wilderness
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Boulder Creek Rd., Coffee Creek (10/8/15) Ruth Hartman
Take CA-3 north of CA-299 and you pass Trinity Lake, the Trinity Alps on your way to Coffee Creek.
This western side of the vast Shasta Cascade region is wild, beautiful and so lightly traveled that few photographers or leaf peepers have explored it.
The drive to Coffee Creek is along narrow roads that are flanked with bigleaf maple that dance and sway, littering the road with a carpet of spent leaves that swirl up in spirals as you pass.
Color spotter Ruth Hartman of the Coffee Creek Ranch says the color is peaking right now. Her dude ranch is better known for its stable of horses and miles of trails that lead into 367 acres of ranch property and the Trinity Wilderness area, though it could become known as a fall color retreat for the lovely color to be found in its forests.
Boulder Creek Rd., Coffee Creek (10/8/15) Ruth Hartman
The predominant deciduous tree is the bigleaf maple with its golden leaves. Black oak provide orange color and wild cucumber speckle the forest with chartreuse.
One of the rarest and most beautiful trees on the continent, though not deciduous, is Brewer’s weeping spruce, picea breweriana, with its dark green boughs hanging in abstract, Seussian forms.
For anyone who loves showy trees, Brewer’s weeping spruce are well worth the trip north to the Trinity Alps to see them.
Alder, Lassen Volcanic National Park (10/14/15) Gabriel Leete
Kings Creek, Lassen Volcanic National Park (10/14/15) Gabriel Leete
Elsewhere in the Shasta Cascade region:
Alder are at full peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Color spotter Gabriel Leete captured this beast of an Alder near Kings Creek.
Dogwood and Maple, Round Valley (10/13/15) Jeff Titcomb
Dogwood, Round Valley (10/13/15) Jeff Titcomb
Dogwood, Round Valley (10/13/15) Jeff Titcomb
Plumas County color spotter Karen Moritz reports, “dogwoods are really showing up nicely on Bucks Lake Road out of Quincy.
While, Indian Valley color spotter Jeff Titcomb reports the dogwoods, big leaf maple and oak trees are looking great on the road to Round Valley Lake Reservoir.
Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Coffee Creek – Bigleaf maple leaves flutter down through the forest along the country roads leading to Coffee Creek Ranch. Bring your fly rod and riding boots. Nearby areas to explore include Trinity Center, Trinity Lake, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and the historic gold rush town of Weaverville.
Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Lassen Volcanic National Park – Alder are at full peak throughout the park.
NearPeak GO NOW! (50-75%) – Plumas County – Indian Rhubarb have been peaking along the Feather River. Dogwood and bigleaf maple are peaking in the Round Valley. Other areas of Plumas County are filling up with color.
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When Alicia Vennos starts screaming “WoooooHooooo!,” as she did in today’s report, you know you’re gonna be up late posting it.
Sure ‘nough, Mono County is at peak or approaching it. There are so many GO NOW! alerts in this report, that, well, the best advice I have is to just pack your bags for the weekend. And, the good news it’ll last for a week or two longer, given the weather doesn’t get blustery.
That’s a concern, as some precip is forecast for the weekend. Ugh! So, GO NOW!, GO NOW!, GO NOW!
Laurel Creek (10/13/15) Alicia Vennos
OK, I know, not everyone can go now, and if you do visit on the weekend, though it will be truly fall weather, there’ll also be openings of wonderful soft light to accent the color. Here’s what’s happening…
June Lake Loop (10/14/15) Alicia Vennos
Gull Lake (10/14/15) Alicia Vennos
Silver Lake (10/14/15) Alicia Vennos
Tioga Pass (10/8/15) Jeff Simpson
Lundy Falls (10/14/15) Alicia Vennos
Lundy Beaver Pond (10/14/15) Alicia Vennos
Mono Lake (10/14/15) Alicia Vennos
Conway Summit (10/14/15) Alicia Vennos
Dunderberg Meadow (10/12/14) Robin K. Roberts
Summers Meadow (10/12/15) Robin K. Roberts
Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Rock Creek – Most of Rock Creek Road is gorgeous and golden. The newly paved road makes for a smooth and lovely ride both for motorists and cyclists. Lower Rock Creek Road and trail which should be peaking within a week to 10 days, so expect this peak to continue for perhaps two weeks.
Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – McGee Creek – The color all along the creek are at their prime which may last for the next two weeks judging from the amount of green remaining in many of the groves.
Convict Lake (10/14/15) Charles Porter
Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Convict Canyon/Convict Lake – The lower section of the canyon up through the campground/resort is at peak. The fall color in this area is spectacular, showing bright yellow, gold, orange and some red. The foliage along the lake has also started to peak and has greatly increased in intensity. The shoreline is traced with a line of yellow. At the back of the lake, a bright ribbon of gold is snaking its way up the canyon. From bottom to the top of the canyon there are still some pockets of green next to sections that have already peaked. So, we’re good for a long peak here, conditions permitting. The Convict Lake Resort is offering an End-Of-Season Fall Lodging Special starting at $259+tax (Oct. 25 – Nov. 15; Sun. thru Thurs., two nights for two persons). Includes $100 restaurant credit & full-day motor boat rental. The Convict Lake fall fishing derby, “Ambush at the Lake” continues through Nov. 15, with up to $6,000 in prizes.
Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Laurel Canyon – A breathtaking ribbon of orange, red, and gold is stretching from top to bottom along Laurel Creek, creating an impressive contrast against the soft grey and green sage-covered hillside. Take Sherwin Creek Road of US 395 just south of Mammoth Lakes to see this colorful phenomenon up close.
Mammoth Lakes (10/12/15) Josh Wray
Twin Lakes, Mammoth Lakes (10/12/15) Josh Wray
Near Peak GO NOW! (50-75%) -Mammoth Lake is near or at peak with Mammoth Creek and the Twin Lakes absolutely glorious (see below).
Near Peak GO NOW! (50-75%) – June Lake Loop/Hwy. 158 – Yes, folks, “the Loop” is almost there! Shades of lime-green throughout the gold and orange remind us that the June Lake Loop is not quite at peak yet, but it is already worth the drive! Parker Lake trail should be at peak now; Walker Lake is probably getting close although we have not had any recent reports to confirm that assumption.
Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Sage Hen Meadow Road.
Patchy (10-50%) – Lee Vining Canyon – Tioga Pass Road and Poole Plant Road are still a week or more away from peaking.
Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Lundy Canyon. The lower part of Lundy Lake Road is at full peak, as are the aspens around the beaver ponds and the first set of waterfalls. Oddly enough, there are still full groves at the Lundy Lake level that are still completely green so the color should last through the next two weeks.
BRIDGEPORT / CONWAY SUMMIT
Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Conway Summit. Conway Summit is perfect right now! Bridgeport’s Ducks Unlimited Dinner is this Saturday, Oct. 17. Join Bridgeport locals at Memorial Hall for dinner and to find out their secret fall color and duck hunting spots.
Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Virginia Lakes
Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Green Creek/Summers Meadow. Just south of Bridgeport, take the Green Creek Road and follow signs for Upper Summers Meadow, or stay on the main road to Green Creek trail or Dunderberg Meadow. Some groves are past peak but most are glowing orange and gold, and still others remain green.
WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
Near Peak GO NOW! (50-75%) – Monitor Pass/Sonora Pass/Leavitt Meadows. Past peak at upper elevations but golden at lower levels.
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Sugar Maple, Yosemite Valley (10/13/15) Elliot McGucken
GO NOW! If you want to see Yosemite Valley’s historic sugar maple peaking, as it doesn’t last long. The exotic tree will probably be past peak by the weekend.
