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The Triple Crown

Virginia Lakes (9/13/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

It’s rare when a location wins the triple crown of California Fall Color: Peak of the Week, Drive of the Week and Hike of the Week.

Mono County wins all three this week with:

  • Peak of the Week – Virginia Lakes
  • Drive of the Week – Dunderberg Rd.
  • Hike of the Week – Little Lakes Valley

Here’s why they were chosen:

Peak of the Week – Virginia Lakes is consistently one of the first areas in California to peak. At an elevation of 9,819′ it gets the coldest nights, soonest. This year, overnight temperatures have been in the mid 30s, though the high elevation at Virginia Lakes has allowed for the earliest color change. Although Patchy color was reported just a couple of days ago, there, photographs show it to be Near Peak and it’s likely to move to Near Peak this weekend. So, Virginia Lakes gets a GO NOW!

Dunderberg Meadows Rd (9/17/21) Brinn Little

Drive of the Week – Dunderberg Road is an all-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive road near Virginia Lakes. You’ll see beautiful Patchy to Near Peak color along it and since you’re heading to Virginia Lakes, include a ride along Dunderberg Rd.

Upper Rock Creek Rd. (9/19/21) Clayton Peoples

Hike of the Week – The Little Lakes Valley is reached by driving to Rock Creek Lake in Southern Mono County, then hiking to a beautiful valley surrounded by rugged sawtooth mountain peaks and emerging fall color. This hike is well worth a trip to Mono County even when the color isn’t at peak.

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