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Up and Running

Sonora Pass (10/3/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

With the reopening of Inyo National Forest’s front country a week ago, all the major fall color viewing locations in Mono County (California’s Eastern Sierra) are now up and running.

Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson reports only one location as now past peak – Sagehen Summit. All others are right on schedule.

Lobdell Lake Rd, Mono County (10/4/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

He recommends the following must-see locations, this week: Lobdell Lake Rd (AWD vehicle recommended), Sonora Pass, Virginia Lakes, Dunderberg Meadows Rd., Tioga Pass (CA-120E), Lundy Canyon, and Rock Creek Rd.

What you’ll find are lush groves of peaking aspen, as seen above. This could be called a transitional week in which groves above 9,000′ carry their last explosion of fall color before losing it.

As seen in Jeff’s photograph of Lobdell Lake Rd (above), the forest is a blend of green, yellow, orange, red and spent trees. As one stand peaks, another fills in behind it, then – gradually – fully peaked trees are dropping their leaves.

  • Lower Twin Lakes (10/2/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
  • Leavitt Lake (10/3/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
  • Lobdell Lake Rd. (10/4/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
  • Lobdell Lake Rd. (10/4/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
  • Summers Meadow Rd. (10/2/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
  • Convict Lake (10/3/20) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism
  • Convict Lake (10/2/20) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ

  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now –  Monitor Pass is often a difficult child. This year it seems to be struggling to get going. Its colors are progressing toward Near Peak “with green-ish on the summit and groves of yellow to the east.” 
  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Just Starting (0-10%) – The Antelope Valley is one of the last to turn in the eastern Sierra, due to its low elevation and groves of cottonwood. Presently, it’s just getting started with a few yellow and lime-green leaves.

SONORA PASS / LOBDELL LAKE

  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – This is the week to get the classic shot of peaking aspen just below the summit on the east side. Leavitt Meadows is in the 75% range. If Sonora Pass is on your bucket list, this is the week to go. 
  • Lobdell Lake Rd. (9,274′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Incredible color is being seen along the length of Lobdell Lake Rd., and it should last the week. Do not attempt driving this in a normal passenger vehicle. Higher clearance and full traction is needed. An AWD or 4WD vehicle is recommended.

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Take the Tamarack Lake Trail, Horse/Cattle Creek Trail or the Barney Lake trail to the higher elevations for peak color. It is still green and light yellow around the lake level and through the campgrounds of Robinson Creek. 
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Peak to Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW or You Missed It! – Absolutely the last fall color is peaking along the Virginia Lakes Rd, Dunderberg Medows Rd and Green Creek Rd. They’ve all been at peak for the past week and won’t last much longer.
  • Conway Summit (8,143) – Patchy (10-50%) The downward march of fall color is being seen along the groves facing Conway Summit. Yellow trees at the top of the groves are blending to lime, then green at the bottom. Peak will arrive in another week throughout the groves, then Katy bar the door, the entire hillside will be a shocking mix of maroon, orange, yellow and green.
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – At peak, Summers Meadow is one of the state’s most beautiful groves. Long, lush stands of aspen cover rolling hillsides. Right now, they’re still a mix of green and yellow, but approaching peak.

LEE VINING 

  • Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! Good color is seen along the Tioga Rd near Tioga Lake, though beyond that you must have a reservation to enter Yosemite NP and continue your travels through the national park.
  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Mostly green with sections of yellow/lime. This area is still a good week away.
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – Hikers who’ve been waiting for news of Lundy Canyon should head there now. This is one of California’s premiere fall color hikes. It’ll be great for the coming two weeks.

BENTON & 120 EAST 

  • Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Past Peak – You Missed It. – What a shame, the closure of Inyo National Forest kept people from enjoying this early-peaking area at its best. Now that Sagehen is past peak, mark your calendar to visit it during the last week of September, next year.

JUNE LAKE LOOP

  • June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Some yellow is painting sections of the loop, though it will be better next week and peaking the week following.

MAMMOTH LAKES

  • Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Sherwin Creek and Mammoth Rock Trails are your best bets for color, right now.

CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE

  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Patchy (10-50%) – The campground and pack station should be perfect next week.
  • Around Crowley community (6,781′) –  Patchy (10-50%) – This area just edged into being Patchy, so it has a way to go, though there can be lovely color in and around Crowley.
  • Convict Lake (7850′) – Patchy (10-50%) – If you visit Convict Lake this week, you won’t be disappointed, but go the following two weeks and you’ll be boasting about what you saw.
Rock Creek Lake (10/4/20) Julie Kirby

ROCK CREEK CANYON

  • Rock Creek Rd (9,600′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Whoa! Rock Creek Rd is extraordinary right now, but dropping leaves every day.
  • Lower Rock Creek Rd. (7,087′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

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Shimmering Happiness

  • Mt. Rose and fall color, North Tahoe Beach (10/6/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • The fairest picture the whole earth affords, North Tahoe Beach (10/6/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Sculpture, North Tahoe Beach (10/6/20) Michelle Pontoni

Lake Tahoe color spotter Michelle Pontoni has really set out to find Tahoe’s hidden gems. So far, Michelle has submitted three reports, two more and she qualifies as a CaliforniaFallColor.com “photojournalist.”

