Hike of the Week – Page 5 – California Fall Color

Sagehen Meadows Peaks – GO NOW!

Sagehen Summit (9/20/16) Mono County Tourism

Sagehen Meadows leads the Eastern Sierra with a peak rating for its brightly colored groves of auburn, orange, gold, yellow and lime aspen. For its singular position, Sagehen Meadow earns this week’s selection as “Hike of the Week.”

Sagehen Summit (9/20/16) Mono County Tourism

Virginia Lakes Road (9/19/16) Mono County Tourism

Dunderberg Meadow Road (9/19/16) Mono County Tourism

Conway Summit (9/20/16) Mono County Tourism

Aurora Canyon (9/16/16) Mono County Tourism

To get there, head to Mono County. Then take CA-120 east from U.S. 395 toward Old Benton. Between Navy Beach at Mono Lake and Old Benton is Sagehen Meadows, an area famous for its aspen. Views of Banner Peak, the Mono Craters, Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra entertain you on the drive to and from Sagehen Meadows Road.

Other locations with Near Peak color in Mono County are Virginia Lakes and Upper Rock Creek.

Here’s a rundown on what fall color can be seen in Mono County.

Sagehen Meadow: Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – If the sprawling groves of brilliant orange aspens weren’t enough reason to go, the views of Banner Peak and the Sierra Nevada, as well as Mono Lake, are well worth the drive! Stop at the Mono Mills Historic Site on the way out or back for a picnic, and, of course, the South Tufa Reserve to walk the out-of-this-world shores of Mono Lake.

Rock Creek & Virginia Lakes Road: Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – These high elevation areas are filling in with brilliant yellows and a few oranges. Swing by the Virginia Lakes Resort or Rock Creek Lake Resort (closed this weekend for a wedding) for breakfast or lunch after you enjoy the colorful drive.

Convict Lake, Conway Summit, Green Creek & Summers Meadow: Patchy (10-50%) – Start planning now so you don’t miss the colors in these areas! Although they are lime-green now, it should only be another week or two before colors are peaking.

June Lake Loop, Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Lake, Walker/Coleville, Monitor Pass, Mammoth Lakes : Just Starting (0-10%) – While there is a little bit of activity up high, for the most part these areas are still mostly green with the occasional lime green or small patch of yellow. Likely a few weeks from significant color change. Stay tuned, and start planning for some time in October.

View the fall colors by horseback with one of the pack stations (please call for availability), soar over the colors with Skytime Helicopter Tours (fall & winter flight promotion: over 30% off 40-minute flights, additional discounts for groups of 4 or more), take the wheel on a High Sierra Jeep Adventure to access the secret, OHV-only fall color locations, or stick to smoother roads and enjoy fall color stops between beer tastings on with Eastern Sierra Brewery Tours!

Upcoming events:

September 23-25 NEW! Mammoth Oktoberfest – Mammoth Lakes
September 24 National Public Lands Day: Mammoth Lakes Basin Clean-Up and Free Entrance to Yosemite National Park
September 30 – October 4 Fall Color Ride with Hunewill Ranch – Bridgeport
October 1 June Lake Autumn Beer Festival – June Lake
October 1 Deer Hunter BBQ – Walker/Coleville
October 1-2 Annual Pumpkin Patch @ Chalfant Big Trees Farm – Chalfant
October 14-16 Inspired by Nature: A Writer’s Retreat – June Lake

September 21, 2016/by John Poimiroo

Eastern Sierra, High Sierra, Hike of the Week

Mono County From Just Starting to Near Peak

Hilton Creek (9/11/16) Greg Newbry

It’s happening across the Eastern Sierra at dizzying heights, Jeff Simpson reports from Mono County.

Conway Summit (9/11/16) Jeff Simpson

Virginia Lakes Rd. (9/11/16) Jeff Simpson

Virginia Lakes (9/11/16) Jeff Simpson

Reds Lake (9/11/16) Jeff Simpson

Davis Lake (9/11/16) Greg Newbry

Leavitt Meadows Trailhead (9/11/16) Jeff Simpson

While most Mono County locations are still green to lime-green, colors are starting to show in the higher elevations. Anywhere near 10,000′, including Upper Rock Creek, Upper Hilton Creek and at Virginia Lakes are the best bets for significant color in Mono County this week, as the highest stands have vibrant yellow, orange and red. However, you’ll have to work to get to it.

