You know it’s been a good week for color when the photos just keep coming. With the first day of fall right around the corner, we were thrilled to see several areas in the Eastern Sierra begin to take off. And with the cold snap this week, colors should start progressing nicely in the coming weeks.
In the Eastern Sierra, where fall colors generally kick off the leaf-peeping season, it has been significantly colder than usual with lows in the 30s and highs in the 40s and 50s. Most of the snow was received at very high elevations, but the town of June Lake in Mono County also received a dusting.
Another small storm moved through Mono County Wednesday and Thursday nights and brought with it a winter weather advisory with cold temps, rain, and more snow. This was the earliest winter weather advisory for the area in more than 20 years (wild!).
Keep your fingers crossed that this cold snap simply speeds up the fall colors for the season and does not harm them.
The good news is, the weather this weekend warms back up and looks to be spectacular. Perfect timing for the first official weekend of fall and leaf-peeping. If you plan to check out the early-season colors, Tioga Pass and Sagehen Summit in Mono County are both in Near Peak condition (50-75%). However, Tioga Pass was closed from Wednesday until the storm passed so please check road conditions before driving up.
Rock Creek Canyon is also a good spot this week for some early-season fall color at 10-50% in the Patchy range and moving right along.
Additionally, please note that US 395 is closed between Bridgeport and Walker until September 21, 2024 at 5 pm for the installation of two wildlife crossings. During this time there will be no vehicle access between the closure points and travelers will need to take a detour. Click here for more information.
WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
***No data for this area due to the US 395 closure. We hope to update next week.
Monitor Pass (8,314′)
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville & Topaz (5,200′)
Sonora Pass (9,623′)
Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) AWD or 4WD recommended
BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES
Twin Lakes (7,000′) 0%
Virginia Lakes (9,819’) 10-50% – Patchy. It’s still mostly green on the road leading up to Virginia Lakes, but there are colorful patches around Virginia Lakes Resort, Trumbull Lake Campground, and Big and Little Virginia Lakes. Virginia Lakes Resort closes for the season on October 7 – enjoy breakfast or lunch there soon!
Conway Summit (8,143) 0-10% – Just Starting. Just barely…
Summers Meadow (7,200′) 0%-10% Just Starting. Just barely… AWD or 4WD recommended
LEE VINING
Tioga Pass (9,943′) 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!) Fall colors within this area have excelled since last week. Above 9,000’ the aspens and bushes are near peak creating a stunning scene with the lakes within the area. That being said, Tioga Pass will be closed from noon on Wednesday, September 18 until this storm passes. Please check road conditions before driving up. Monitor (89) and Sonora (108) should be open.
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – 0%
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – 0-10% – Just Starting. There is minimal color change here, but the trees are starting to turn lime green, meaning we will see some color change here in the coming weeks. The dirt road to the trailhead is a rough one, with few areas rutted out from water (or with a bit of water on them – creek, puddle). There are two porta-potties at the trailhead and two near Lundy Lake Resort (LLR does not have public restrooms). There is no trash removal from this area – whatever you pack in must be packed out. Please plan accordingly.
BENTON & 120 EAST
Sagehen Summit (8,139’) 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!) This another area that has seen significant color change since last week. No restrooms or trash removal in this area – please plan accordingly. AWD or 4WD recommended.
JUNE LAKE LOOP
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) 0-10% – Just Starting. There is no significant color change within this area, except for a few bushes starting to turn. The aspens are beginning to turn lime green, but still need extra time before any other colors appear.
MAMMOTH LAKES
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – 10-50% – Patchy. Colors within the Lakes Basin are moving right along, being closer to 50%. Aspens within the area have changed from mostly lime green to displaying patchy colors of yellow.
CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) 10-50% – Patchy. Very green along the road and around the campground and pack station. Near the trailhead there are some colors starting to change, but if you keep going back in the canyon you will discover quite a bit more fall color.
Crowley community (6,781′) – 0%
Convict Lake (7850′) 0-10% – Just Starting. Some select trees here are showing off fall color, but for the most part, this area needs more time for the aspens to make their colorful transition.
ROCK CREEK CANYON
Rock Creek Road (9,600’) 10-50% Patchy. Around Rock Creek Lake, pops of yellows are spreading across the landscape. Continuing up toward Mosquito Flat, there are patches of aspens that are nearly peaking along the creek. Check out this location if you want to experience early-season colors.
