Entries by Lara Kaylor

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Shasta County Steals the Show

Potem Falls (11/4/23) Philip Reedy

Color spotter Philip Reedy has done it again, going the extra mile to capture fabulous fall color photos.

“Last week I toured parts of Siskiyou County along the Upper Sac,” Reedy said. “This week my buddy John and I did another nearly 500-mile day east of Redding.” 
 
The friends drove from Davis to Redding, then headed northeast along Highway 299 as far as Lake Britton. From there they spent some time at Lassen NP before heading back home.
 
“Our first stop along 299 was the very beautiful Potem Falls, about 40 miles from Redding and at a fairly low elevation of 1200 ft.,” Reedy said. “There are some very nice colors right now, mainly big leaf maples. Most of the Indian Rhubarb is still green and will hopefully turn in the next couple of weeks.”


From there they headed on to Burney Falls and Lake Britton.
 
“There are a lot of nice colors along 299 between the town of Montgomery Creek and Burney, with many of the mountainsides covered in colorful oak trees,” Reedy said. “Burney Falls is definitely past peak, so unless you just want to view the falls, don’t expect much in the way of color. Lake Britton still has a bit of color along the shore, but it is also fading fast and probably isn’t worth a long drive.”
 
They finished up at Lassen NP and Manzanita Lake where there was very little color left, just a few trees and grasses still wearing a bit of yellow and gold. 
 
“I was there a year ago and the park was covered in nearly two feet of snow, but nothing yet this year,” he said. “Like Highway 299, Highway 44 has a lot of nice colors once you get to lower elevations on the road to Redding.”






Highway 299 (11/4/23) Philip Reedy

November 5, 2023 by
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Exciting in Arcata

Warren Creek Trestle (11/3/23) Michelle Pontoni

We heard from color spotter Michelle Pontoni over the weekend when she spotted “exciting color” in Arcata. You should GO NOW! to this area.

She found it along both sides of West End Road and when she turned left onto Warren Creek Road.

As you approach the Warren Creek Trestle you are surrounded by huge trees of golds and yellows.

“Passing under the trestle takes us back to remembering the Annie & Mary Railroad in the ‘50’s when the foliage was sparse aside the same trestle,” she said of the area’s history.

Pontoni also warned against getting too distracted by the colors as you drive.

“Pay attention to the road as you take in the color. It is narrow and curvy. Watch for bicycles. “

Warren Creek Trestle and Mad River beyond (circa 1955) from Facebook North Coast Railroad History, unknown photographer - all credit to them!

November 5, 2023 by
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Untraditional in the South Bay

Pickleweed in Alviso (11/3/23) Hanna Summers

On Friday, November 3 color spotter Hanna Summers came across some untraditional, but still stunning colors in Alviso, the southern most part of the San Francisco Bay.

“Not your traditional fall colors, but I could not help but share the beauty at the southern most part of the SF Bay that I saw in Alviso today,” she said. “The pickleweed was turning beautiful shades of red as were some of the other plants (iceplants and thistles)… not to mention the beautiful hues of orange, pink, and red in the water itself from the salt loving microbes!”

Fall is fall to us here and any color changes count in our book!

Colorful views in Alviso, SF Bay (11/3/23) Hanna Summers

Salt loving microbes join in the fall color fun in Alviso (11/3/23) Hanna Summers

Beautiful colors and views in Alviso (11/3/23) Hanna Summers

November 5, 2023 by
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Fall Foliage Still An Eyeful in Plumas

Deer Creek Hwy 32 (10/27/23) Jake Edwards

Downtown Quincy is past its peak but still quite lovely especially if you like to shuffle through fallen leaves for that crunching, fall feeling, according to color spotters in Plumas County. The surrounding area is still covered with oaks that have turned beautiful shades of orange and yellow.

It’s an excellent time for mountain biking on the South Park trails maintained by Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. We still recommend the Cascades Trail for hiking, which is 5.1 miles from the Quincy airport to the road marked Old Highway. Turn right and follow the paved road 0.7 miles east past several homes. Then turn left onto a rough dirt road and go 0.4 miles to the parking area and trailhead.