Other locations showing progress this week include Parker Lake, Conway Summit, Green Creek, Sagehen Meadow, Rock Creek, Sonora Pass, Tioga Pass and Monitor Pass.

Cooler temperatures and some precipitation the past few days have kick-started that fall feeling throughout Mono County. And, the forecast looks absolutely perfect (sunny, low to mid-70s) for fall color viewing in the coming week.

Here’s Jeff’s Mono County report from North to South, along U.S. 395.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Monitor Pass, Mill Canyon/Golden Gate Mine Road, Walker Canyon, Walker & Coleville – Not much to see as yet.

Patchy (10-50%) – Sonora Pass – While there’s mostly lime green with a little yellow at the bottom, more yellow appears as you approach the top of the pass.

HIKE OF THE WEEK – The Leavitt Meadow Trail to Roosevelt Lake is a 6.5 mile round-trip hike that should be exploding with color in the next 10-14 days. Visit ModernHiker.com for more recommendations of great fall color hikes.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Bridgeport Reservoir/Twin Lakes

Patchy (10-50%) – Virginia Lakes – Some groves are displaying vibrant yellow leaves, while some areas in the lower elevations are still completely green and lime-green.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Conway Summit – Some groves showing some color, but the majority of the area is still green to lime green. There is, however bright golden and orange color in the grasses surrounding groves of green aspen.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Green Creek – Some small changes in the higher elevations, especially on the Green Creek trail to Green Lake.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Summers Meadow

Just Starting (0-10%) – Tioga Pass & Lee Vining Canyon – Elevations at 10,000′ are near peak, but the more visited lower stands have a long way to go.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Lundy Lake & Canyon

Just Starting (0-10%) – Sagehen Meadow – 0-10% Just getting started. Lime greens with occasional patches of yellows.

Just Starting (0-10%) – June Lake Loop/Hwy 158

Just Starting (0-10%) – Parker Lake – Lime greens with small patches of yellows.

Hilton Creek (9/11/16) Greg Newbry

Green Creek (9/6/16) Jeff Simpson

Just Starting (0-10%) – Little Walker Lake

Just Starting (0-10%) – Mammoth Lakes – Will be reported separately, tomorrow.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Convict Lake

Just Starting (0-10%) – McGee Creek

Just Starting (0-10%) – Crowley

GO NOW! Near Peak (50-75%) – Upper Rock Creek – Near Peak at 10,000′. Rides from the Rock Creek Pack Station take you to broad areas of yellow color.

Patchy – Rock Creek – Patches of yellow and lime are mixed with green among the aspen at the lake.

Just Starting (0-10%) Rock Creek Road and Lower Rock Creek

GO NOW! Near Peak (50-75%) – Hilton Creek – Red, orange and golden aspen leaves mix with lime and green at the upper end of the Hilton Creek Trail.

Coming Events:

September 17-18 NEW! Eastern Sierra Kite Festival – Walker/Coleville
September 23-25 NEW! Mammoth Oktoberfest – Mammoth Lakes
September 24 National Public Lands Day: Mammoth Lakes Basin Clean-Up and Free Entrance to Yosemite National Park
October 1 June Lake Autumn Beer Festival – June Lake
October 1 Deer Hunter BBQ – Walker/Coleville
October 1-2 Annual Pumpkin Patch @ Chalfant Big Trees Farm – Chalfant

September 13, 2016/3 Comments/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Hike of the Week, Inland Empire

Hike of the Week: Lake Gregory Lookin’ Good

Swim Beach, Lake Gregory (11/5/15) Alena Nicholas

Lake Gregory (11/5/15) Alena Nicholas

Maple, Lake Gregory (11/5/15) Alena Nicholas

Lake Gregory (11/5/15) Alena Nicholas

Pin oak, Lake Gregory (11/5/15) Alena Nicholas

San Bernardino Mountain color spotter Alena Nicholas sends these shots of Lake Gregory as it nears peak. It, and nearby Lake Arrowhead, should be beautiful this weekend.

Lake Gregory is the closest major San Bernardino mountain resort to the Los Angeles basin. Exotic and native trees surround the lake, providing a colorful mix of yellow, crimson, purple and orange.

A 2.5-mile trail loops the lake, providing for a scenic walk or run. This hike is short and easy.

