Bigleaf Maple, Spanish Creek (10/14/17) Michael Beatley
Plumas County color spotter Michael Beatley hiked the Cascade Trail beside Spanish Creek toward Quincy, yesterday, discovering one beautiful reflection after another.
He wrote, “The area has a profusion of color and reflections, with Indian Rhubarb, Bigleaf maple, black oak and grasses providing the color.”
Spanish Creek is along the trail to the Cascades. It runs into the North Fork of the Feather River, which continues down to the Sacramento River and the Delta.
Michael advises that mornings (9 to 10 a.m.) are best for light and reflection photographs at Spanish Creek.
Daytime temperatures are in the 60s with nights in the 20s to 30s, blue skies and a lot of clear, rushing water and still blue lakes.
Plumas County has been spared the haze caused by this autumn’s wildfires. So, skies are blue, windless and smokeless.
Spanish Creek, Plumas County (2,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) 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 Poimiroo2017-10-15 16:44:262017-10-15 16:47:59Cascade Trail to Spanish Creek
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/13/17) Anirudh Natekar
June Lake (10/13/15) Anirudh Natekar
It’s fun to follow someone’s road trip through the snaps they took along the way.
Today, Anirudh Natekar sent these images of his road trip from the SF Bay Area up CA-120 through Yosemite National Park and south on US 395 past the June Lake Loop to Bishop Creek Canyon.
Bishop Creek is pretty much Past Peak at higher elevations (like North Lake seen in one of his photos), though spots of lovely color can be found along this road trip.
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/14/17) Anirudh Natekar
Bishop Creek Canyon (10/14/17) Anirudh Natekar
South Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/14/17) Anirudh Natekar
The Whitney Portal trail in southern Inyo County often gets overlooked by color spotters because it takes some effort to get to it, but as these images from Blair Lockhart attest, it shouldn’t be missed when it’s peaking.
This is definitely the Hike of the Week, though strenuous.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2017-10-15 15:57:422019-09-25 14:17:44Whitney Portal Aflame With Color
Oh, to be Phillip Reedy. He always seems to be at beautiful places.
This past week, Reedy and Ben Waterman visited Mono County, sending back these wonderful images.
Phillip reported that while Bishop Creek is basically Past Peak at higher elevations, it’s still nice at lower elevations, but the real trophy winner is McGee Creek in southern Mono County with lush Peak color.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2017-10-15 15:30:552017-10-17 08:08:48Mono County Keeps On Giving
Peter Robbins sends this impression of autumn along the West Fork of the Carson River (Hope Valley), taken on Oct. 11.
Cell phones provide the opportunity for any color spotter to capture the moment. If you have one, send a YouTube link to editor@californiafallcolor.com and we’ll post it (space permitting).
Dogwood, Bigleaf Maple, Yosemite National Park (10/11/17) Michael Caffey
Splashes of bright pink and yellow are painting the hillsides of Yosemite National Park.
Siesta Lake, Yosemite National Park (10/11/17) Michael Caffey
Ranger Allen of the National Park Service public affairs office said a general estimate would be that about half the deciduous trees in Yosemite Valley are now showing color, though the famous eastern sugar maple near Yosemite Chapel is at full peak. GO NOW! as peak on this tree is very short lived. It’ll be gone next week.
Yosemite’s color comes primarily from willows (orange), dogwood (rose), bigleaf maple (yellow) and black oak (orange). The black oak are the last to change – typically around Halloween.
Colorful reflections of yellow, rose and orange can be seen in lakes and the Merced River where trees are near the water.
Caffey’s photograph of Siesta Lake is reminiscent of Ansel Adams’ photograph of the same water, taken in 1958. In both images, the fallen remains of a tree lies in the same lake. There, of course, the similarity ends, as an original gelatin silver print by Adams is sold by The Ansel Adams Gallery for $9,500.
The best location for fall color viewing in the national park is Yosemite Valley, with favorite spots being Fern Spring (at the entrance to the Valley), riparian areas in the Valley and Superintendent’s meadow and the base of Yosemite Falls.
