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395 Reasons

Conway Summit, US 395, Mono County (10/9/21) Clayton Peoples

US 395 has 395 reasons to travel it to see fall color. From Topaz Lake, south to Whitney Portal the route is glowing with spots of dazzling color.

Reno color spotter Clayton Peoples said he “was stunned by the beauty” when he drove south along it this past Saturday, noting in particular the spectacular contrast of freshly snow-capped peaks behind rolling hills of orange and gold.

He recommends these two locations as worth return trips for their color:

Monitor Pass, CA-89, Mono County (10/9/21) Clayton Peoples
Lundy Canyon (10/7/21) Angie Plaisted

Angie Plaisted sent snaps from her hike up Lundy Canyon through Patchy, though beautiful color. This is perhaps California’s most spectacular fall color hike and it should be glorious in a week.

  • Lundy Lake (7,858′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)
  • Conway Summit (8,143′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW! – Although there are still some green sections, many sections have moved to yellow/orange–and some have already dropped their leaves. Clayton admitted that Conway Summit is not usually one of his favorites, but a recent dusting of snow on Dunderberg Peak made the scene “truly stunning.”
  • Monitor Pass(8,314′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW! – The main group of aspens near the summit is already beginning to lose its leaves; but aspen a little further west–with the mountains as the backdrop–are reaching prime color. Again, with the snow-capped peaks in the background, this spot is even more beautiful than usual.
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