Up and Running

With the reopening of Inyo National Forest’s front country a week ago, all the major fall color viewing locations in Mono County (California’s Eastern Sierra) are now up and running.

Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson reports only one location as now past peak – Sagehen Summit. All others are right on schedule.

He recommends the following must-see locations, this week: Lobdell Lake Rd (AWD vehicle recommended), Sonora Pass, Virginia Lakes, Dunderberg Meadows Rd., Tioga Pass (CA-120E), Lundy Canyon, and Rock Creek Rd.

What you’ll find are lush groves of peaking aspen, as seen above. This could be called a transitional week in which groves above 9,000′ carry their last explosion of fall color before losing it.

As seen in Jeff’s photograph of Lobdell Lake Rd (above), the forest is a blend of green, yellow, orange, red and spent trees. As one stand peaks, another fills in behind it, then – gradually – fully peaked trees are dropping their leaves.

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WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ

• Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now –  Monitor Pass is often a difficult child. This year it seems to be struggling to get going. Its colors are progressing toward Near Peak “with green-ish on the summit and groves of yellow to the east.” 
• West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Just Starting (0-10%) – The Antelope Valley is one of the last to turn in the eastern Sierra, due to its low elevation and groves of cottonwood. Presently, it’s just getting started with a few yellow and lime-green leaves.

SONORA PASS / LOBDELL LAKE

• Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – This is the week to get the classic shot of peaking aspen just below the summit on the east side. Leavitt Meadows is in the 75% range. If Sonora Pass is on your bucket list, this is the week to go. 
• Lobdell Lake Rd. (9,274′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Incredible color is being seen along the length of Lobdell Lake Rd., and it should last the week. Do not attempt driving this in a normal passenger vehicle. Higher clearance and full traction is needed. An AWD or 4WD vehicle is recommended.

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES

• Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Take the Tamarack Lake Trail, Horse/Cattle Creek Trail or the Barney Lake trail to the higher elevations for peak color. It is still green and light yellow around the lake level and through the campgrounds of Robinson Creek. 
• Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Peak to Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW or You Missed It! – Absolutely the last fall color is peaking along the Virginia Lakes Rd, Dunderberg Medows Rd and Green Creek Rd. They’ve all been at peak for the past week and won’t last much longer.
• Conway Summit (8,143) – Patchy (10-50%) The downward march of fall color is being seen along the groves facing Conway Summit. Yellow trees at the top of the groves are blending to lime, then green at the bottom. Peak will arrive in another week throughout the groves, then Katy bar the door, the entire hillside will be a shocking mix of maroon, orange, yellow and green.
• Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – At peak, Summers Meadow is one of the state’s most beautiful groves. Long, lush stands of aspen cover rolling hillsides. Right now, they’re still a mix of green and yellow, but approaching peak.

LEE VINING 

• Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! Good color is seen along the Tioga Rd near Tioga Lake, though beyond that you must have a reservation to enter Yosemite NP and continue your travels through the national park.
• Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Mostly green with sections of yellow/lime. This area is still a good week away.
• Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – Hikers who’ve been waiting for news of Lundy Canyon should head there now. This is one of California’s premiere fall color hikes. It’ll be great for the coming two weeks.

BENTON & 120 EAST 

• Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Past Peak – You Missed It. – What a shame, the closure of Inyo National Forest kept people from enjoying this early-peaking area at its best. Now that Sagehen is past peak, mark your calendar to visit it during the last week of September, next year.

JUNE LAKE LOOP

• June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Some yellow is painting sections of the loop, though it will be better next week and peaking the week following.

MAMMOTH LAKES

• Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Sherwin Creek and Mammoth Rock Trails are your best bets for color, right now.

CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE

• McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Patchy (10-50%) – The campground and pack station should be perfect next week.
• Around Crowley community (6,781′) –  Patchy (10-50%) – This area just edged into being Patchy, so it has a way to go, though there can be lovely color in and around Crowley.
• Convict Lake (7850′) – Patchy (10-50%) – If you visit Convict Lake this week, you won’t be disappointed, but go the following two weeks and you’ll be boasting about what you saw.

ROCK CREEK CANYON

• Rock Creek Rd (9,600′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Whoa! Rock Creek Rd is extraordinary right now, but dropping leaves every day.
• Lower Rock Creek Rd. (7,087′) – Just Starting (0-10%)