There is snow on the mountains and lingering fall colors in pockets around Mono County. Winter is coming.
If you’d like to make a last dash to this area for Halloween celebrations, Convict Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Canyon, Walker and Topaz are your best options. There are still some yellows, reds and oranges to be found in these locations, but the color is fading.
Wind gusts and weather over the next few days could change everything. Make sure to check forecasts and pack extra. layers before you head out on your adventure.
Locations from north to south:
WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – 75-100% Peak (GO NOW!). There are a few groves that are past peak but in general yellows and oranges continue to keep Antelope Valley aglow through these final days of fall.
Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – Past Peak (You Missed It).
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak (You Missed It).
Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Past Peak (You Missed It).
BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES
Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Past Peak (You Missed It). While there are still some spots of color that would be worth checking out, the area is officially past peak. Winds were high on Monday as color spotters were collecting photos so this is one location that may not make it through the weekend. If you are here for Halloween, it’s worth a drive.
Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Past Peak (You Missed It).
Green Creek – Past Peak (You Missed It).
Dunderberg Meadow – Past Peak (You Missed It).
Conway Summit (8,143) – Past Peak (You Missed It).
Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Past Peak (You Missed It)
LEE VINING
Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Past Peak (You Missed It).
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – 75-100% Peak (GO NOW!). If you NEED fall color in your life, Lee Vining Canyon is here for you. There is wind in the forecast but likely this will be the best place for color over the next week.
Lundy Canyon and Lake (7,858′) – Past Peak (You Missed It).
BENTON & 120 EAST
Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Past Peak (You Missed It).
JUNE LAKE LOOP
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Past Peak (You Missed It). The color continues around the Loop, but the leaves are very close to packing their bags for winter. It will really depend on the weather over the next week.
MAMMOTH LAKES
Mammoth Lakes (Town) (7880’) – Past Peak (You Missed It) Another incredible fall is starting to make way for winter mode. There are still a few pockets of color to see around town, especially in the Mammoth Creek area.
CONVICT LAKE/MCGEE CREEK
Convict Lake (7,850′) – 75-100% Peak (GO NOW!). Orange is aglow around the lake just in time for this weekend’s holiday. While the grove at the back of the lake is well past peak, we would classify the rest of the lake at a solid 100%.
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Past Peak (You Missed It). We couldn’t make it to McGee Canyon this week, but we expect that last week’s wind pushed it into the past peak category. Likely, there is color left in the lower portion of the canyon, if anywhere.
ROCK CREEK CANYON
Rock Creek Road (9,600’) – Past Peak (You Missed It).
Lower Rock Creek Road – 50-75% Near Peak (Go Now.) We couldn’t make it to Lower Rock Creek this week, but we expect that like other locations it continues to move along in color progression.
