It’s still early in the leaf-peeping season, so it’s no surprise that there are just a few yellow leaves popping up both in the Owens Valley and Bishop Creek Canyon.
It’s still quite warm down in the Valley (high 80s and mid to low 90s), and always about 20 degrees cooler up in the mountains. According to our friends at Visit Bishop, they’ve been getting afternoon clouds and even a little rain up in the mountains in the afternoons, which always makes it exciting!
The cottonwoods in and around Bishop and the Owens Valley have bits of yellows, hues of yellow, and even a few very pronounced sections of yellow. And, there are still lots and lots of trees that are still all green. No need to panic.
**Oh, and Pro Tip… visit mid-week!!
Bishop Creek Canyon
The willow bushes are all yellow, and many of the aspen have yellow hues. The upper mountain elevations are changing (as in the places you would need to hike to). It was in the low 60s midday up in Bishop Creek Canyon, with a cooler breeze and definitely feeling like summer is coming to a close.
South Fork, Bishop Creek
- South Lake (9,768′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Weir Pond (9,650′) – Patchy (10-50%) The grass in the pond is yellow, setting the tone for fall. The aspen trees between Weir and South Lake are turning.
- Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Willow Campground (9,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
- Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Patchy (10-50%) Lots of yellows here.
- Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
- Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – Patchy (10-50%). Some nice yellows starting on the mountains here.
- Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
- Four Jeffries (8,000′) – Still waiting.
Middle Fork, Bishop Creek
- Lake Sabrina (9,150′) – Patchy (10-50%). Please note that they are working on the dam, with access to the path on the dam closed.
- Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Really more like 10-20%
- Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
- Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
- Intake II (8,000′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!) Please note, they are working on this dam as well, and Intake II is almost empty.
- 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′) – Still waiting
- Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
- Owens Valley (4,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) Yellows in the upper parts of the cottonwoods.
Northern Inyo County
- Lower Rock Creek Rd ((7,087′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
- Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Pine Creek Pack Station (7,400′) – Just starting (0-10%)
