“Fall is fragile.”
The colors can change so quickly. One day there are so many colors, and with the right mixture of temperature and wind, they can be gone the next day.
Betsy Forsyth with Visit Bishop chatted with a local gentleman during her visit to Bishop Creek Canyon earlier this week who was incredibly passionate about the fall colors. He made the first statement, which got Forsyth thinking about the rest.
“Seems like we are in a fragile state with the fall foliage in Bishop Creek Canyon right now,” she said, referring to the weather changes expected through Saturday.
The fragility of fall color can also be seen in the environment where it is found. Places such as Bishop Creek can easily become over-loved if we are not careful. Please treat these places as sacred spots for future generations. Recreate responsibly and consider visiting mid-week if you can.
INYO COUNTY
SOUTHERN INYO COUNTY
- Lone Pine (3,727′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Alabama Hills (4,534′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Whitney Portal (8,375′) – No report.
- Mt Whitney Trail (8,360′ to 14,505′) – Past peak, you missed it.
- 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! Weather is changing in the latter part of the week and we never know what that will do to the colors up there. Currently, there are a lot of yellows in the lower part of the South Fork of Bishop Creek. Four Jeffrey Campground, the Mist Falls, and Mountain Glen Campground areas are all stunning right now, and won’t last long. There are also still colors in the lower part of the Middle Fork of Bishop Creek, but again, they won’t be around for long.
South Fork, Bishop Creek
- South Lake (9,768′) – Past peak, you missed it.
- Weir Pond (9,650′) – Past peak, you missed it.
- Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – Past peak, you missed it.
- Willow Campground (9,000′) –Past peak, you missed it.
- 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.)
- Four Jeffries (8,000′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now.)
Middle Fork, Bishop Creek
- Lake Sabrina (9,150′) –Past peak, you missed it.
- Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Past peak, you missed it.
- Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Past peak, you missed it.
- Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now.)
- Intake II (8,000′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now.)
- Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now.)
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 still has a way to go. The aspen at the top of the canyon, near the pack station are turning, but the cottonwoods throughout the canyon are still mostly green, with more yellows than last week.
- Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,087′) – No report
- 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 past peak, but the cottonwoods and other trees up there are just starting.)