Describing her joy at discovering the search for fall color, Michelle writes, “Finding the yellows feels like finding shimmering bits of happy sunshine, even in the small patches.”

At peak, Tahoe has lots of fall color, but it’s tucked in the forest, between fir, pine and rarely clustered near ponds and streams, as they’re so spread out.

  • Quaking Aspen, North Lake Tahoe (10/6/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Quaking Aspen, North Lake Tahoe (10/6/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Maple, North Lake Tahoe (10/6/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Quaking Aspen, North Lake Tahoe (10/6/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Wylders Hope Valley Resort (10/5/20) Michelle Pontoni

She ventured to the north end of the lake to find color peeking (not peaking – it’s still Patchy) between the outline of Lake Tahoe on a granite sculpture at North Tahoe Beach.

The sculpture is a 3-D representation of Lake Tahoe with Tahoe’s alpine horizon seen through it. To the side, a lake-shaped slab is engraved with Mark Twain’s famous “Roughing It” quote, “…at last the Lake burst upon us—a noble sheet of blue water lifted six thousand three hundred feet above the level of the sea, and walled in by a rim of snow-clad mountain peaks that towered aloft full three thousand feet higher still! … As it lay there with the shadows of the mountains brilliantly photographed upon its still surface I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole earth affords.”.  

Seen through the granite sculpture is a bit of Mt. Rose.

Presently, the color is Patchy, but then at 6,237′ in elevation, Tahoe will not peak for another two weeks. However, peak is occurring in the Hope Valley, just to the north, as seen in Michelle’s snap of the Wylder Hope Valley Resort.

  • North Lake Tahoe (6,237′) – Patchy (10-50%)
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Cascade Constitutional

Darmera, Spanish Creek, Cascade Trail (10/5/20) Michael Beatley

Now that just a thin wisp of smoke drifts over the once-again, blue-skied northern Sierra, fire evacuee Michael Beatley was able to resume his morning constitutionals and hike the Cascade Trail from Keddie to Barlow Rd.

  • Cascade Trail (10/5/20) Michael Beatley
  • Cascade Trail (10/5/20) Michael Beatley
  • Cascade Trail (10/5/20) Michael Beatley
  • Cascade Trail (10/5/20) Michael Beatley
  • Cascade Trail (10/5/20) Michael Beatley

Plumas County is a reliable mid to late October peak, and Michael noted that along the gurgling waters of Spanish Creek Indian Rhubard (darmera) have begun revealing their yellow and orange, bigleaf maple are speckled with yellow, dogwood are blushing red and alder and oak seem to be waiting to step on stage.

Michael recommends hiking the trail from 8:30 to 11;30 a.m. to capture the ideal illumination of the creek and its foliage.

Cascade Trail begins a few miles west of Quincy, with a trailhead at Barlow Road off Hwy 70 across from the USFS ranger station. Optionally, begin from Old Hwy Road by Keddie.

Most of the route is Patchy, though spots of Indian Rhubarb are near 100%.

  • Cascade Trail (3,241′) – Patchy (10-50%)
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Softly along South Lake Rd

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

Hazy sunsets have lit South Lake Rd softly this past week, providing subtle beauty, as captured by Gary Young of Bishop.

  • Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge, South Lake Rd (10/6/20) Gary Young
  • S. Fork Bishop Creek, South Lake Rd (10/6/20) Gary Young
  • Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge, South Lake Rd (10/6/20) Gary Young
  • Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge, South Lake Rd (10/6/20) Gary Young

Gary wrote that fading light allowed him to drive only past Bishop Creek Lodge yesterday when he took these. Though, Young has the advantage of living close enough in Bishop to get up to the canyon when he’d like.

More of his Eastern Sierra images are found at GaryYoungPhotography.com.

  • S Lake Rd, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/4/20) Julie Kirby
  • North Lake (10/4/20) Julie Kirby
  • S Lake Rd, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/4/20) Julie Kirby
  • North Lake Rd (10/4/20) Julie Kirby

Julie Kirby struggled with the haze that choked Bishop Creek Canyon this past Sunday, but came away with intensely orange color. This year is unusual in the extent to which red and orange are so boldly coloring the aspen.

  • Mist Falls and Groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
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Carson Pass Colors Up

Aspen, East Shore, Caples Lake (10/5/20) Philip Reedy


There’s a grove of vermillion aspen that pokes its head above the pine and fir on the east shore of Caples Lake.

