Things are winding down in Bishop Creek Canyon, as reported by several color spotters this week. While some of the lower elevation areas are still showing beautiful colors, upper elevations are past peak with stands of stripped trees.
“It has the feel of peaking and past peak, which creates a beautiful end-of-fall-color scene,” said spotter Betsy Forsyth with Visit Bishop.
Mark Hanning-Lee enjoyed what was left of the golden aspens during a visit last weekend.
“As usual, get the best views and photos before the sunlight goes off the canyon, about 3 to 4 pm. After that time, we can still see the colors, but they do not delight the eyes and saturate a photo!” Hanning-Lee said.
He added an important piece of information to his report on the North Fork of the Canyon – While things are at Peak for about two miles above Cardinal Village, it is Past Peak above that point except for the GO NOW! delicious fruit pies and two aspens at the Lake Sabrina Cafe, which is open through the weekend!
As always, the color show in the Bishop area will continue for a while longer as the colors move down into the Owens Valley and into the City of Bishop proper.
Bishop Creek Canyon
South Fork, Bishop Creek
- South Lake (9,768′) – 75-100% – Peak (GO NOW!)
- 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′) – 75-100% – Peak (GO NOW!) The campground itself is past peak, but there are some beautiful colors between Mountain Glen Camp and Table Mountain Camp.
- Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – 75-100% – Peak (GO NOW!) This spot is really beautiful and interesting with all of the fall colors being represented.
- Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – 75-100% – Peak (GO NOW!) Still a few green aspen here, as well as lots of beautiful golden aspen stands.
- 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′) – 75-100% – Peak (GO NOW!) The trees above Cardinal are past peak. There are still come green trees right around Cardinal Village waiting to change, but overall, mostly past peak.
- Intake II (8,000′) – 75-100% – Peak (GO NOW!) The lake, itself is past peak, but there are still lots of really beautiful colors nearby, so worth a wander. Please note, they are working on this dam as well, and Intake II is almost empty.
- Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now.)
Bishop
The cottonwoods in and around Bishop and the Owens Valley are a mixture of yellows and greens. The overall feeling is golden due mostly to the rabbit brush, which is in full bloom everywhere.
- Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%) Closer to 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%) Yellows in the upper parts of the cottonwoods. It’s quite beautiful throughout the Owens Valley with the rabbit brush (sorry for those allergic), the golden fields, and changing leaves.
Northern Inyo County
- Lower Rock Creek Rd ((7,087′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now.)
- Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%) Yellows in the upper parts of the cottonwoods. This area is at a lower elevation, and will continue to be beautiful for a while. Think “nice drive on a country road”. Incredible views of Mt. Tom, cows, horses, etc. If you like that sort of thing 😉
- Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
- Pine Creek Pack Station (7,400′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now.)