Rowboats, electric motor boats and kayaks can be rented near swim beach, to see the color from the water.

CLICK HERE for more information about visiting Lake Gregory.

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Lake Gregory

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! -Rim of the World

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Lake Arrowhead

November 6, 2015/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, High Sierra, Hike of the Week

Hike of the Week: Big Pine Creek

N. Fork Big Pine Creek (10/10/15) Jackson Frishman

Avid hiker, photographer and color spotter A. Jackson Frishman must have been breathless both from his hike, but also from the beautiful peaking aspen he found along the North Fork of Big Pine Creek this past weekend. His report causes us to declare this the Hike of the Week.

N. Fork Big Pine Creek (10/10/15) Jackson Frishman

The North Fork hike is not for the feint hearted. Modern Hiker describes it as a difficult trek that gains 3,000′ in 9.2 miles. Whew!

However, there’s a fall color bonus the higher you go.

Frishman writes, “There’s good color to be found for folks willing to walk a ways up the trail. Below Second Falls (9,000′) the color is Patchy, but it’s peaking from Cienega Mirth (above 9,000′) and up, with very few bare trees.”

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Big Pine Creek

October 13, 2015/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Hike of the Week, Shasta Cascade

Shasta Cascade – Fire and Ice (Hike of the Week)

Knotweed, Cliff Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (9/12/15) Shanda Ochs

This past week, a dusting of snow atop Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park closed the park road, but that was short lived, as many of these early dustups tend to be in California.

Park Guide Shanda Ochs sends the above photo of firey red knotweed, photographed of the meadow on the trail northeast of Cliff Lake in the national park on Sept. 12. She reported, “In the past, this color typically holds for quite some time before leaves fall off. I don’t know if this will be the case this year.”

Shanda notes, “It appears that the aspen lost leaves early due to the lack of water. There was a very short period that they were in full color, but lost the leaves quickly. I don’t think we will see the fall color that is typical year after year, based on the lack of water.”

The bright color have encouraged CaliforniaFallColor.com to name the Cliff Lake trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park as our first Hike of the Week in 2015.

Alder and willow, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (9/21/15) Shanda Ochs

At Manzanita Lake, the willows beside the lake have turned chartreuse and orange-yellow, though among the alder there is no “stand out color yet, and we may not see that either because of the lack of water.” Shanda notes, “But we still have time there. ”

Bigleaf maple, Plumas County (9/20/15) Jeff Titcomb

Dogwood, Plumas County (9/20/15) Jeff Titcomb

In Plumas County, color spotters Lisa May and Jeff Titcomb reports that bigleaf maple “are just barely getting into color change, but again dry weather is causing browning and falling leaves before they have the chance to change color.” Jeff predicts there will be weeks more of color in the beautiful Indian Valley. About 25% of the dogwood have begun to color their trademark rose to red tones.

Patchy (10-50%) – Lassen Volcanic National Park – Drought has shortened the show among some aspen that have begun to turn, though most of the forest has not and should turn on schedule. Lassen Volcanic NP is one location where looking down is recommended to see fall color juxtaposed to dramatic grand landscapes in the distance, as seen in Shanda’s photographs.

Patchy (10-50%) – Round Valley, Plumas County – About a quarter of the bigleaf maple at the Round Valley Reservoir near Greenville have begun to turn. Some of the big leaves are drying quickly, once they turn. Similarly, dogwood are showing their rosy blush.

September 21, 2015/1 Comment/by John Poimiroo

Hike of the Week

Hike of the Week: Garden to Sky

Avalon Harbor (11/24/14) Alena Barnhart

Nick and Alena Barnhart’s report from Santa Catalina Island inspired us to recommend the Garden to Sky trail on Catalina Island for our Fall Color Hike of the Week.

Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden (11/24/14) Alena Barnhart

Avalon Bay (11/24/14) Nicholas Barnhart

Catalina Color (11/24/14) Alena Barnhart

West Side Catalina Island (11/24/14) Nicholas Barnhart

This is an ideal trail for anyone with “only a little bit of time to explore the trails of Catalina,” states the Catalina Island Conservancy.

The Garden to Sky Hike starts at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden (admission required to the garden). From there, the Memorial Road “leads to the Divide Road, the first leg of the hike. It travels along a comfortable incline that leads to a spectacular views on both sides of the Island.”

