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Fall Starts Tomorrow

Virginia Lakes (9/19/23), Jeff Simpson

Tomorrow is the first day of autumn (Sept. 22, 2023), and while reporting locations are just at the start of their colorful transformations, fall conditions are definitely in the air.

The Eastern Sierra will have three straight days of below-average temperatures starting today through Saturday evening, with Bridgeport reaching a low of 23 degrees. The National Weather Service in Reno is forecasting localized showers with snow showers possible down to 8,000 feet. Let’s hope this mini-storm kickstarts the season.

Patchy color is seen presently at Sagehen Summit (8,139′) on State Highway 120, east of Lee Vining at Sagehen Meadows Rd. This is often the first location to peak in California. Sagehen Summit was still very green when color spotter Jeff Simpson was there on Tuesday but he is bumping it to the 10-50% category due to some full patches of yellow down the road at Johnny Meadows. Sagehen Summit started peaking in 2022 on September 27 so we are (still) anticipating rapid changes by the next update. The location as of Tuesday was closer to 10% than 50%.

Only a few more leaves appeared at Virginia Lakes and Rock Creek Lake this week, but it should reach the 10-50% by next week’s report.

Convict Lake and McGee Creek also are stuck in the 0-10% category with anticipation of peaking in early to mid-October.

Tioga Pass, Lower Lee Vining Canyon and the Mammoth Lakes Basin were also starting to show some signs of fall with a few leaves and bushes slowly starting to turn. These are our only additional locations this week to reach the 0-10% category. 

WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
Monitor Pass (8,314′) 0%
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) 0%
Sonora Pass (9,623′) 0%
Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) 0% – The road has been repaired but AWD/4WD is highly recommended. 

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES
Twin Lakes (7,000′) 0%
Bodie Hills (9,419′) 0%r – Some sections of road have been washed out from the spring runoff. AWD/4WD is highly recommended. 
Virginia Lakes (9,819’) 0-10% Just Starting: Only a few trees with a few leaves but we anticipate this to accelerate by the time the weekend is here.
Conway Summit (8,143) 0%
Summers Meadow (7,200′) 0%

LEE VINING
Tioga Pass (9,943′) 0-10% Just Starting – Surrounding grasses near the Tioga Pass area have undergone a magical transformation, with blades of grass turning into golden strands. Around the area, you’ll notice the start of vibrant foliage of the bushes and shrubs that will eventually erupt into a symphony of yellows and oranges.
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) 0-10% Just Starting – Local color spotter Paul McFarland emailed us today that a few trees have changed with only small hints throughout the rest of the canyon.
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) 0%

BENTON & 120 EAST 
Sagehen Summit (8,139’) 10-50% Patchy – Closer to 10% but mostly lime-green coverage. We saw a few pockets of gold down the road at Johnny Meadows if you want to continue down the road. There are no bathroom facilities at this location. Please do not park on the side of the road blocking access.

JUNE LAKE LOOP
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) 0%

MAMMOTH LAKES  
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) 0-10% Just Starting – One of the standout features of this year’s fall season is the early onset of color change in the area’s bushes. While the bushes are leading the way, it’s important to note that the overall fall color progression is still in its early stages. The aspen trees are mostly lime in color, but with a few yellow patches.

CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) 0-10% Just Starting: The trees along McGee Creek are turning lime green and the tops are starting to show yellow leaves. 
Around Crowley community (6,781′) 0%
Convict Lake (7850′) 0-10% Just Starting: These trees seem to have a mind of their own this year. On the left side of the lake, near the parking area many trees are a mix of yellow and lime green. Towards the back of the lake are a few trees that are mostly orange already.

ROCK CREEK CANYON
Rock Creek Road (9,600’) 0-10% Just Starting: At Rock Creek, you will find a few small patches of yellow Aspen leaves, but the Sierra Willows are certainly showing more color.

North Lake (9/15/23), Betsy Forsyth

INYO COUNTY

Color spotter Betsy Forsyth sent in the following report from Inyo County, where they are mostly still waiting on significant color changes. It is important to note this year that while roads are open in the Eastern Sierra for leaf peeping, many are narrow with limited parking. Please take extra care when you stop for photos this year as some of the shoulders of the roads have been impacted/washed out.

SOUTHERN INYO COUNTY

  • Lone Pine (3,727′) – No report.
  • Alabama Hills (4,534′) – No report.
  • Whitney Portal (8,375′) – No report.
  • Mt Whitney Trail (8,360′ to 14,505”) – No report.
  • Independence (3,930′) – No report.
  • Onion Valley (9,600′) – No report.
  • Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – No report.
  • Big Pine (3,989′) – No report.

BISHOP CREEK CANYON

Bishop Creek Canyon (9,500’) is just starting (0-10%). North Lake has a few yellow leaves, but mostly green. The willows are starting to have a yellow tint, so things will be getting started soon!!

SOUTH FORK, BISHOP CREEK

  • South Lake (9,768′) – Starting (0-10%)
  • Weir Pond (9,650′) – Still waiting
  • Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – Still waiting
  • Willow Campground (9,000′) – Still waiting
  • Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Still waiting
  • Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Still waiting
  • Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – Still waiting
  • Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Still waiting
  • Four Jeffries (8,000′) – Still waiting

MIDDLE FORK, BISHOP CREEK

  • Lake Sabrina (9,150′) -Hints of starting
  • Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Hints of starting
  • Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Still waiting
  • Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – Still waiting
  • Aspendell (8,400′) – Still waiting
  • Intake II (8,000′) – Still waiting
  • Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Still waiting

NORTH FORK, BISHOP CREEK

  • North Lake (9,225′) – Starting (0-10%).
  • North Lake Rd (9,000′) – Still waiting 

BISHOP

  • Bishop (4,150′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Just starting
  • Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Owens Valley (4,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

NORTHERN INYO COUNTY

  • Lower Rock Creek Rd ((7,087′) – No report
  • Round Valley (4,692′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
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