Inyo County Updates: The Tale of Two Canyons

Reports from Pine Creek Canyon in Inyo County yesterday are showing that while the colors on the Black Cottonwoods (populous tricocarpa) still have a little ways to go, it is beautiful up there.

The aspens at the pack station are turning yellow and will likely go pretty quickly, but the rest of the canyon has plenty of green. With much of Bishop Creek Canyon already past peak, Pine Creek Canyon is a great alternative for the coming weeks.

In Bishop Creek Canyon the lower areas such Mountain Glen and above the Mist Falls are at a solid 50%, so there is still some color to see.

“It’s really, really beautiful with the contrast of really green groves mixed with completely yellow groves,” color spotter Betsy Forsyth said.

There also have been some beautiful oranges around Table Mountain and Willow campgrounds.

Areas such as Surveyors Meadow still have some color now, but by the weekend there likely won’t be much to see up that far. 

Please always be respectful of signage in the area as well as other color spotters. Do not create your own parking spaces or park in the middles of the road to take your photos. Practice leave no trace principles and always recreate responsibly.

Southern Inyo County

• Lone Pine (3,727′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Alabama Hills (4,534′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Whitney Portal (8,375′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Mt Whitney Trail (8,360′ to 14,505”) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
• Independence (3,930′) -Patchy (10-50%)
• Onion Valley (9,600′) – No report.
• Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
• Big Pine (3,989′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Bishop Creek Canyon

If you are hoping to see colors in Bishop Creek Canyon then GO NOW!! Colors are changing very quickly up there. There are still beautiful green groves of aspen near Mist Falls (across from Bishop Creek Lodge), Mountain Glen and Four Jeffries Campgrounds, but anything higher than that is quickly going to be past peak. 

South Fork, Bishop Creek

• South Lake (9,768′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
• Weir Pond (9,650′) – Past peak, you missed it.
• Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
• Willow Campground (9,000′) –50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!) 
• Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Past peak, you missed it.
• Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Past peak, you missed it.
• Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
• Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!) (Closer to 50% but things are changing quickly up here.)
• Four Jeffries (8,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Middle Fork, Bishop Creek

• Lake Sabrina (9,150′) – Past peak, you missed it.
• Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
• Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
• Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
• Intake II (8,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) 
• Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Bishop

• Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%) Yellows in the upper parts of the cottonwoods. 
• Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Owens Valley (4,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) 

Northern Inyo County
Pine Creek Canyon still has a ways to go. The aspen at the top of the canyon, near the pack station are starting to turn yellow, but the cottonwoods throughout the canyon are still mostly green, with just a hint of yellow. This is an incredibly beautiful canyon any time of the year and worth checking out! 

• Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,087′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
• Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!) (The aspen are turning yellow now, but the cottonwoods and other trees up there are still mostly green.)