Mountain Biking Mount Hough Trail (archive photo) Mason Werner

Mount Hough Trail

Driving north on Highway 89 from Quincy to Indian Valley (Taylorsville and Greenville), Michael Beatley, one of our favorite leaf peepers, stopped by Indian Falls to check out fall colors last weekend and wasn’t disappointed. He said Indian Creek is lined with colorful wild grape, willows, big leaf maples, and grasses. Still at 100% peak. 

Victor at Pine Aire Resort in the Feather River Canyon says around each bend in the road the oaks are lovely. He mentioned that the construction stops weren’t too bad—15 minutes or so. Now is definitely the time to explore the Feather River Canyon!

In the Northwest part of Plumas County, Chester is still very showy with golden cottonwoods along the North Fork of the Feather River near First Avenue. Although the cottonwoods behind Olsen Barn aren’t as colorful this year, it is still a nice place to stop and explore the barn and walk the loop trail. 

Leaf peeper Jake Edwards (@Scenescapery) reports that Deer Creek off of Hwy 32 is at peak.

Along Highway 32 plenty of colorful trees remain though they are getting close to peak, about 95%. A perfect place to stop for a picnic lunch is Dog Patch. The sights will not disappoint.

Remember that fall is more than beautifully colored landscapes. There are many varieties of apples in Quincy, Meadow Valley, and Indian Valley—some planted years ago by pioneers. When visiting these areas look to participate in the popular fall activity of apple juicing.

November 3, 2023 by
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Inching Away in Inyo

Fading color and fading light around Bishop (11/1/23) Betsy Forsyth

As expected colors are winding down in Inyo County as of Nov. 1.

According to color spotter Betsy Forsyth, “the colors in town and Round Valley are still great, but it feels like the end is in sight. I still have Bishop at 50-75%, mostly because while driving around, there are still lots of green trees. There are also lots of yellow/golden leaves. That said, the yellows aren’t quite as bright in many areas. Past peak.”

“Maybe it’s just the upcoming time change that has me feeling the end of the brightness.”

Bishop City Park (11/1/23) Betsy Forsyth

Southern Inyo County

  • Lone Pine (3,727′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Alabama Hills (4,534′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
  • Whitney Portal (8,375′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Mt Whitney Trail (8,360′ to 14,505”) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Independence (3,930′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
  • Onion Valley (9,600′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
  • Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Big Pine (3,989′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)

Bishop Creek Canyon

Bishop Creek Canyon is past peak. There are a few aspen groves with a little color, but mostly fall has fallen up here. 

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′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Four Jeffries (8,000′) – Past peak, you missed it.

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′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Intake II (8,000′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Past peak, you missed it.

Bishop
Bishop and the Owens Valley are really beautiful right now. Some of the trees are past peak, yet others still have a fair amount of green, so the fall colors are not over!

  • Bishop (4,150′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. Bishop has a nice variety of trees in various stages of their fall colors. 
  • Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Owens Valley (4,000′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! Most of the trees in the Owens Valley have fall colors on parts or all of them. There are still some green trees, so the colors will continue for a bit, but the end is in sight. 

Northern Inyo County

  • Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,087′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Round Valley (4,692′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! It’s really beautiful throughout the Owens Valley. There are yellows in most of the cottonwoods and poplars. 
  • Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Past peak, you missed it
  • Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! The aspen at the top of the canyon are past peak, and the cottonwoods and other trees along the creek are peaking now. There are still some trees lower in the canyon that have some color to them. 


November 3, 2023 by
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Late Fall Color in Arcata

Cal Poly Humboldt Library (10/28/23) Michelle Pontoni

Color spotter Michelle Pontoni reported from Arcata this week with the following information:

We’ve had a sunny week in Arcata, but with rain approaching Wednesday night (Nov. 1) we are seeing the last of the blue sky for awhile. 

Go NOW! to catch some late color. 

