Up The Creek
As far as fall color goes, well, Bishop Creek is now up the creek.
Bishop color spotter Betsy Forsyth reports Bishop Creek Canyon as being largely past peak, though spots of bright color are still found at lower elevations.
As seen in the above image of Intake II in the lower Middle Fork of Bishop Creek, peak color remains along shore, though many stripped trees are seen in the distance. That’s typical of what fall color remains in Bishop Creek Canyon.
Elsewhere in Inyo County, peak continues with reports of beautiful color at Big Pine Canyon and developing in Pine Creek Canyon and at Lower Rock Creek.
Scenes like the following of North Lake, captured on Oct. 19, are long gone.
Peak is now found in the lower canyons, Pine Creek, Lower Rock Creek and Big Pine which earns the distinction of being named “Drive of the Week.”
Moving toward peak are Bishop and the Owens Valley. They are still patchy but very close to Near Peak.
Southern Inyo County
- Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Big Pine (3,989′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Bishop Creek Canyon
Bishop Creek Canyon is past peak. There are a few colors still lingering around in the lower South and Middle Forks, so still pretty, but past peak. The best colors are at Aspendell.
South Fork, Bishop Creek
- Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
- Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
- Four Jeffries (8,000′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
Middle Fork, Bishop Creek
- Aspendell (8,400′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
- Intake II (8,000′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
- Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
Bishop
Bishop has yellows scattered throughout. There are still LOTS of green trees, so the colors are still to come.
- Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Owens Valley (4,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) Closer to 50%
Northern Inyo County
Both Lower Rock Creek Rd. and Lower Pine Creek Station are at Peak up canyon and Near Peak lower in the canyons. Round Valley has numerous trees crested with yellow and gold.
- Lower Rock Creek Rd ((7,087′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%) Closer to 50%
- Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
- Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
