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Hike of the Week: Lower Rock Creek Road

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

This will likely be the last week for any significant color in the Eastern Sierra, so if you hope to see any color in the Eastern Sierra, go immediately.  Otherwise, you’ll likely be reading that YOU MISSED IT.

Mono County color spotter Alicia Vennos recommends this week’s Hike of the Week along Lower Rock Creek Road which is right off US 395 just south of Tom’s Place.

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek (10/26/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Rock Creek Rd (Peak – 75 – 100%) – HIKE OF THE WEEK: Drive about 2.5 miles down Lower Rock Creek Rd. to the first major pull-out (west side of the road),  park and then cross the road to hike back up the trail.  Aspens along the beautiful rushing creek are at peak now. Look for the beaver dam which has stilled the water surface to afford mirror-like reflections of the trees.  The trail is multi-use, so mountain bikers, hikers and anglers.  Alicia warns, “Please watch out for one another!” GO NOW!

Mammoth Lakes (Peak to Past Peak – Sections of Mammoth Creek Rd. (off Old Mammoth Road in Mammoth Lakes) still offer brilliant red and orange on the trees.

June Lake Loop/Hwy. 158  (Past Peak) – Even though the June Lake Loop moves to being past peak, a few stands remain vibrant, particularly around Gull Lake, at the base of June Mountain and just north of Silver Lake. YOU MISSED IT!

Lee Vining Canyon (Peak to Past Peak) – The lower section of Tioga Pass Rd. and Lee Vining Canyon are peaking beautifully, with some trees definitely past peak. GO NOW!

Conway Summit, Green Creek Road and Twin Lakes (Past Peak) – Again, though spots of color appear in the groves surrounding Bridgeport, comparative photos now show the haunting contrast between most of the trees that are completely bare and those few with bright patches of color still on them.  Overall, it’s past peak and one good gust from being stripped.  YOU MISSED IT!

West Walker River and Walker/Coleville (Peak – 75 – 100%) – Grand cottonwood flanking the northern stretch of US 395 and along the West Walker River are bright yellow at peak. GO NOW!

US 395, Bishop (10/24/14) Kathy Thieu

US 395, Bishop (10/24/14) Kathy Thieu

Bishop (Peak 75 – 100%) – US 395 from Lone Pine to Bishop is at peak with cottonwood and sage brush golden.

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California Fall Color Glows High Above US395

South Fork Bishop Creek (10/25/14) Janek U

South Fork Bishop Creek (10/25/14) Janek U

Aspendell (10/25/14) Janek U

Aspendell (10/25/14) Janek U

Aspendell (10-25/14) Janek U

Aspendell (10/25/14) Janek U

Color spotter Janek U wrote that he traveled to the Eastern Sierra from Orange County, yesterday, stopping twice along the way along US 395.  We receive many reports from Bishop Creek Canyon and points north, but were most interested on his report of what he saw south of Bishop, as few spotters have reported about those areas (tip: the fastest way to get a photo or report posted is for it to be about an area from which we don’t receive many reports).

Janek reported that at Lone Pine, he drove up to Whitney Portal.  “There is some color on the peaks on the way up but they are too remote.  There are also some groves of aspens near the road but there aren’t too many trees.  He continued north to Bishop Creek Canyon finding the last of the color at Aspendell, noting that “The tops of some trees are beginning to turn red.”

It’s truly remarkable that the color there continues to show, even though winds over 20 mph were blowing.
Lone Pine (US 395) – (Peak to Past Peak) – Stands of color are seen high up in the Eastern Sierra.
Aspendell, Bishop Creek Canyon (Peak to Past Peak) – Brilliant color continues to survive, despite winds above 20 mph.  For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been reporting the color would last only a few days.  Reports of its death are beginning to sound “Twainian.”
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Hike of the Week: Gull Lake Trail

Gull Lake (10/22/14) Elizabeth Erdelyi

Gull Lake (10/22/14) Elizabeth Erdelyi

Located a few blocks north of June Lake Village (Hwy. 158) in Mono County, this lovely, scenic trail begins at Gull Lake Park (across from the June Lake Library) and loops around the shoreline of Gull Lake for an easy 2-mile jaunt. The trail meanders through glowing aspen groves at the west end of the lake, up a rocky bluff, and through the peaking aspens of Gull Lake campground.  Peaking now with some sections past peak and some still lime green!   CLICK HERE for more information.

