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June Is Busting Out All Over

Conway Summit (10/19/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

It’s time to break out into song, ’cause June Lake is busting out, and peak color is being seen all over Mono County.

Mono County Tourism’s Jeff Simpson calls it “the week we’ve been waiting for,” and it’s easy to see why. For the next week to ten days the best color left in the Eastern Sierra is putting on a show. That’s why the June Lake Loop has been named CaliforniaFallColor.com’s Peak of the Week and Driving Tour of the Week.

As is seen in Jeff’s and Alicia Vennos’ photographs, weather and smoke vary greatly day by day, hour by hour. One moment it’s crystal clear, the next it’s congested.

Knowing when it’s best outside, is a matter of referring to tools like PurpleAir.com. This app provides an immediate color-coded view of what’s happening where you are and where you plan to go.

Despite the intermittent haze, the entire front country of the Eastern Sierra is open to fall color viewing. It is only wilderness areas in the backcountry of Inyo National Forest that remain closed.

All locations pictured here can be visited, and as is evident – they’re beautiful right now.

Unfortunately, not everyone visiting the outdoors this year has done so responsibly. Yesterday, I posted that Taylor Creek at Lake Tahoe had to be closed because people were jumping fences and trampling the forest in order to take selfies of bear feeding on spawning salmon.

The many fall color spotters I’ve met are responsible and careful about protecting the places we visit. So, we can help keep the forests open for fall color and wildlife viewing by packing out any litter that’s been left behind and encourage others to do the same.

It’s all about practicing Mountain Manners, as they say in Mono County.

Monitor Pass, CA-89 (10/16/20) Jeff Simpson

Walker / Coleville / Topaz

  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – We’ve had Monitor Pass at Peak to Past Peak for a week. It won’t last much longer.
  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – The Antelope Valley should peak within the week. Towering cottonwood rain bright golden leaves on US 395 that swirl as vehicles pass.

Sonora Pass / Lobdell Lake Rd.

  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – The top of the pass is past peak, but Leavitt Meadows is still gorgeous.
  • Lobdell Lake Rd (9,274′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – Most of Lobdell Lake Rd. is now past peak, though those groves that were green when the rest of the road was peaking are now lovely. This is the place to go to be at one with nature and feel what it must have been like for Mark Twain to travel similar dirt roads through the aspen.

Bridgeport / Virginia Lakes

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – It’ll just get better each day over the coming week as Peak arrives.
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Conway Summit (8,143) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Rolling layers of color, lush trees and a horizon that rises to alpine splendor. A broad vista hardly gets better that at Conway Summit, right now. Be cautious when stopping along US 395 to view the color. Find a wide area along the turnout and be cautious before exiting your vehicle. The trees can lose leaves, but we don’t want to lose you.
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Cascading layers of brilliant color are dressing the rolling hillsides of Summer’s Meadow.

Lee Vining

  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! –  As we reported four days ago, Lee Vining Canyon has powered up. Its forest has red, gold, yellow, lime, orange. Drink it all in.
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – If you didn’t hike Lundy Canyon last week, this is the last week to see it it its best. There’s probably a week to ten days of additional peak color there, but don’t delay.

June Lake Loop

  • June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – “
    June Lake Loop is California Fall Color’s Peak of the Week. As the song goes, “June is busting out all over!” It’s just “spectacular” throughout the the June Lake Loop (CA-158). All its classic viewing spots will be perfect for the next week to ten days. GO NOW!

Mammoth Lakes

  • Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – The Mammoth Lakes Basin is past peak, though beautiful color lights up the town of Mammoth Lakes along Snow Creek.

Crowley Lake/ McGee Creek Canyon / Convict Lake

  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Everything up McGee Creek is now at peak, including the campground and pack station. A walk along the creek is a delightful fall color experience.
  • Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Every fall color viewing location in Mono County is now peaking. Crowley still has a little green, but now more color than not is showing. It’ll stay good for two solid weeks. So if your travels don’t get you to the Eastern Sierra until November, you’ll still find scattered peak color here.
  • Convict Lake (7850′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Convict Lake has just edged past 75%, so it’s got a solid week to ten days of glorious color ringing it.

Rock Creek Canyon

  • Rock Creek Rd (9,600′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – The upper section of Rock Creek Rd. is past peak, though from midway down to Tom’s Cabin is where you’ll find the best color.
  • Lower Rock Creek Rd. (7,087′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
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Aspendell Has Its Time

Aspendell meadow (10/17/20) Doug Van Kirk

Now that peak color has dropped below 8,500′, Intake II, Aspendell and Cardinal Village are getting the attention in Bishop Creek Canyon (CA-168).

