Over The Top
Fall color is over the top at many Mono County locations, including its passes: Monitor, Sonora and Tioga, but don’t delay. Peak has now dropped to between 8,000 and 8,500′.
Drive of the Week is the Sonora Pass to Lobdell Lake and return. Lobdell Lake Rd is the best it’s been seen in recent years. AWD is recommended. Include a sunset visit to the east side of Sonora Pass.
Peak of the Week is Lundy Canyon. Though now Near Peak, it should be fabulously colored in coming days.
ROCK CREEK CANYON
- Upper Rock Creek Road (9,600′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
- Middle Rock Creek Road (8,500′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Lower Rock Creek Road (7,500′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
CROWLEY LAKE/MCGEE CREEK, CONVICT LAKE
- Crowley Community (6,949′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Closer to 50% in town, but brilliant up the hill.
- McGee Creek Canyon (8,600′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – There is a mix of color in McGee Creek Canyon, with Peak at the campground near US 395 and a blend of Peak and Past Peak groves all the way to the top.
- Convict Lake (7,850′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – It’s perfect at the back left corner of the lake, while still green in some sections. Should be perfect for the coming 10 to 14 days.
JUNE LAKE LOOP
- June Lake Loop (7,654′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – The June Lake Loop just topped 50% and still has many green areas, plus peaking stands. Colors are best near the June Mountain parking area, Silver Lake and Rush Creek.
BENTON & 120 EAST
- Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
LEE VINING / LUNDY
- Tioga Pass (9,943′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go Now, you almost missed it.
- Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Just topped 50% and will continue to improve through the weekend.
- Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Still green near the campground, but brilliant higher up and around the lake. Lundy is Peak of the Week.
BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES / DUNDERBERG / SUMMERS
- Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Approaching Near Peak.
- Bodie Hills (9,419′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Last call for the upper elevations.
- Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go Now, you almost missed it. – This is last call for the Virginia Lakes. There are green areas up the road, but at the lake and beyond, it’s peaking or now past peak.
- Conway Summit (8,143) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – You’ll see everything at Conway Summit, from deep orange groves to past peak. It’s a gorgeous mix of textures.
- Summers Meadow (7,200′) PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Peaking colors from the road to the top of the mountain with sections of red and crimson.
LOBDELL / SONORA PASS/ WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
- Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Great groves with color while other sections are still very green. Drive of the Week is Sonora Pass to Lobdell Lake Road.
- Sonora Pass (9,623′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Full peak, but won’t last much longer.
- Monitor Pass (8,314′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – The groves just east of the pass are the best seen there in years.
- West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Still not ready. Should be Near Peak in two weeks.
There are some amazing shots in here, Where are these taken?
They’re all identified in captions.