Archive for category: Eastern Sierra

What better time of year to refresh the family portrait, than autumn? And what better place to get it than in Mono County?

Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson and his family explored Lobdell Lake Rd. in northern Mono County, returning with great memories and a colorful image to send with holiday greetings.

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Fall colors are peaking above 8,500′ throughout Mono County, though at several locations along US 395 the show varies from Just Starting to Patchy. That means, Mono County’s show will continue for three weeks. Though, the sooner you get there, the better.

TRAVEL ADVISORY – The National Weather Service is forecasting snow Oct. 7 – 8 and closing Sonora Pass (CA-108), Monitor Pass (CA-89) and Tioga Pass (CA-120), potentially to reopen Oct. 9. US 395 will remain open. A dusting of snow will contribute to spectacular fall color pictures.

Road Conditions: https://roads.dot.ca.gov/

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Monitor Pass, Sonora Pass, Lobdell Lake Road, Conway Summit, Summers Meadow Road, Tioga Pass, and Rock Creek Road are all at Peak. Virginia Lakes which has been at peak for the past couple of weeks has some color for the first three miles of the road but is mostly past peak beyond there.

Sagehen Summit was beautiful, but the few remaining groves with color will be Past Peak by the end of the weekend.

However, stand by for a brilliant show about to debut at June Lake, the Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Canyon, Laurel Canyon, Convict Lake and McGee Creek. Lime green and light yellow leaves are just appearing in these areas and should be at peak within a week to a week and a half.

Upcoming Events: 

• Fall Colors of the Northern Bodie Hills, 
• Leaves in the Loop, 
• BFEF Fall Fishing Tournament.

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WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ

• Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – Monitor Pass just edged past Near Peak and should progress nicely through the weekend.
• West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Some aspen in the Walker Canyon are now Near Peak with 50% yellow leaves.
• Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! There is good color to be enjoyed from Leavitt Meadows Pack Station all the way to the summit.
• Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – This area is gorgeous now and should remain good for another week of Peak color. Some groves will move Past Peak over the weekend, but lower level areas around the road should be perfect for another week. (AWD & 4WD recommended)

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES

• Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – This area just edged out of “Just Starting”, so it will take a bit before it nears peak. The Twin Lakes area, southwest of Bridgeport typically peaks around the third week of October.
• Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Peak to Past peak – You Almost Missed It! – Just about everything at the lakes is gone, but there’s still great color for the first few miles from Conway Summit up Virginia Lakes Road.
• Conway Summit (8,143) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – There’s plenty of green yet to turn, yet this area is layered in tones of lime, yellow, orange and hints of brilliant vermilion. The Summit should remain at peak for the next 10 days. It is so beautiful that it’s easy to forget you’re driving a major California highway. So, as you approach the summit, be mindful to reduce speed, use your turn signal, watch for other vehicles and park only in designated turnouts along US 395.
• Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – This extraordinarily beautiful drive (one of Mono County’s best) just edged past 75% and should be good for the next 10 days. This hidden gem has been declared California Fall Color’s Drive of the Week, though a AWD or 4WD vehicle is recommended.

LEE VINING 

• Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW – It’s last call for the High Sierra. Colder temps, winds and even some snow will make this the last time to revel in the last bright spots of autumn color as you approach the east entrance to Yosemite National Park.
• Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – Figure that Lee Vining Canyon will be a Go Now! fall color destination, next week.
• Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – California’s best fall color hike just missed being declared Near Peak. Considering that cold weather is arriving, the canyon could change faster than an aspen leaf flutters. Lundy Canyon is mostly green near US 395 level with color progressing up the canyon with elevation. The Lundy Canyon trail “might” be perfect this weekend. This area is popular, so be mindful to park only in designated parking spots.

BENTON & 120 EAST 

• Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Past Peak, You Missed It!

JUNE LAKE LOOP

• June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – One of North America’s most impressive autumn views, the June Lake Loop is about to become epic. Plan to visit from a week to two and a half weeks from now. Good color will begin dressing the edges of Silver Lake next week and quickly earn a Go Now! designation.

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MAMMOTH LAKES

• Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – Color is still developing at the Lakes Basin and in town. Check Booking.com (above right) for room availabilities.

CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE

• McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – The McGee Creek Trail is still developing with green to yellow aspen low in the canyon, transitioning to broad displays of golden aspen leading up to impressive peaks. Don’t be fooled by the mostly green trees around the campground and pack station, drive up the canyon for a beautiful show which will only get better this coming week.
• Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – There’s good color up the hill and in the surrounding mountains while mostly green in town and along old US 395.
• Convict Lake (7850′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – Some sections of good color can be seen, but it’s still too green. It should be brilliant in 10 – 14 days.

ROCK CREEK CANYON

• Rock Creek Road (9,600’) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – Upper Rock Creek Canyon is peaking at lake level and up the Little Lakes Valley, but is still green near US 395.

With such great weather of late, it’s a joy to ride to the beauty of the Eastern Sierra, as these ladies did today. Mammoth Mountains color spotter Sarah Wallock joined them and a friend to scout for autumn color in town, up Rock Creek Canyon, along the June Lake Loop and at Lundy Lake.