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Aerial Eastern Sierra

Keith Lake flies over the Eastern Sierra in these videos of Mammoth Lakes and Bishop Creek Canyon, posted last week.

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June Lake is Jumping – Go Now!

Despite the warning, Greg Newbry shot this at June Lake, anyway (10/19/14) Greg Newbry

Despite the warning, Greg Newbry shot this near June Lake anyway (10/19/14) Greg Newbry

June Lake Loop (10/19/14) Alicia Vennos

June Lake Loop (10/19/14) Alicia Vennos

June Lake Loop (10/21/14) Steve Wolfe

June Lake Loop (10/21/14) Steve Wolfe

June Lake Loop (10/21/14) Steve Wolfe

June Lake Loop (10/21/14) Steve Wolfe

Lee Vining Canyon (10/21/14) Steve Wolfe

Lee Vining Canyon (10/21/14) Steve Wolfe

Mono County color spotter Alicia Vennos reports that fall color continues to explode in Mono County and predicts it should hold for at least another weekend, barring storms or high winds.

Today, Eastern Sierra color spotter Steve Wolfe left Bishop Creek Canyon to drive north along U.S. 395.  He confirmed what Alicia’s been saying, that aspen up Lundy Canyon, along the June Lake Loop and in Lee Vining Canyon are, surprisingly, still full in many places, with at- or past-peak, “Go Now!” colors.

Steve predicted that “with weather due to warm up about 10 degrees for the next few days, the color should continue to hold at least until the end of the week.  The color north of Bridgeport and south of Walker River is at- or past-peak, too, with yellow, orange and the occasional red.”

He wrote that “Lundy Canyon, while not as spectacular as June Lake Loop in its variety and intensity of color, is still uniformly yellow, with some green hanging in there. Lee Vining also has brilliant, full aspen stands.”

Lower Rock Creek Road (Near Peak – 50 – 75%) The lower trail is finally turning and should be close to peak this weekend.

Convict Lake (Peak to Past Peak) – “Ambush at the Lake” the Convict Lake Resort’s annual fall fishing derby is running now through Nov. 15, with cash and resort prizes.  Morrison’s Bonus Derby Weekend is Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, 2014.  For more about these events, contact Convict Lake Resort at 800-992-2260 or www.ConvictLake.com. GO NOW!

Mammoth Lakes (Peak to Past Peak) – GO NOW!

June Lake Loop (10/19/14) Greg Newbry

June Lake Loop (10/19/14) Greg Newbry

June Lake Loop (Peak – 75 – 100%) – The June Lake Loop/Hwy. 158 is particularly beautiful from Gull Lake, “down canyon” to Grant Lake.  GO NOW!

Little Walker Lake (10/19/14) Alicia Vennos

Little Walker Lake (10/19/14) Alicia Vennos

Walker Lake (Peak – 75 – 100%) From the north end of the June Lake Loop/Hwy. 158, Little Walker Lake (Walker Lake on the Google Map) is peaking at lake level, and should hold through the weekend. Alicia Vennos provides this advice on how to get there: the trailhead is the only public access (you cannot drive to the lake on Walker Lake Rd. as that end of the lake is private).  Find the trailhead at the end of Sawmill Canyon Rd.  On the Fall Color Map, it doesn’t look that close to the lake but you just walk up a short incline from the parking lot, and you can look right down on the lake. GO NOW!

Lower Tioga Road (10/19/14) Alicia Vennos

Lower Tioga Road (10/19/14) Alicia Vennos

Lee Vining Canyon (Peak – 75 – 100%) – Groves at the base of Tioga Pass Rd./Hwy. 120 just north of the US 395 junction in Lee Vining Canyon are just turning now while along Poole Plant Road, the color is peaking and again should be amazing this weekend, as well. GO NOW!