Peak GO NOW! – Yosemite Valley – One tree peaks first in Yosemite Valley each year, an eastern sugar maple planted near the Yosemite Chapel over a hundred years ago. Because these trees lose their color quickly, when we receive a report that it’s peaking, pack up and leave for the valley. You might get lucky and see it as Elliot McGucken did. Or, just admire Elliot’s photo, while biting your lip and promising to get there next year.
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Color spotters Leor Pantilat and Steven and Maddie Noiseux traveled to McGee Creek and Rock Creek in the Eastern Sierra this past weekend and sent back these photos and reports.
McGee Creek (10/11/15) Leor Pantilat
McGee Creek (10/11/15) Leor Pantilat
McGee Creek (10/11/15) Leor Pantilat
Rock Creek (10/10/15) Maddie Noiseux
Rock Creek (10/10/15) Maddie Noiseux
As we predicted last week, Rock Creek was peaking, as was McGee. Steven Noiseux said, Rock Creek “Looks to be peak color now. The lake was past peak with barren trees.”
Pantilat wrote, “I have been to many of the typical hot spots for color in the Eastern Sierra the past couple weeks and the best color right now in my opinion is in the McGee Creek drainage.
“The color is peaking from the trailhead and is virtually continuous for the first 4 miles of the trail when it begins to transition to a pine forest at the beaver pond.”
Leor confirmed what we’ve reported that, “As one travels north, the color becomes more hit and miss with a lot of stripped aspen that prematurely dropped leaves. This is especially the case in the Twin Lakes/Bridgeport area under 8,000 feet. Above 8,000 feet I found an excellent peaking grove near Barney Lake.”
Lake Sabrina (10/8/15) Cuong Diep
Color spotter Jaded Jennifer writes, “Just got back from the Eastern Sierra last night. Conway Summit was half down and half peak. Bishop Creek Canyon at South Lake was absolutely gorgeous, but again trees were half down. June Lake only needs a few more days and it will peak. Lots of color around the loop but mostly lemony and butter yellows. The loop between Grant lake and Silver Lake had more color. Convict Lake had some good color. Lots of color still left at Virginia lakes at the actual lake.”
Most importantly she concluded, “Had a blast!”
Peak GO NOW! Above 8,000′ in all upper Eastern Sierra canyons.
N. Fork Big Pine Creek (10/10/15) Jackson Frishman
Avid hiker, photographer and color spotter A. Jackson Frishman must have been breathless both from his hike, but also from the beautiful peaking aspen he found along the North Fork of Big Pine Creek this past weekend. His report causes us to declare this the Hike of the Week.
N. Fork Big Pine Creek (10/10/15) Jackson Frishman
The North Fork hike is not for the feint hearted. Modern Hiker describes it as a difficult trek that gains 3,000′ in 9.2 miles. Whew!
However, there’s a fall color bonus the higher you go.
Frishman writes, “There’s good color to be found for folks willing to walk a ways up the trail. Below Second Falls (9,000′) the color is Patchy, but it’s peaking from Cienega Mirth (above 9,000′) and up, with very few bare trees.”
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Lassen Volcanic National Park guide Shanda Ochs reports that the air around Manzanita Lake at the park’s northwest entrance was filled with willow leaves swirling in the wind this past Sunday, “So, I don’t expect to see these on the branch much longer.”
Willow, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/13/15) Shanda Ochs
Willow, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/10/15) Shanda Ochs
Cottonwood were also being blown away. This is in line with what we’ve seen reported in areas of the Northern Sierra and lower Cascades where dry leaves aren’t holding color for long. Sandra writes, “Many just seem to be dying and skipping color change altogether.”
Yet to turn color are the alders. Though, reflections of orange-red Lemmon’s willow and golden-orange willows reflected in the often-still waters of Manzanita Lake provide a beautiful picture.
Near Peak GO NOW (50-75%) – Lassen Volcanic National Park – Willows and cottonwood are peaking. Alders are patchy.
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