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She reported that Patchy color predominates in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, on the road up to Rock Creek Lake (it’s near peak to peaking there), along the June Lake Loop and in Lundy Canyon, the latter two of which are made more golden by the warm light created by smoke haze from distant fires.

We’ve no complaint with that, but do have a bone to pick with Sarah’s bosses. The car you gave Sarah to drive has lots of great pictures of skiing at Mammoth Mountain on it, but c’mon guys, where’s the fall color? Oh, that’s right; it’s in the woods.

Conditions for color spotting varied today according to which way the wind was blowing. At Rock Creek Lake, the air was clear, but as Sarah traveled north, smoke from fires to the west sullied the air. To help you know air quality conditions, a link In the navigation bar at right, connects to PurpleAir which shows current air quality indexes, as seen below.

These conditions (as the photos show) change at different times of day and by location. So, use the app to see what’s happening.

• Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)
• Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,097′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
• Upper Rock Creek Rd (9,000′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)
• Rock Creek Lake (9,705′) – Near Peak to Peak (50 – 100%) GO NOW!
• June Lake Loop (7,654′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)
• Lundy Canyon (7,858′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)

I had such high hopes for Onion Valley that I asked Mark Harding to visit it on his way north along US 395. But, once he cut into it, all I could do was cry.

His photos are beautiful, but considering the valley has an elevation of 9,600′, I had expected more color. Mark said it was mostly young aspen and shrubs.

The rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus) is dull and uninviting everywhere in the Sierra. At Lake Tahoe, it was desiccated and bereft of yellow blossoms. As for the aspen, well, they’ll be covered in a report from the Hope Valley soon to be posted.

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• Onion Valley (9,600′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)

Mono County is back in the groove. What proved to be a week’s delay is now behind us and peak color is occurring where it usually does, first … at the highest elevations.

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“Lobdell Lake Road, Sagehen Summit and Virginia Lakes are all bursting with color,” reports Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson who declares them as “must-sees this week.” We just say, “GO NOW!”

If you aren’t packed and ready to head to the Eastern Sierra this weekend, you’re probably going yto miss their lush yellow, orange and red displays, as “they likely wont make it past next week,” says Simpson. 

Further south off US-395, Rock Creek Road and Rock Creek Lake are Near Peak with peak color at lake level and yellow/green trees along the road, and fully green aspen near the highway (US 395). There’s a good chance that by the weekend Rock Creek Rd. will be fully peaking at the lake and Near Peak along the upper section of the road, but still Just Starting to Patchy lower down.

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Conway Summit, Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass, Monitor Pass and the Mammoth Lakes Basin are in the high Patchy designation, but will likely be at peak within the week. You’ll find groves of peaking aspen at all these locations, but it won’t be at its best until next weekend. 

Color spotter Jen Miyara reports that a dusting of snow occurred last night at Virginia Lakes along the ridge and trails in shaded areas. Some of the taller trees high up are now losing leaves. She wrote, “Just along the roadside along the resort were white skeletons. Virginia Lake near the bathroom and picnic area near peak/peak. There was some orange along the creek leading into the lake.” On the Just Starting side, Jen sent and image of Convict Lake which has very little color.

Hike of the Week is the Green Creek Trailhead to Green Lake in Toyiabe National Forest.

Upcoming Events: 

• Fall Colors of the Northern Bodie Hills 
• Leaves in the Loop
• BFEF Fall Fishing Tournament

WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ

• Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – Closer to the 25% range with the most color happening right at the summit.
• West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
• Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Patchy (10-50%) – There’s good color at the top of the pass with some yellow groves near Leavitt Meadows Campground. Though, it is short of peaking.
• Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – It’s shocking how fast the leaves turned here this year but Lobdell Lake Rd. is a definite GO NOW! and CaliforniaFallColor.com’s Peak of the Week. You’ll find wonderful yellow, orange and red groves all the way up the road. However, an all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. This is a dirt road with some dips that can high center some cars. So, don’t attempt it in the wrong vehicle.

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES

• Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
• Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – Peaking colors at Virginia Lakes and along Dunderberg Meadows Road to Green Creek. (AWD & 4WD recommended for Dunderberg Meadows Road)
• Conway Summit (8,143) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – Mostly green with some good angles of yellow trees. One week away from peaking atop Conway Summit
• Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Good color at the top of the road where 4×4 is a must. Still very green down low at the base of the road. 

LEE VINING 

• Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – Decent color along the road at upper elevations. 
• Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
• Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%) – There’s decent color to be seen up high past the waterfalls. 

BENTON & 120 EAST 

• Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – Groves of bright orange trees are everywhere, right now. Incredible healthy display of fall color along the road and up the mountain. This is an area that peaks quickly, so, GO NOW! (AWD/4WD Recommended) 

JUNE LAKE LOOP

• June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Plan to visit June Lake in mid October.

MAMMOTH LAKES

• Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – The best color is being seen at Sherwin Lakes and other lofty elevations.

CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE

• McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
• Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
• Convict Lake (7850′) – Just starting (0 – 10%)

ROCK CREEK CANYON

• Rock Creek Road (9,600’) – Near Peak (50 – 75%), Go Now! – The aspen are peaking around the lake up the Little Lakes Valley. It’s still mostly green at the base of the road with a mixture of color as you gain elevation.