Black cottonwood, Gardnerville, NV (10/20/21) Pierre Redmond
Hometown pride is gonna shine through when you happen to wake up to this scene and just want to tell the world about it. So, we can forgive Pierre Redmond for exclaiming, “I’m in awe of where we live!” He has reason.
Gardnerville is virtually in the afternoon shadow of Heavenly Mountain Resort, a hop, skip and a jump from the California border. So, while this website isn’t named NevadaFallColor, we’re happy to show just how beautiful our neighbor can be, particularly when a double rainbow shines overhead.
Gardnerville, NV (4,751′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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Blaze Autumn, Freeman’s maple, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (10/20/21) Frank McDonough
When our anchor leg runner starts stripping sweats, we know the end of autumn lies ahead. And, California Fall Color’s anchor runner is LA County.
No more beautiful place in LA County to see diverse and vivid autumn color is found than at its Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia.
So, when the Arboretum’s doyen of autumn sent his first photo today, I thought, “What! Already?”
It was received earlier than expected, though Frank McDonough’s selection was not unexpected. This year’s early dresser, like the Hollywood star it is, likes to upstage all the other trees and plants at the Arboretum. Blaze Autumn, a Freeman’s maple loves to put on the Ritz in bold crimson and brash orange. If Blaze was a Hollywood celebrity walking a red carpet, the carpet would look up in envy.
Other plants at the Arboretum pretend to be as colorful as Blaze, but they never compare … at least as far as upstaging goes.
Nyssa salvatica in the Meadowbrook Section
Autumn Blaze, on the Event Lawn
Rhus aromatica, near Meyberg Falls
Autumn Blaze, Crescent Garden, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden (10/19/21) Frank McDonough
The LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (482′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
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Plumas County Courthouse, Quincy (10/16/21) Michael Beatley
Plumas County has received the Triple Crown of Fall Color, being designated as Peak of the Week, Hike of the Week and Drive of the Week.
Quincy (10/16/21) Michael Beatley
Peak of the Week – Quincy – The county seat of Plumas County is at its glorious best, right now. Numerous landmark trees, including sugar maples, bigleaf maple and sycamore provide brilliant displays of yellow, gold, orange and red color in downtown Quincy surrounding the Plumas County Courthouse and along nearby streets and parks.
Cascade Trail, Spanish Creek (10/16/21) Michael Beatley
Hike of the Week – Cascade Trail – This trail starts near the town of Keddie and travels beside Spanish Creek which is lined with beautiful Indian Rhubarb (darmera). Their large, fan-shaped leaves are vibrant orange-red at peak and overhang the blue waters of the creek. Cadmium yellow bigleaf maple provide spots of background color in a green forest.
CA-89, Plumas County (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Drive of the Week – CA-89 from Graeagle to Quincy – A beautiful drive, Highway 89 passes spots of bright yellow aspen and bigleaf maple before reaching Quincy. Beyond Quincy, CA-70 drops through the Feather River Canyon which is part of California’s famed “stairway of power” for the many hydroelectric dams along its length.
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June Lake Loop (10/20/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
It’s last call in Mono County. With heavy snow and wind predicted to arrive early next week, get there before Sunday to see the last great display of fall color in the Eastern Sierra.
West Walker River(10/19/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Coleville, Antelope Valley(10/19/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
West Walker River(10/19/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Black cottonwood, Coleville(10/19/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Walker/Coleville/Topaz (10/19/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – Good color is seen along the West Walker River. Black cottonwood in Coleville and along the shores of Topaz Lake are glorious and should last past this coming weekend’s storm.
Bridgeport Valley (10/18/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Twin Lakes (10/20/21) (10/18/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Twin Lakes (10/20/21) (10/18/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Twin Lakes (10/20/21) (10/18/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES
Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – Incredible conditions, presently with great views of sawtooth mountains from the shores of Lower Twin Lakes.
Conway Summit (8,143) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
LEE VINING
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – The best color yet in Lee Vining Canyon. Tioga Pass just re-opened, but it will likely be closed again following this week’s storm.
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW You Almost Missed It. – Good color remains in the lower sections of the canyon.
June Lake (10/20/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/20/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/20/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/20/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/20/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/20/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
JUNE LAKE LOOP
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – This week will be fabulous along the June Lake Loop. The best color will be seen up to Sunday, with the best groves at peak, now. Last call for one of the best leaf peeping spots in Mono County.
MAMMOTH LAKES
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – Great color can still be seen near the campground, but higher up it’s past peak.
Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
Convict Lake (7850′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – Peak color is ringing the lake with the backside at 85%.
