Archive for category: Eastern Sierra

While most California National Forests will remain closed until Sept. 17, Nevada’s National Forests are open and one of them – the Bridgeport Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest – overlaps the Eastern Sierra in Mono County. Presently, Patchy fall color (10-50%) is appearing near the Virginia Lakes (Mono County) inside the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

That means emerging fall color can now be seen and photographed at 9,819′ near Virginia Lakes. Most of the color is being seen at the top of Virginia Lakes Rd. with some trees topping 50%, reports Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson. At lower sections along the road, the change is just starting with most trees green to lightly tinted.

Other areas of the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF include areas north of Conway Summit on US 395 and CaliforniaFallColor.com has adjusted its Fall Color Map to show Just Starting conditions (0 – 10%) in Topaz, Walker, Coleville, Bridgeport, Twin Lakes, Summers Meadow, Dunderberg and Conway Summit.

Areas to the south of Conway Summit are within the Inyo National Forest and remain temporarily closed through Sept. 17.  Jeff writes that “There’s no predicting, at this point, whether Inyo National Forest will reopen on Sept. 18 or if the closure will be extended, so stay tuned.” Any change in forest closure status will be shared as soon as we know it.

There is no doubt, however, that fall has arrived above 9,500′ in the Eastern Sierra. In past drought years, color has arrived early and been short-lived. So, when this site reports that conditions are Patchy, as they are at Virginia Lakes, be prepared to head to forests that are open and please respect all forest closures.

As an early season reminder, whenever this site reports GO NOW!, we mean it. Go immediately to that location, as peak color is imminent or ongoing and could be gone within days.

Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Patchy (10-50%) – This is the only spot in California that’s open this weekend with fall color to be enjoyed. So, if you can get over to the Eastern Sierra, now’s the time to get bragging rights that you were there at the beginning of the 2021 season. Virginia Lakes is open for day use only, no overnight camping outside of developed campgrounds. See USFS closure information page for more information. 

The party’s over in Mono County. This was the year for northern Mono County to strut its stuff, even to the end.

Appropriate for a year when wildfire smoke and Covid concerns closed much of the Inyo National Forest in southern Mono County, areas near the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest to its north gained attention.

We’ve been watching as peak dropped, and now as snows begin to fall in the Eastern Sierra, the Antelope Valley (lowest of the elevations in Mono County) is now past peak, Jeff Simpson reports.

A boulevard of towering black cottonwood beside US 395 in Coleville hold Mono County’s last remaining deep orange leaves. They are a final party favor during an autumn of beautiful color in the Eastern Sierra.

• Coleville, Antelope Valley (5,141′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

Oh, what a beautiful morning. Everything was going Gary Young’s way when he toured the Owens Valley where a balmy clime and peak cottonwood were to be enjoyed in Bishop and throughout. Call it Peak.

• Owens Valley (4,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

Fall color was glorious, simply glorious along the Lobdell Lake Rd. in northern Mono County, this past month.

Ryan Boyd’s photographs taken on Saturday illustrate that all that’s left of the glory are gilded memories.

For the best of autumn’s show in Mono County, visit Conway Summit. As seen below, peak color is still being seen.

• Lobdell Lake Rd. (8,600′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
• Conway Summit (8,143′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

Leavitt Creek continues to shine. We first visited it nine days ago when Philip Reedy introduced us to its cascade.

In Todd Backman’s iPhone XR capture (above) the aspen to its right carry more peak color.

Todd writes for those who want to find the creek, it’s on the eastern side of Sonora Pass (CA-108), just above the 8,000′ sign on the south side of the road. While this location was full of peak color at 11 this morning, Backman writes the rest of the area is Past Peak.

Still, he passed “some really nice groves further east, along the West Walker River north of the 108/395 junction.

As for Monitor Pass, stick a fork in it. It’s done.

Backman continued his 108, 395, 89 loop by returning by way of Ebbet’s Pass (CA-4) which has pretty views of lush color on both sides of the East Carson River.

He bemoaned with sad-faced emojis, something I’ve often bemoaned. We color spotters have a tendency to pass the first peak we see, thinking it’s gonna get better a little further down the road.

Not so. What dazzles you is good because the light is perfect at that moment. And, it’s probably not going to get better.

When on a quest to find fall color, I’ve learned to stop as soon as there’s a safe turnout. This means traveling slightly below the speed limit and pulling over to let others pass. Then, I stop whenever I see something beautiful. Otherwise, it’s a nice, pretty drive with nothing to show.

• Leavitt Creek, Sonora Pass (8,000′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.