It’s GO Time!
As of Oct.11, 2023 it is GO time in the Eastern Sierra as well as Plumas County!
All week long photos have been pouring in from leaf peepers in these areas showing vibrant displays of fall color. Plan your trip now for your chance to discover what fall is all about in the Golden State.
Things are changing quickly in the mountains, reports color spotter Betsy Forsyth. With areas that were mostly green last week now being in full-blown fall color mode, all locations in Mono County and the majority of locations in Inyo County are at peak or approaching peak colors!
In Plumas County, Jeff Titcomb reported, ”We’re getting there pretty quickly.”
Michael Beatley added on October 10, “Quincy today, although cloudy, was bursting with fall colors, 70-90%. Behind the historic courthouse on Jackson Street, the trees are full of fall color. In the next few days Quincy and American Valley and the surrounding area will be glorious.”
INYO COUNTY – as of 10/11/23
Southern Inyo County
Lots of yellows on the cottonwoods in the valleys and aspen in the high country.
- Lone Pine (3,727′) – (10-50%)
- Alabama Hills (4,534′) – (10-50%)
- Whitney Portal (8,375′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
- Mt Whitney Trail (8,360′ to 14,505”) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
- Independence (3,930′) -(10-50%)
- Onion Valley (9,600′) – (10-50%)
- Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
- Big Pine (3,989′) – (10-50%)
Bishop Creek Canyon
Bishop Creek Canyon is beautiful right now, and may not last for long! The leaves are changing VERY QUICKLY. From last week to this week, so many of the trees have gone from green with a little yellow hue to lots of yellows and some oranges. There are still some green groves of aspen, but lots of yellows and oranges up there, and many leaves already on the ground.
South Fork, Bishop Creek
- South Lake (9,768′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
- Weir Pond (9,650′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
- Willow Campground (9,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
- Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. These groves are peaking and absolutely beautiful.
- Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. There are some beautiful yellow trees here surrounded by green groves.
- Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. Closer to 75% for sure There are still green groves, but most of the aspen are peaking now.
- Four Jeffries (8,000′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! This area changed so much in the past week!
Middle Fork, Bishop Creek
- Lake Sabrina (9,150′) –Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
- Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. The upper part of the canyon above Cardinal Village is past peak, and at peak down near Cardinal Village. There are still some green groves in the lower area, but it is uncertain how quickly those will change.
- Intake II (8,000′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! Lots of orange and yellow, and leaves on the ground at this point.
- Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
Bishop
- Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%) Closer to 50%. Many of the trees in town have some yellows, especially in the upper sections of the trees. There are some trees that have quite a bit of color to them.
- Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Owens Valley (4,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. Yellows in the upper parts of the cottonwoods throughout the Owens Valley. Some trees are almost completely yellow. It’s really beautiful.
Northern Inyo County
- Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,087′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
- Round Valley (4,692′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. It’s really beautiful throughout the Owens Valley. There is a fair amount of yellows in the upper parts of the cottonwoods.
- Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) There are more yellows throughout the canyon. This is a spectacular canyon when you catch the colors and the light right!
- Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. Closer to 50%. At the top of the canyon, there are some yellows in the Aspen, and everything else is getting some yellows as well.
MONO COUNTY
100% FULL PEAK: Last call for Sagehen Summit, Upper Rock Creek Road, and Lobdell Lake Road. These locations have been brilliant for the past 5-7 days and we are unsure how long they will hold on. GO NOW or you’ll miss your opportunity at these locations.
75-100%: The high mountain passes of Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass and Monitor Pass were all at full peak on October 10 with orange and yellow leaves from top to bottom. Upper Summers Meadows Road was the most spectacular we have ever seen it this morning – this is a MUST stop for this weekend. Conway Summit had sections of beautiful peaking orange aspens with yellows and greens mixed in and should be perfect for the next 7-10 days.
50-75%: Virtually every other location in Mono County is approaching peak color with varying degrees of progress. Along the June Lake Loop you’ll find a lot of green with pockets of over-achieving golden trees. Convict Lake has a great section of yellow leaves on the back side of the lake with green foliage still located in other spots. The banks of the West Walker River were about 50% with the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz being the only fully green sections left in Mono County.
Past peak: Virginia Lakes was the only place on our list that is officially past peak. The leaves were stripped of their color about 3 miles up the road. Sagehen Summit, Upper Rock Creek and Lobdell Lake road will probably make this list by next week’s report.
BONUS: We usually don’t report on this area but we had to include it in this week’s report. Take a drive up Little Walker River Road for an intense spectrum of color. For those willing to hike on foot, take Molybdenite Canyon Trail (located at the end of Obsidian Campground on Little Walker River Road) for huge valleys full of peaking aspen. (Trust us on this one!)
PLUMAS COUNTY
In Eastern Plumas County, Mark Kidder gave us a peek into the Lakes Basin area. Hikers can explore the 3.7 Jamison Creek Trail. The trailhead can be found several miles up County Road A-14 towards Johnsville and takes you past Jamison Falls, Grass Lake, and on to Rock Lake and Jamison Lake–all, which are ideal for backpacking if you don’t mind the chilly nights. There are beautiful aspen scattered along this trail.
Lakes Basin Recreation Area
From Graeagle, head west on Highway 70 towards Quincy where the colors haven’t peaked, there are some beautiful spots and many pet-friendly backcountry roads. Right before Quincy, take a drive down La Porte Road to see many colorful maples with evergreens in the background, and then head back into Quincy where the dogwoods are turning bright red and maples are looking good. The best drive for those right now is the Big Creek Road towards Bucks Lake.
Big Creek Road to Bucks Lake
From Quincy, head north on Highway 89 towards Indian Valley. The drive along Indian Creek is still nice but the Dixie Fire did do some damage to that area. As you near the turn off to Taylorsville, the hawthorns are turning a vibrant red. Keep going another few miles and you’ll begin to ascend up the road to Antelope Lake (road currently only open on weekends due to construction). Antelope Lake is showing one of the best displays of quaking aspens right now, which were captured by Jeff Titcomb, another avid leaf peeper.
Above Kings Creek Falls
One of our leaf peepers in Chester, Betty Bishop, said that the colors are just starting to turn on the North Fork of the Feather River that runs right through the town. A few miles outside of Chester turn off on Highway 32 and drive along Deer Creek for some lovely scenery. And the aspen are still golden in Lassen Volcanic National Park and in other spots around Lake Almanor along with some very cool waterfalls, like the one on the Kings Creek Falls trail.