ROCK CREEK CANYON
Rock Creek Road (9,600’) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Lt. John C. Frémont and Charles Preuss climbed Red Lake Peak (10,063′) in 1844, notching the first recorded mountain ascent in the Sierra and the first time non-native people had seen Lake Tahoe. It’s a strenuous climb, though the Red Lake Peak Road is an easier route if you’re in search of fall color.
Meandering below the peak is the West Fork of the Carson River, which scout Kit Carson was following in leading Frémont’s topgraphic party across the Sierra Nevada. It was a winter crossing and the snow was deep, making Frémont and Preuss’ feat all the more impressive.
Frémont wrote, “We are now completely snowed in. The snowstorm is on top of us. The wind obliterates all tracks which, with incredible effort, we make for our horses. The horses are about twenty miles behind and are expected to arrive tonight, or rather, they are now no longer expected. How could they get through? At the moment no one can tell what will really happen. It is certain we shall have to eat horse meat.”
No horse meat was eaten on Bill McFall’s recent visit, although snow had already fallen. He was too busy savoring the last bits of fall color along the road and West Carson River.
W Fork Carson River (10/20/21) Bill McFall
W Fork Carson River, Carson Pass – Near Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.
It’s that time in the Eastern Sierra when peak fall color shifts from up the canyons to the June Lake Loop. As David Sharp found, yesterday, June is busting out all over.
June Lake Loop (10/19/21) David Sharp
June Lake Loop (7,654′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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Hopes for a Great Summer, turned to ash in Greenville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
It is heartbreaking to see Michael Beatley’s photographs of Plumas County’s Indian Valley, following the devastating Dixie Fire. Though, there are glimpses of bright fall color and a better tomorrow.
Greenville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Greenville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Sugar Maple, CA-89 (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
CA-89 (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Indian Falls, CA-89 (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Dog Rock, CA-89 (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Yellow bigleaf maple, golden cottonwood and an occasional, exotic, orange-red sugar maple stand out boldly against the darkened backdrop of destruction.
Indian Creek (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Indian Creek (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
CA-89 (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Michael drove a route he was used to driving during his many years as a Plumas County Deputy Sheriff. He traveled the Indian Valley, passing through Taylorsville, the Genesee Valley and Greenville.
Greenville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Greenville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Greenville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Saint Anthony’s Church, Greenville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Plumas County Sheriff’s Office Substation, Greenville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Greenville got the worst of it. This, once-scenic, Gold Rush-era town was leveled. Folding chairs stand askew amidst the ash of Saint Anthony’s Church. Homes, businesses and the Sheriff’s Office substation where Beatley once worked are destroyed, a single American flag remains on duty.
“There is hope amongst the ashes. Resilience. Determination to rebuild. Hope for the future.” Michael wrote. “It is a beautiful valley. The fire can not destroy the hearts of those who live here, some for generations.”
Taylorsville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
He observed that though Dixie destroyed 940,000 acres, “Beauty still abounds. Wildlife has fled to the valley floor.”
Fire Retardant, Genesee Valley (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
As Michael passed beyond Taylorsville through the Genesee Valley, he said, “The fire came very close. The trees, fences along the road were covered with pink fire retardant. Some of the million of gallons used to fight the monster Dixie fire. Under Mt. Jura the valley is small but beautiful.”
Taylorsville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Taylorsville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
CA-89 (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Genesee Valley (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Genesee Valley (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Taylorsville (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Genesee Valley (10/18/21) Michael Beatley
Indian Valley (1,421′) – No Report – It’s just too heartbreaking.
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Mammoth Lakes color spotter Angie Plaisted writes, “The Lakes Basin never disappoints.” Even with little color left, wind-swept grasses and sunburned snow invite the heart to yearn to be there.
Mammoth Lakes Basin (10/17/21) Angie Plaisted
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
The Owens River, famous for fly fishing, is near peak and should remain good for two more weeks, Bishop-area color spotter Gary Young reports. He notes that, “The many artesians located on the river are pristine this time of year.”
Owens Valley (10/17/21) Gary Young
Owens Valley (10/17/21) Gary Young
Owens Valley (10/17/21) Gary Young
Artesian Spring, Owens Valley (10/17/21) Gary Young
Owens River (4,000′) – Near Peak (50 – 75%) Go Now.
The Sweetwater Mountains in northeast Mono County are special. KFBK-AM’s outdoor host Bob Simms says, “Hidden colors are everywhere, if you have the resources to find them.”
On a recent trip across the Sierra, he explored, fished and otherwise sent back colorful images of the outdoors from that grand corner of California.
Lenticular Cloud, west of Monitor Pass
Mono Craters from the East
Snow blowing off the ridges, a contrast to the warm colors of autumn
June Lake Loop, Between Silver and Grant Lakes
June Lake, Carson Peak
Eastern Sierra, Mono County (10/18/21) Bob Simms
Sweetwater Mountains (11,673′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
June Lake Loop (7,654′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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