The stand is best photographed across the lake near the Caples Lake Resort, as Philip Reedy did this week. He was on his favorite patrol, driving CA-88 across the pass and down to the Hope Valley.

Only about 25% of the trees have turned, he reports, and this grove is at peak and could be gone by now. It does that.

When we post GO NOW!, the photos seen are at least a day old and a lot can happen in a day. It’s best to use the site as a planning tool and schedule your trip to an area as soon as you see it is nearing the high end of Patchy, do not wait to see photos of an area at peak, as when you get there, the area will be on the backside of the peak.

What’s unusual about the above grove is that it is consistently red, year in, year out. Yellow aspen are nearby, but it always appears as if painted by a Renaissance master in candlelight.

  • Woods Lake Corral, CA-88 (10/5/20) Philip Reedy
  • Woods Lake Corral, CA-88 (10/5/20) Philip Reedy

Further along Hwy 88 are two other favorite spots, the red barn and Red Lake Creek Cabin, both are hugely popular photo locations. You can find them by looking for the bright yellow porcelain “Take Picture Here” logos embedded on the right of way by Caltrans (being facetious).

No, there are no porcelain “Take Picture Here” landmarks mounted to the pavement, because they aren’t needed. There’s usually a car or two stopped near these locations during autumn which is a sure give-away that maybe you oughta stop, too.

Don’t dis yourself, if you’ve missed stopping. I’ve passed them once or twice until realizing, “Wait! That could make a good picture!”

Reedy writes, “The meadow by the red barn … is still mostly green, but there are a lot of aspen surrounding that meadow, so it should be great in a week or two.”

  • Red Lake Creek, CA-88 (10/5/20) Philip Reedy
  • Red Lake Creek, CA-88 (10/5/20) Philip Reedy

At Red Lake Creek Cabin, “quite a few trees have turned, but many are still green.  At peak, both sides of the highway are bright yellow, but … the north side is still mostly green.  By Red Lake Creek, it was all green nine days ago, but is now in full color.”

Red Lake Creek Cabin, CA-88 (10/5/20) Philip Reedy
Red Lake Creek Cabin, CA-88 (10/5/20) Philip Reedy

Around the cabin, the trees “have begun to change nicely, perhaps 50%.  I suspect that it will be in full glory in a week or so,” Phil added (By the way, Phil’s photo of CA-88 and the Red Lake Creek Cabin, seen above, is the most creative and informative view of the cabin, I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them.).

If you’ve not been able to find the cabin previously, look closely at the photo (click on it to enlarge) and you’ll see that the cabin is partially obscured by small trees, though there’s a turnout to allow for parking there. Also, refer to the California Fall Color Map (at right) to find its exact location.

The pasture at the junction of Hwy 88 and Blue Lakes Rd “continues to shine.  There are a lot of trees in full color, many still green, and some already bare.  Most of the trees in the ‘front row’ are in full color right now, so this is the time to see that area.”

West Carson River, Wylder Hope Valley Resort, CA-88/89 (10/5/20) Philip Reedy

From the intersection of CA-88 and CA-89, past the recently renamed Wylder Hope Valley Resort (formerly Sorensen’s) the groves vary from Patchy surrounding the resort to full color beyond it.

Showers are expected Sat., Oct 10. It’ll be partly cloudy Fri., Oct 9 and sunny on Sun., Oct. 11. Color photography will probably be best on Sunday, though windows of broken clouds and dramatic skies could occur on Friday and Saturday.

The rain will strip many fully peaked leaves from their branches, but enough will remain to keep the Carson Pass and Hope Valley colorful through the following week.

  • Shot Rock, CA-88 (7,600′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Silver Lake, CA-88 (7,300′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
  • Thunder Mountain Trailhead, CA-88 (8,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Kirkwood Lake, CA-88 ((7,660′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Caples Lake, CA-88 (7,800′) – Patchy (10-50%) to vermillion grove at Peak (75-100′)
  • Woods Creek Trail, CA-88 (8,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Forestdale Creek Rd, CA-88 (7,543′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Red Lake Creek Cabin, CA-88 (7,550′) – Patchy (10-50%) to Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, CA-88 (7,550′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Hope Valley, CA-88 (7,300′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Wylders Hope Valley Resort [Sorensen’s] (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Groves Surrounding Wylder Hope Valley Resort, CA-88/89 (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Woodford’s Canyon (7,000′), CA-88/89 – Patchy (10-50%) to Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!

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Paige Meadows

  • Paige Meadows, Tahoe City (10/4/20) Austin Grove
Paige Meadows, Tahoe City (10/4/20) Austin Grove
Paige Meadows, Tahoe City (10/4/20) Austin Grove

Austin Grove posts a first report for Paige Meadows in Tahoe City whose aspen are Patchy. Dogtrekker.com lists Paige Meadows as a dog-friendly trail.