Cardinal Village (10/15/20) Bob Inman

A few pockets of deep color can be found along North Lake and South Lake Roads above 8,500′, but smoky air from the Creek Fire continues to suffocate the canyon and the upper groves lack the vibrancy and life of a week ago, as Bob Inman and Doug Van Kirk depict in their photographs.

North Lake (10/15/20) Bob Inman
  • North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9,225′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Aspendell, Bishop Creek Canyon (8,400′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Intake II, Bishop Creek Canyon (8,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Rush to June Lake

Rush Creek, June Lake (10/17/20) Steve Arita

Heavy smoke and haze have made the June Lake Loop not the place to be in the past month, though Steve Arita visited yesterday and one thing is clear … it’s time to Rush to June Lake.

He spent most of his time walking along Rush Creek, which was gorgeous though hazy, and which – surprisingly – scored Steve a First Report, as in the past 11 years no one had ever yet submitted photographs from Rush Creek, even though it is a prime location along the June Lake Loop.

Despite the haze, Steve recommends, “folks should go now to experience it. Even with the smoke, walking along the creek one can get some nice shots.”

As Steve states, “June Lake Loop had a lot of smoke yesterday (not as thick as before, but still very noticeable), but the fall colors around the loop were beautiful, at full peak with vibrant colors all around.

His shots of Silver lake give a sense of the air quality which presently is 52 in June Lake. On the right side of this page is a link to Air Quality. Click on it to see what’s happening in your area and all of California.

Aspen, Rush Creek Trail, June Lake (10/17/20) Steve Arita

Steve was impressed by the trails that follow Rush Creek, saying he, “totally enjoyed walking almost the entire length of the trail between Grant and Silver Lakes.”

Aspen and pine, Rush Creek Trail, June Lake (10/17/20) Steve Arita

Photographers, note above what Steve Arita did with a hazy day. He masterfully turned it into an advantage by shooting up into the trees where smoke might create God’s rays or at least be minimized as an element of the photograph. And, below, Doug Van Kirk contrasts highlights and shadows making the smoky air enhance the photograph by adding texture to its drama.

Silver Lake Campground, Rush Creek, June Lake Loop (10/18/20) Doug Van Kirk
  • June Lake Loop (7,654′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Guilt-Ridden Post

US 395 and Walker River, seen from Burcham Flat (10/17/20) Crys Black

Color spotter Crys Black seemed guilt-ridden when she sent thumbnails of Mono County, this past week. She apologized for covering the same locations previously shot beautifully and extensively by Jeff Simpson.

Then, she made up for the duplicative images, by sending a First Report exploration of Burcham Flat Rd with scenes and angles that this site had never published before.

Crys writes, “Burcham Flat follows the Walker River in Antelope Valley south of Walker. If you’ve ever been southbound and looked up from US 395 to the side of the mountain and seen a road, that’s where these photos are from.”

Crys outdid herself in finding the unexpected angle, when she followed up with another First Report on Haypress Flat.

She explains, “Haypress Flat is off of NF-190 east of the intersection between CA-4 and CA-89, by the old Morningstar Mine. While this area is past peak, there is still great color to be had for those who have 4WD. There was something really nice seeing this burn area starting to come back, that makes me hopeful for the new growth we’ll see after this year’s fires.”

Crys closed this loop by scoring another First Report by taking the Leviathan Mine Rd back to 395. She says that “up and around Leviathan Mine itself still has wonderful color and the canyon just south of the Nevada border was also beautiful.

Crys had no reason to be guilt-ridden, though selfishly, we’re glad she was, as it caused her to look for places others were ignoring and thus score the first Triple Crown of California Fall Color First Reports.

  • Burcham Flat Rd., Mono County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Haypress Flat Rd., Mono County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Leviathan Mine Rd. Mono County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Dunderberg Meadows Road – Past Peak, You Missed It.
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Lee Vining Powers Up

Lee Vining Canyon (10/17/20) Gary Young

Poole Power Plant Rd off CA-120 in Lee Vining Canyon (approx. four miles west of US 395) is dappled with color.

Lee Vining Creek (10/17/20) Gary Young

Eastern Sierra color spotter Gary Young drove there from Bishop, noting that smoky air was thick from the top of Sherwin Grade June Lake, but cleared up after the June Lake turnoff, “thanks to northerly winds.

Lee Vining Canyon is now at full Peak.

