Tahoe National Forest

The Tahoe National Forest is a large area of the Sierra Nevada, north and west of Lake Tahoe. It includes four districts that encompass the Yuba River, American River, Truckee and Sierraville.

Color spotter Philip Reedy and his lady mounted their trusty steed and headed there yesterday on a scouting trip, driving from Davis to Truckee along I-80, north on CA-89 to Satley, then following CA-49 west across Yuba Pass and past Downieville and back down to the Sacramento Valley.

Their drive to Truckee on I-80 was uneventful. There were spots of color to be seen, “but nothing exciting.”

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Between Truckee and Sierraville, there are four areas of fall color at campgrounds along the Little Truckee River: Upper Little Truckee, Cold Stream, Cold Creek and Cottonwood Creek.

These spots offer indifferent color, sometimes brilliant, sometimes ragged. Phil found a lot of the aspen at Cold Creek to be at “peak and beyond.” A park attendant was closing the campground for the season, so expect the gate to be closed at these locations, though you can always park at the entrance and walk in.

Along the Yuba Pass, “there were some nice groups of aspen, all at peak and soon to be shorn of their leaves.”

Beyond, on the way to the Lakes Basin, the Reedys stopped at Packer Lake to picnic and to Phil’s surprise, directly across the lake was a lovely stand of aspen reflected in its perfectly still waters. A few were green, but most had turned.

There was a reason we Scouts were reminded over and over again to “Be Prepared.” Phil hadn’t brought along a float tube so he was not prepared to position himself on the water as if fly fishing with the golden reflection of this stand surrounding the tube, as he remotely triggered the shot. It would have made the perfect cover to submit to one of his publications. Though, if he hustles, the color will still be there next week.

Back on 49, now heading toward Downieville, he found lots of nice trees along Salmon Creek and on the mountainside to the south.

Kentucky Mine, where the color was nice last year on November 1, was too early, but should be nice in two weeks (Boy, is California dependable or what!?). The old stamp mill there, when surrounded by color, makes for some nice photos.

As they continued downriver toward Downieville, some of the Indian Rhubarb had turned along the Yuba River and he noted, “If past years are good predictors, it should be very nice in a week to 10 days.”

The Reedys finished their loop through three quarters of the Tahoe National Forest at one of Phil’s favorite spots, Lavezzola Creek, near Downieville. There, Indian Rhubarb resembled yellow, lime and deep green paint droppings on the black granite draw through which the creek runs. Yellow bigleaf maple and orange black oak were flirting, “Come back and see me sometime.” In a week to ten days, it should be excellent, he reported.

The above locations are noted on the California Fall Color Map.

• Upper Little Truckee Campground (6,200′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
• Cold Stream Campground (5,817′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
• Cold Creek Campground (5,800′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
• Cottonwood Creek Campground (5,800′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
• Sierraville (4,957′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
• Salmon Creek Campground (5,800′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
• Yuba Pass (5,636′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
• Kentucky Mine (5,407′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Sierra City (4,717′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Lavezzola Creek (3,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Downieville (2,966′) – Patchy (10-50%)