  • Paige Meadows, Tahoe City – Patchy (10-50%)
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June Lake Gets Smothered

June Lake (10/4/20) Gary Young

Haze from the Creek Fire seeped across the Sierra Nevada on Sunday, smothering June Lake and diminishing the air quality everywhere.

Color spotter Gary Young had driven north on US 395, following an inspiring Saturday in Bishop Creek Canyon, to find the June Lakes wheezing within a gaseous haze with PM at 2.5 and the AQI near 400. It’s half those numbers, as I post this, though still unhealthy.

Fortunately, fall color there is still Patchy with peak not expected along the June Lake Loop for another week to a week and a half.

Quaking Aspen, June Lake (10/4/20) Gary Young

Gary was still able to see – through the haze – a few signs of burnt beauty among the aspen.

  • June Lake Loop (7,654′) – Patchy (10-50%)

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Post Card Perfection

Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/2/20) Michelle Pontoni

Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park (CA-44) offers a postcard view of Lassen Peak and fall color reflected in its still waters.

The trail that rings the lake is an easy hike – just two miles, flat and passing Patchy golden willows, alder and aspen.

Color spotter Michelle Pontoni enjoyed the walk on Friday and recommends enjoying the hike now, when the days are still warm and the fall color is beginning to burst. It should stay good for two more weeks.

The park entrance fee is $30. Though, admission to this national park and 2,000 other federal lands, forests and parks is included with the $80 lifetime “Golden Age” pass sold to seniors. If you are 62 years or older, it’s a great investment that will give you years of access to California’s nine national parks.

Michelle drove north from Reno on US 395 to Susanville, then west on CA-36. Past Susanville, she passed through large Patchy stands of green, lime, yellow and red on 36.

A few aspen are peaking at Aspen Grove in the Eagle Lake Recreation Area, west of Susanville, though aspen and bigleaf maple along the Susan River have a week to two to go. The banks of the Susan River are full of color, at peak, and the river is worth being added to a trip that explores Plumas County and Lassen Volcanic NP.

  • Susanville (4,186′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Aspen Grove, Eagle Lake Recreation Area (5,100′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (5,900′) – Patchy (10-50%)
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Returning to North Lake

North Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Steve Arita

North Lake was beyond gorgeous this past weekend. Saturday was epic and Sunday was still good, though haze came in, diminishing the brightness of the scene.

  • Quaking Aspen, North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/4/20) Steve Arita
  • North Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/4/20) Steve Arita
  • North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Steve Arita
  • North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/4/20) Steve Arita
  • North Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Steve Arita

Steve Arita was there and noted that the trees along North Lake Rd. were particularly good, full of unbelievable color, deep reds and yellows. It appears the leaves are holding, but at peak they will begin falling momentarily. So, go immediately.

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Steve Arita

With the exception of two pictures, Steve shot all on a Sony A7R4 using a 12-24 mm, F2.8 lens. He noted that the new lens was fun, sharp and produced very nice sunbursts.  

  • North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9,225′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Waving Hello at Spooner

It almost seems like the Quaking Aspen in Michelle Pontoni’s video are waving hello. If they are, they’re doing so from Nevada’s Spooner Backcountry State Park near Marlette Lake (NV-28 and US 50).

Perhaps that’s why we love aspen so dearly. They greet us. What other tree does that?

  • Spencer’s Cabin, Spooner
    Backcountry SP, NV (10/4/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Spooner Backcountry SP, NV (10/4/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Spooner Backcountry SP, NV (10/4/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Spooner Backcountry SP, NV (10/4/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Spooner Backcountry SP, NV (10/4/20) Michelle Pontoni
  • Spooner Backcountry SP, NV (10/4/20) Michelle Pontoni

Michelle reports that despite all the waving, very few of the aspen have lost leaves. She rates the state park as Patchy, though “there’s plenty of color and shimmer to make it worth the trip, and plenty of lime still waiting to turn.

Her images were taken from North Canyon Rd and the Marlette Lake Trail, not far from the parking area. Along the way to Spencer’s Cabin, she passed families, young couples, bicycles, strollers, and seniors out for a stroll, just missing a mama bear and her cub near the trail.

Michelle predicts that the coming weekend should be near peak (Spooner Backcountry is nearly a thousand feet higher than Lake Tahoe and fairly even with the Hope Valley). So, adding Nevada’s Spooner Backcountry State Park at South Lake Tahoe to a trip through the Hope Valley (CA-88) would package sightseeing and easy recreation.

The forests near lake level at Tahoe usually peak from mid to late October, so the Tahoe area will remain good for two more weeks, at least.

  • Spooner Backcountry State Park, Stateline, NV (7,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
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