  • Lee Vining Canyon(6,781′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! 
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Bishop Creek Memories

Bishop Creek Canyon is now mostly Past Peak and here’s what you missed.

Color spotter Sierra Alder reported traveling from Ojai to the Eastern Sierra this past week. She notes that wilderness areas in Inyo National Forest remain closed and that it’s easy to be confused (the map is hard to read) and cross a boundary, which could result in a fine. So, use caution when near a wilderness area.

  • North Lake (9,225′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • North Lake Rd (9,000′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • South Lake Rd. (9,768′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
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Goodbye God, I’m Going to Bodie

Going to Bodie (10/16/19) Doug Van Kirk

The position of a comma can mean everything.

A young San Francisco girl, when told her family would be moving to the infamous gold rush mining town of Bodie, recorded in her diary, “Goodbye God, I’m going to Bodie.”

But, had the comma been moved one word, it would have changed the meaning entirely. Then, she would have been recorded as saying, “Good, by God I’m going to Bodie.”

The position of fall color can mean everything, too. Doug Van Kirk was on the East Side yesterday and found peaking fall color going to Bodie.

Good, by God!

Conway Summit (10/16/20) Doug Van Kirk
Twin Lakes Rd. (10/16/20) Doug Van Kirk
  • Bodie (8,379′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Best along the Bodie road, near US 395.
  • Conway Summit (8,143′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Twin Lakes Rd. (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
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Leavitt Creek Cascade

Leavitt Creek, Sonora Pass (10/14/20) Philip Reedy

In his constant search for great fly fishing photo locations, Philip Reedy never has to leave California.

Today, he sent this shot – part of a package he’d taken with a fly fisherman in the frame for a fishing publication – of Leavitt Creek. It’s located near Sonora Pass (CA-108) and presently it’s surrounded by peak fall color.

Sardine Creek runs nearby. There are two Sardine Creek Falls, an upper one and a lower one, but for all their power, this cascade on Leavitt Creek is lovelier.

Nevertheless, should you choose to hike to Sardine Falls, Sonora Central describes the hike as follows, “Reaching Sardine Falls requires an easy 1.2 mile hike on an unmarked trail but offers rewarding views of the surrounding Sierras as well as the falls themselves. There are actually two falls, the main Sardine Falls which drops about 50′ and a smaller waterfall downstream about 25′ high. Both falls are on McKay Creek which has plenty of runoff from the snow melt throughout the summer season. This destination gets quite a bit of foot traffic in the warm summer months but if you plan your trip on a weekday or late in the season you just might have the falls to yourself.”

I’ve not hiked to Sardine Falls, but the writeups indicate there’s no good spot to photograph the falls. However, this cascade on Leavitt Creek is remarkably photogenic.

California Fall Color creds go to Doug Van Kirk for correctly identifying the cascade as being on Leavitt Creek. We’d initially misidentified the creek as Sardine Creek. So, a can of sardines is ready for him to pick up as his prize.

  • Leavitt Creek Cascade (8,750′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Heading Toward Epic

Summers Meadow (10/13/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Anywhere you look in Mono County this week, you’ll see fall color peaking.

One of the most beautiful landscapes to be seen in the county is Summers Meadow, near Bridgeport. Presently, a blend of Patchy, Near Peak and Peak color decorates its slopes. Though beautiful now, there’s so much developing color that this area will remain good for another week.

Lundy Canyon is this week’s CaliforniaFallColor.com Hike of the Week.

The fabled June Lake Loop is nearing peak, but not yet there. Smoke and haze have diminished the scene over the past two weeks, and hopefully it will lift in time for peak there, as locals describe this year as heading toward epic.

CLICK HERE to see air quality where you live and where you’re going.

Walker / Coleville / Topaz

  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – The summit of Monitor Pass and along the sides of the pass are fully yellow. Mono County is predicting it to be perfect through the weekend and shortly thereafter, though the eastern groves are dropping leaves.
  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Most of the peak color is along the river. The Antelope Valley (Walker, Coleville and Topaz) is mostly green with patchy color.

Sonora Pass / Lobdell Lake Rd.

  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Peak color is still seen near the top of the pass, but it’s not predicted to last much longer. Now, the best color is seen among the aspen groves at Leavitt Meadows. They should remain good for a week. 
  • Lobdell Lake Rd (9,274′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – 2020 has been a truly amazing year for Lobdell Lake Rd. This AWD dirt road still carries  great yellows and oranges in most places. Some are now past peak. This could be the last week of peak for Lobdell, so if you want to test your off-roading skills, GO NOW! 