Yosemite National Park (4,000′) – Near Peak to Peak (50-100%) – All species except black oak are now peaking. Black oak will peak at the end of October. GO NOW!
Caffey continued across Tioga Pass to the Eastern Sierra, reporting:
South Lake Rd. (10/12/17) Michael Caffey
Mono County
Lee Vining Canyon – Peak (75-100%) – On the drive down from Tuolumne Meadows, foliage in Lee Vining Canyon is at full peak. The aspen in this area are in the best shape of any Caffey saw, having benefitted greatly from last winter’s heavy snows. The deer have come out of the mountains to winter at lower elevations, so look for them amid the Aspen. GO NOW!
Lundy Canyon -Peak (75-100%) – Fall color is pretty consistent; pretty much everywhere you look the Aspens have turned. This is a must-do, now.By next weekend you’ll have missed it. GO NOW!
June Lake Loop – Peak (75-100%) – Michael has been visiting June Lake for years, but classifies it right now as the nicest “I’ve ever seen there. It is definitely at peak so this is the best weekend to go there, but there are a few areas where Aspen are still green, so I’d say you’ll find something interesting there for another 10 days.” GO NOW!
Inyo County – Bishop Creek Canyon
North Lake – Past Peak – You Missed It.
Sabrina Lake -Past Peak – You Missed It. – There are spots of nice color along Sabrina Approach, but in a couple of days they will all be gone.
Aspendell – Peak (75-100%) – Aspendell is the Show Stopper in Bishop Creek Canyon for the moment. The trees have been very healthy, full of leaves and draped with color. GO NOW!
South Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/12/17) Michael Caffey
South Lake Road – Peak to Past Peak – Surprisingly, there is still good color along the road to South Lake. Parts are past peak but some other areas are still very nice. Still worth a trip up there at least this weekend. You Almost Missed It.
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A detour on my return from Lake Tahoe, yesterday, included a stop at Apple Hill in Camino to take photos and – what else!? – buy an apple pie.
Newtown Rd., Placerville (10/12/17) John Poimiroo
Bigleaf maple (10/12/17) John Poimiroo
My route took me through Pleasant Valley (great wine tasting) down Newtown Rd. toward Placerville, US 50 and Camino.
Newtown is a lovely, winding road canopied by huge black oak and bigleaf maple, that now are speckled with huge bright yellow and lime-colored maple leaves.
At Camino, apples lay rotting between the trees at Boa Vista Orchards, as kids romped through a nearby pumpkin patch.
Similar to the experience at Julian in San Diego County, Apple Hill is more than a place to grow apples.
It is an annual harvest festival that continues from late summer to Christmas, with all kinds of homemade preserves, pies, baked goods, fresh fruit and produce on sale, along with handmade crafts and wine tasting at nearby Sierra Foothill wineries.
At this time of year, Apple Hill is wholesome fun and ripe for picking.
Apple Hill, Camino (3,133′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Newtown Road, Pleasant Valley – Patchy to Near Peak (10-75%) 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 Poimiroo2017-10-13 12:12:382017-10-13 12:14:39Apple Hill - Ripe for Picking
Norway House, Sorensens Resort (10/12/17) John Poimiroo
The Hope Valley still has lots and lots of peak color, though it’s all below 7,400′.
A scouting trip through the Hope Valley (CA-88, Carson Pass) found peak color at Sorensen’s Resort at the top of Woodford’s Canyon and in the Hope Valley below Red Creek Cabin.
Comparison photos of Red Creek Cabin (admittedly shot at different times of day at different locations and with different framing) shows what’s happened there in the past ten days. They also show the affect of smoke in the air.
Red Creek Cabin, Hope Valley (10/12/17) John Poimiroo
Red Creek Cabin, Hope Valley (10/2/17) John Poimiroo
Aspen high on the ridge behind the cabin have moved from Just Starting to Patchy.