Lower Lundy Lake Road (Peak – 75 – 100%) Lower Lundy Lake Rd. is rich in color — definitely peaking. GO NOW!

Sonora Pass (Peak to Past Peak) Sonora Pass and Leavitt Meadows are also glowing, with some areas and stands past peak.  Autumn rides through the trees are still available at the Leavitt Meadows Pack Station: text (preferred) or leave a message at (775) 450-0014. GO NOW!

Walker River (Patchy – 10 – 50%) – The drive along the West Walker River in north county is becoming golden as the trees and willows along the shore get increasingly brighter.

Walker, Coleville, Topaz  (Patchy – 10 – 50%) – Spots of bright yellow and lime are seen among the Antelope Valley’s stands of black cottonwood.

Monitor Pass (Past Peak) – YOU MISSED IT!

[weatherlayer country=”United States” city=”June Lake”]

 

 

 

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Yosemite Stages for Coming Beauty

Tenaya Canyon (10/21/14) Darryl Chew

Tenaya Canyon (10/20/14) Darryl Chew

Yosemite National Park public information staffer Ashley Mayer reports that the famed exotic sugar maple beside the Yosemite Chapel has shed most of its ruby leaves and sections of the Tioga Road are now past peak.  Isolated stands of yellow aspen can be seen from the Tioga Road down Tenaya Canyon.

Tenaya Lake (10/21/14) Darryl Chew

Tenaya Lake (10/20/14) Darryl Chew

Tioga Road (10/21/14) Sharon Chew

Tioga Road (10/20/14) Sharon Chew

The color is descending toward Yosemite Valley.  There, black oak, dogwood and bigleaf maple have not yet begun to show much color, though the area surrounding Fern Spring at the west entrance to the valley is the first to brighten. Fern spring is a popular location for still life photography of mottled yellow, orange and burnt umber bigleaf maple leaves sprinkled across the black clear water of the spring.

In the heart of Yosemite Valley, the black oak are still green, though they approach peak at Halloween and their black branches are typically dressed in bold orange leaves by the first of November.

Color spotters Sharon Tan, and Darryl and Sharon Chew sent photos of their visit to Yosemite, yesterday.

Tioga Road, Yosemite National Park (Peak to Past Peak) – Aspen at the highest elevations have lost color, though those near 7.000′ still show yellow.  Willows and shrubs are showing gold and crimson.

Bigleaf Maple (10/20/14) Sharon Chew

Bigleaf Maple (10/20/14) Sharon Chew

Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park (Patchy – 10 – 50%) – Orange black oak, rose-colored dogwood, golden black cottonwoods and cadmium yellow bigleaf maple are only beginning to show their coming beauty.  Look for Yosemite Valley to be lovely the last week of October and first two weeks of November (weather permitting).  The sugar maple near the Yosemite Chapel peaks in early October, and like its New England brethren bursts forth in a very short color display.  It peaks so quickly that even residents of Yosemite Valley will miss seeing the color, if they don’t pass the chapel within a few days of peak.  Our recommendation: plan a trip to Yosemite the first week of November.

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Aspendell: Color Survivor

Aspendell (10/20/14) Steve Wolfe

Aspendell (10/20/14) Steve Wolfe

Color spotter Steve Wolfe reports that aspen in the small Bishop Creek Canyon (Eastern Sierra) town of Aspendell and its surrounding area  “survived this past week’s wind and are still pretty full, at peak and a bit beyond.”

A plus is that green is still showing here and there, indicating that the color will last another few days.  We suggest readers compare these shots to those Steve provided last week, to see how much it has changed.

East of Aspendell (10/20/14) Steve Wolfe

East of Aspendell (10/20/14) Steve Wolfe

Steve concludes that “Aspendell is definitely the place to go for what remains of spectacular fall colors” up Bishop Creek Canyon.

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Her Hardest Hue to Hold

Aspendell (10/19/14) Steve Wolfe

Aspendell (10/19/14) Steve Wolfe

Color spotter Steve Wolfe reports from the Eastern Sierra that this weekend was glorious, though he worries that wind predicted for tomorrow will strip what little is left in Bishop Creek Canyon.

