Mono – Winding Down
The intense and beautiful display of Eastern Sierra autumn color that first peaked in Mono County is now winding down, but is not done, yet.
A few locations still offer brilliant displays, but they will be short lived. The coming week will likely be the last chance to capture High Sierra gold in 2022.
The combination of last weekend’s storm and a sudden drop in temperatures, pushed many locations past peak.
Mono County’s Jeff Simpson reports, “Anything over the 7,200′ elevation level will have to wait until next year. This includes Monitor Pass, Sonora Pass, Lobdell Lake Road, Bodie Hills, Virginia Lakes, Conway Summit, Summers Meadows, Tioga Pass, Sagehen Summit, Mammoth Lakes Basin, McGee Creek, and Rock Creek Road.”
Those aspen unscathed by the storm, still carry tawny and titian leaves, though most have a mix of leaves that vary from vibrant peak, to bare, to those that took the brunt of the cold snap and are now dressed in drab brown.
Mono County spotters are predicting a week at most before all remaining aspen are denuded. Hold outs remain: Twin Lakes, Bridgeport, Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Canyon, June Lake Loop, Crowley Lake and Convict Lake. Of them, Twin Lakes has the best color.
While aspen are declining, cottonwood are improving. There is fall brilliance to be appreciated along the banks of the West Walker River (US 395) and in the Antelope Valley of northern Mono County. The Walker River Canyon should be perfection through the weekend.
To its north, a gorgeous boulevard of Black cottonwood lines 395 through the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz. These are just now nearing peak and should remain good for two weeks.
Rock Creek Canyon
- Lower Rock Creek Road (7,500′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Crowley Lake/McGee Creek, Convict Lake
- Crowley Community (6,949′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – A mixed bag of peak aspen, past peak stands and some areas with muted brown leaves follows the recent storm.
- McGee Creek Canyon (8,600′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
- Convict Lake (7,850′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – It’s a mix of peak, past peak and muted brown leaves.
Mammoth Lakes
- Mammoth Lakes (7,881′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
June Lake Loop
- June Lake Loop (7,654′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – Last week, the June Lake Loop was peak of the week, now it’s mostly gone.
Lee Vining / Lundy
- Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.
- Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.
Bridgeport / Virginia Lakes / Dunderberg / Summers
- Twin Lakes (7,000′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Surprisingly great color is still to be found around both lakes. Visit before 11 a.m. for the best lighting.
- Conway Summit (8,143) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
- Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Lobdell / Sonora Pass/ Walker / Coleville / Topaz
- Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
- Molybdenite Creek Trail (7,865′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
- Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
- Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
- West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak to PEAK (50-100%) GO NOW! – It’s golden along the West Walker River, but still greenish in the Antelope Valley. The towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz will peak in the coming week.