We wandered through the Cal Poly Humboldt campus and found quite a bit of color on Oct. 28.

We took shelter from the sun (yes it sometimes warms up in Arcata) beneath a large maple showing all green leaves on the underside. When we looked up into the top story windows of the university library, we could see the reflection of the brilliant colors crowning the tree. 

Along Harpst Street some years these trees all change color at the same time but this year it is the north side of the street changing first. 

There are ferns everywhere on campus and today they are covered with the browns and golds of fall. 

Grab a look at the colors here before they are gone.

Along Harpst Street some years these trees all change color at the same time but this year it is the north side of the street changing first. (10/28/23) Michelle Pontoni

Harpst Street Arcata (10/28/23) Michelle Pontoni

There are ferns everywhere on campus and today they are covered with the browns and golds of fall. (10/28/23) Michelle Pontoni

November 3, 2023 /1 Comment/by
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Mono County Says See You Next Year

Antelope Valley (10/27/23) Dakota Snider

Color spotter Angie Plaisted put it best this week.

“It was a beautiful year for fall colors in the Eastern Sierra, but sadly it’s time to bid them farewell,” she said.

It’s true that colors have wrapped in Mono County, so make plans to visit this beautiful Eastern Sierra location in 2024!

Here are a few parting shots from the past week.

Antelope Valley (10/27/23) Dakota Snider

Mammoth Lakes (10/28/23) Angie Plaisted

November 3, 2023 by
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Nevada City – GO NOW!

Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) (10/29/23) Jim Adams

Color spotter Jim Adams took a walk around the downtown area of Nevada City on Oct. 29 and found colors peaking everywhere he turned. He estimated color changes were at 75% and recommended that you Go Now to this location.

To take the walk that Jim did, you can check out this fall color map from Nevada City Chamber of Commerce.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper) (10/29/23) Jim Adams









October 30, 2023 by
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Plumas Peaking Everywhere

Indian Falls (10/27/23) Michael Beatley

Color spotter Michael Beatley took a drive over the weekend to Indian Falls and Indian Creek on Hwy 89.

“The creek is lined with wild grape, willows, big leaf maples and grasses,” he described. “On the west edge of Quincy is the West Ranch with cottonwoods and old farm implements and black oaks. Plumas County is peaking everywhere.”

GO NOW!

Indian Creek (10/27/23) Michael Beatley

West Ranch Quincy (10/27/23) Michael Beatley

October 30, 2023 by
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Downieville Does Not Disappoint

Lavezzola Creek (10/2723) Philip Reedy

Color spotter Philip Reedy headed to Downieville on Oct. 27 with his buddy John to check out the colors in the area. The duo spent their time on the North Fork of the Yuba and Lavezzola Creek, all within three miles of town. 
 
“I’ve been reporting on that location every year since 2017,” Reedy explains. “On my first visit exactly six years ago to the day the colors were absolutely amazing. While they are really nice every year, I’ve never seen such a spectacular display again.  While not quite up to that level this year, the colors are still gorgeous and well worth the drive. As I noted in my Siskiyou report Friday, the Indian Rhubarb is lagging a bit this year, but there is still a lot that has turned a bright yellow.”
 
Phil and John began at their favorite spot just a couple of miles east of Downieville. The canyon is steep there, so by early afternoon the river is in shade which is perfect for photographing rushing water and color, according to Reedy.
 
“The big leaf maples are looking spectacular right now and will probably remain so for another week,” he says. “And with luck, the remaining green rhubarb will show their fall colors by then.”
 
The next stop was Lavezzola Creek, a few miles northeast of Downieville. This area is beautiful any time of the year, but especially in late October. In some parts of the creek a lot of the rhubarb has already turned bright yellow, while 50 yards downstream it is still completely green. So there should be more to come there as well, Reedy says.

North Fork of the Yuba (10/27/23) Philip Reedy

A rocky existence (10/27/23) Philip Reedy




North Fork of the Yuba (10/27/23) Philip Reedy

NF Yuba as photographed by Reedy in 2017

October 29, 2023 by