Bridgeport / Virginia Lakes

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – There’s a mix of green, lime and yellow around both lakes, predicted to peak over the weekend and through the coming week. Full peak at Honeymoon Flat Campground and trails leading up into the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. 
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Peak to Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW or You Missed It! – This has to rank as one of Virginia Lake’s longest lasting peaks. Color there has moved down the road to the lakes toward Conway Summit, but it’s still at peak.
  • Conway Summit (8,143) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Conway has a blended peak of Patchy, Near Peak, Peak and … wait a minute … Just Starting. We’re sure there’s a bit of past peak aspen to provide geometric lines to a photograph, as well.
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Similar to Conway Summit, Summers Meadow is a blended peak with lots of varied color. The area remains Patchy along the road, but it should move toward perfection in the coming week. The road leads to stunning vistas of rolling fall color.

Lee Vining

  • Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. –  The canyon is patchy in sections, peaking in others and still green in some places. It’s worth the drive, though will be peaking next week.
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Lundy Canyon is this week’s Hike of the Week. No trail in California has more beautiful fall color displays at peak. It’s still green along the road and campground and approaching peak past the resort and up around the beaver ponds.

Benton & 120 East

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

June Lake Loop

  • June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – It is still slightly early for the June Lake Loop, but colors are changing rapidly. Light green and yellow aspen predominate around the loop with some orange. Plan on visiting in the next two weeks. The smoky photo at top left was captured five days ago. Photos beside it were taken two days later. Today, the air quality is crystal clear. Always check, as conditions are changing constantly.

Mammoth Lakes

  • Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – The Mammoth Lakes Basin, Sherwin Creek and Mammoth Rock Trails are at peak. It’s Near Peak in town.

Crowley Lake/ McGee Creek Canyon / Convict Lake

  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – It’s full peak along the trail, still Near Peak at the Campground. A lovely setting, this year.
  • Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Last week, the Crowley community had just edged out of Just Starting, now it’s approaching Near Peak. Next week should be perfect.
  • Convict Lake (7850′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – From now through the coming week, it will be beautiful at Convict Lake. The color is just into the 50%, but that can change quickly. The hike around the lake or paddling on the lake are great ways to see the color. Plan next week or weekend for peak color.

Rock Creek Canyon

  • Rock Creek Rd (9,600′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – It’s now past peak at the lake and above in the Little Lakes Valley, though the color is brilliant along Middle Rock Creek Rd.
  • Lower Rock Creek Rd. (7,087′) – Patchy (10-50%)
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Well done, Bishop Creek

North Lake (10/8/20) Elliot McGucken

Bishop Creek Canyon (CA-168) is now largely past peak. Although, what a spectacular show it provided once Inyo National Forest reopened on Sat. Oct. 3.

Since then, North Lake has been glorious, the “best ever,” according to one of the first to visit after the all clear was sounded.

North Lake, N Fork Bishop Creek (10/12/20) Kent Gordon

Haze congested the Owens Valley and Bishop Creek Canyon off and on for the past two weeks, though the occasions it lifted, the scenery was as good as we’ve seen.

Mist Falls, South Lake Rd. (10/6/20) Gary Young

Areas above 8,500′ throughout the canyon are now fairly consistently past peak. The best color left is along the South Lake Rd. at Mist Falls. Those groves will likely stay at peak through the coming weekend, but not much longer.

South Fork Bishop Creek (10/9/20) Jan Arendtsz

South Fork Bishop Creek

  • South Lake (9,768′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Weir Pond (9,650′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Parchers Resort (9,260′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Willows Campground (9,000′) – Past Peak – You Missed It. 
  • Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Table Mountain Group Camp (8,900′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW!, You Almost Missed It. 
  • Stiny Loop/Mt Glen Camp (8,850′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW!, You Almost Missed It. 
  • Mist Falls (8,350′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! 
  • Four Jeffreys Campground (8,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Middle Fork Bishop Creek (CA-168)

  • Upper Sabrina Lake (9,800′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (9,128′) – 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′) – Near Peak to Past Peak Go Now!, You Almost Missed It. – Past Peak at the North Lake turnoff; the walk in from Cardinal Village is Near Peak.
  • Aspendell (8,400′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Intake II (8,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Road closed for the season.

North Fork Bishop Creek

  • North Lake (9,225′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • North Lake Rd (9,000′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.

Owens Valley

  • Pine Creek (7,400′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Big Pine (3,989′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Independence ((3,930′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Onion Valley Campground (9,600′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Lone Pine (3,727′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Whitney Portal (8,375′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Mt Whitney Trail (14,000′) – CLOSED