Those directly behind the cabin, that were peaking previously, are now Past Peak and those that were Patchy to Near Peak are peaking.
The most vivid peak probably occurred between the time I took the first and second photograph.
Hope Valley (10/12/17) John Poimiroo
Hope Valley (10/9/17) Dan Varvais
Above the cabin, Red Lake and Caples Lake have peaked. Only spotty color remains. Similarly, at Sorensen’s, stands at the resort are at full, glorious peak, while those across the road and along the West Fork of the Carson River are Past Peak.
Nevertheless, you haven’t missed it. This weekend will still be spectacular in the Hope Valley with great color to be seen along CA-88 between Red Creek Cabin and Woodford’s Canyon (Sorensens). Haze from Northern California wildfires softened the scene, slightly, but as seen in these photos, could be corrected.
If you are attentive, a few dirt and gravel US Forest Service roads lead from points along the north side of CA-88 to the color. They are marked with USFS tags. Do not, however, drive on any private roads, which usually are marked “No Trespassing.”
Also, parking at Sorensens is limited to resort guests and diners, so if you want to take pictures there, please buy something. They have a very excellent book/gift shop with tantalizing items, including the Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling – another fun way to capture fall color.
Hope Valley (10-/12/17) John Poimiroo
During my visit to the Hope Valley, I spoke with John Brisenden, owner of Sorensens Resort who said 29 mph gusts had passed through on Wed. night, but there was little sign that many of the leaves had been carried away.
Instead, at Sorensen’s and in the lower Hope Valley, there continue to be large groves of aspen with peak color that will likely hold for another week or more.
So, don’t lose Hope. GO NOW and be dazzled by it.
Hope Valley (7,300′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Luther Pass (7,740′) – Peak to Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW as you almost missed it! – Big Meadow on the north side of Luther Pass is the only area along this section of CA-89 that has any color. Large aspen on the east side of the meadow are peaking and add romance to a hike along the meadow trail. Though, the color is an added benefit to the hike, not a reason in itself to visit the meadow.
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak – You Missed It. – Steve Greer reports he just crossed Monitor Pass and 80% of the trees up there are stripped. It’s so exposed up there, that the wind John Brisenden mentioned may turned the aspen into sticks last Wed. night.
Tallac Trailhead, South Lake Tahoe (10/12/17) John Poimiroo
Taylor Creek, CA-89 (10/12/17) John Poimiroo
The City of South Lake Tahoe has spots of planted dogwood and aspen near downtown businesses and hotels, and in its residential neighborhoods, but to see spectacular stands of native aspen, cottonwood and bigleaf maple, you have to head out of town and search for drainages.
On the west side of SLT, CA-89 winds north toward Emerald Bay and continues eventually to Tahoe City. Pockets of fall color can be seen all along the route, but if you look for creeks and streams on your nav or map, you’re likely to find ribbons of bright color climbing up into the Sierra Nevada.
Taylor Creek and the road to the Tallac Trailhead are two of them, not far from South Lake Tahoe. They’re not far from SLT by car or bike.
Camp Richardson (10/12/17) John Poimiroo
A paved bike path runs from Stateline to Taylor Creek, and bikes can be rented in SLT, just after the “Y.”
Don’t expect to see much color along the path until you reach Taylor Creek, as the pine forest has almost none. There’s a little color beside the Camp Richardson Hotel, but otherwise the route is pretty brown, as it’s in the drainages where the best fall color is found.
Vine maple, Taylor Creek (10/12/17) John Poimiroo
At Taylor Creek, a hiking trail winds beside the creek, with vine maple and aspen lighting it. Parking is at the trailhead and at turnouts along CA-89.
The road to Tallac Trailhead crosses a winding band of brilliant yellow aspen, at several points. There are narrow shoulders at points at which to pull your vehicle to the side, so that you can get out and explore the aspen.
South Lake Tahoe (6,237′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Plumas County color spotter Michael Beatley hiked the Cascade Trail beside Spanish Creek toward Quincy, yesterday, discovering one beautiful reflection after another.