A mix of color is seen in and around Aspendell and S. Bishop Creek (10/19/14) Steve Wolfe

A mix of color is seen in and around Aspendell and S. Bishop Creek (10/19/14) Steve Wolfe

Steve was at Aspendell today and caught these lovely images.  He notes, as Jared Smith did last week, that the area around Aspendell is both at peak and past peak, though on the main road through Aspendell there’s still green among the aspen, meaning that color change will continue to develop for a week or two.

It’s a mix of patchy color with yellow, orange and leafless stands.  The color is lasting a week longer than usual.  “Even around the tiny burg of South Fork Bishop Creek there are pockets of bright yellow aspen with this photo taken about a mile up the road.” If you’re in the area, GO NOW!  As, Monday’s wind will likely strip what color remains.

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Tahoe Glittering Gold

Lake Tahoe (10/18/14) Kimberly Kofala

Lake Tahoe (10/18/14) Kimberly Kofala

Lake Tahoe (Peak – 75 – 100%) – Color spotter Kimberly Kofala reports Lake Tahoe is glittering with gold. GO NOW!

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June Lakes Hangin’ in There, Mammoth Lakes Spotty

Lee Vining (10/16/14) Arya Degenhardt

Lee Vining (10/16/14) Arya Degenhardt

UPDATED 10/17 – This week’s wind has stripped some fully changed stands of trees of their leaves at elevations below 7,500′ in the Eastern Sierra, though if your plans were to head to June Lake this weekend, you should still see lots of bright color at those elevations.

Mono County color spotter Alicia Vennos writes, “many of the groves and trees survived the wind. Higher elevations (8500’+) were hardest hit and are pretty much past peak now.  However, many areas below 8500’ are still glowing and beautiful and ready for the paparazzi!

“Lower Lundy Lake Road, Lower Rock Creek Road and multi-use trail, the lower section of Rock Creek Road above Tom’s Place, lower Tioga Pass Road/Hwy. 120,  Little Walker Lake (north of June Lake Loop/Hwy. 158) will all be great spots this weekend.  The June Lake Loop/Hwy. 158 is “patchy” overall with vibrant color in spots, areas that are still green, and areas that are past peak – it’s a real mixed bag, but fall color reporters in the June Lake area say come NOW as there is plenty of color!

“‘Patchy’ is a good way to describe Conway Summit and places near Bridgeport like Summers Meadow off Green Creek Road, as well, while the West Walker River banks in Walker and Coleville is really just starting!   All in all, despite the windy hours of yesterday, it will be a lovely weekend for foliage followers.”

Mammoth Lakes Basin (10/6/14) Lara Kaylor

Mammoth Lakes Basin (10/16/14) Lara Kaylor

Mammoth Lakes (10/16/14) Lara Kaylor

Mammoth Lakes (10/16/14) Lara Kaylor

Mammoth Lakes (10/16/14) Lara Kaylor

Mammoth Lakes (10/16/14) Lara Kaylor

Lara Kaylor (Mammoth Lakes) adds that bright color can be found along the Old Mammoth Road and Old Mammoth neighborhood.  Green and lime trees in town mean color will continue to develop in spots for the next two weeks.

Steve Wolfe adds, “There’s some at-peak color below the town of South Fork Bishop Creek, also at the lake below Aspendell — and when I checked, Lundy Canyon was at-peak — and trying valiantly to hold on to its leaves. There are still sections on the June Lake Loop that are at- and after peak, particularly the section of Rush Creek between Silver and Grant Lakes. Remnants remain at the “aspen meadow” at Conway Summit, but more wind is forecast for the eastern Sierra — so GO NOW!

Mammoth Lakes and June Lakes (Peak – 75 – 100%) – Bright yellow is still to be seen at Mammoth Lakes and June Lakes in stands that were not stripped of leaves. GO NOW!

Aspendell (10/16/14) Steve Wolfe.

Aspendell (10/16/14) Steve Wolfe.

Bishop Creek Canyon (Peak 75 – 100% and Past Peak) – Spots of brilliant color can still be found at Aspendell.  GO NOW!

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