Color spotter Steve Arita, hiked McGee Creek, up to the third stream crossing yesterday, Oct. 11, 2025.
The aspens were at peak, he said, for about 1/2 mile from the switchbacks to about the second stream, beyond that as the trail winds its way up in elevation, he saw more and more past peak aspens with more branches than leaves.
“I don’t know how the leaves were beyond the third stream crossing, but my sense is it only gets more sparse as you continue up through the canyon,” he explained.
“I started at 7 am, and the wind felt like hurricane force, I would estimate 30-40 mph coming right at you from the canyon,” he said.
It made hiking difficult in the morning, but once you got closer to the aspen groves, it died down quite a bit. Besides the wind, the day went from clear skies to large white to dark grey clouds, no rain though. The hike back provided beautiful photo opportunities with the sun intermittently breaking through the clouds, it really turned the colors a bright orange golden color.
More weather is expected in the Eastern Sierra early this week, so GO NOW! to this location.
McGee Creek – Peak to Past Peak. You almost missed it.