Before beginning the hike, all hikers must obtain a hiking permit from the Conservancy Explore store in Avalon, at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden, Nature Center at Avalon Canyon, Airport in the Sky, Two Harbor Enterprises or online at the Catalina Island Conservancy website (see link below).

Hiking permits are required by the Catalina Island Conservancy for each hike into Catalina’s wildlands. They help locate hikers in the event of an emergency.

CLICK HERE to obtain a permit and for more information on Catalina Island hiking trails.

November 26, 2014/by John Poimiroo

Hike of the Week

Hike of the Week: Doane Valley Nature Trail

Dogwood, Doane Valley Nature Trail (11/16/14) Scott Turner

Modern Hiker’s Scott Turner recommends the Lower Doane Valley Loop/Weir Trail as an easy three-mile hike on San Diego County’s Mt. Palomar in the Cleveland National Forest. The trail has brief episodes of climbing (300-400′), but is otherwise smooth, well-traveled, easy to follow and travels past some fine black oaks with bold gold and orange leaves.

Temperatures along the trail now hover in the mid to upper 50s, so carry a light layer should warmth be needed. Sturdy shoes should be worn and at least a liter of water should be carried. You will also want to bring along a good camera not just for the foliage but for frequent wild life sightings, including mule deer, wild turkey, bobcats, coyotes, and even banana slugs. Yes, banana slugs!

Doane Valley Nature Trail (11/16/14) Scott Turner

Mt. Palomar State Park (Peak 75-100%) – Color spotter Scott Turner reports that “Mt. Palomar State Park is at full peak with some really beautiful color in the black oaks and some of the riparian vegetation along Doane Creek and the Weir Trail. Oaks along Thunder Ridge and Boucher Hill are also looking pretty good, but the best color is near Doane Pond and in Lower Doane Valley. Sadly, the foliage near the Observatory is past peak, so there were no classic foliage/Hale Telescope shots to be found. Now is the time to go up, as the Santa Ana wind event forecast over the next few days could have its way with the foliage.” GO NOW!

Hike of the Week: Lower Doane Valley Loop/Weir Trail – Find the trailhead at the Doane Pond parking lot on Mt. Palomar. You’ll need $8 cash for parking. The trail enters a dense patch of willows before crossing the road and descending to follow a creek bank. Continue right onto the Doane Valley Nature Trail when it splits from the Weir Trail (your return route). Follow the Nature Trail until it junctions with the French Valley Trail. Turn left and follow this trail as it splits off toward Doane Valley. At the next junction, turn right to cross Lower Doane Meadow.

After a few tenths of a mile, the trail connects with the Weir Trail. Turn right to follow the trail to the Weir where some of the best fall color is seen. Use extreme caution on the rocks here, as they get very slippery even when dry. Return along the Weir Trail and stay straight at the junction. The Weir Trail will merge back onto the Doane Valley Nature Trail as it passes through dense forest with a number of fully-turned black oaks and riparian vegetation to add a splash of color. The trail will return to the parking lot where your hike will conclude.

November 17, 2014/by John Poimiroo

Gold Country, Hike of the Week

Hike of the Week – Empire Mine SHP

Empire Mine SHP (11/12/14) Barbara Matthews

Color spotter Barbara Matthews noted on our Facebook page that she took a walk in the woods at Empire Mine State Historic Park, providing this panoramic montage of its trails littered with spent bigleaf maple leaves, inspiring us to name it hike of the week. Way to go, Barbara!

November 14, 2014/by John Poimiroo

Hike of the Week

Hike of the Week: Jenkinson Lake

Black oak, Jenkinson Lake (11/1/14) Kimberly Kofala

Bigleaf maple, Jenkinson Lake (11/1/14) Kimberly Kofala

West Forest Trail, Jenkinson Lake (11/1/14) Kimberly Kofala

Black oak, Jenkinson Lake (11/1/14) Kimberly Kofala

Footpath, Jenkinson Lake (11/1/14) Kimberly Kofala

Color spotter Kimberly Kofala recommends an autumn hike around Jenkinson Lake in the El Dorado County community of Sly Park (Western Sierra).

We mentioned Sly Park and the Mormon Emigrant Trail early last month. At the time, very little color was showing. Now it’s at peak.

Kimberly says this is a mellow, gentle hike with beautiful fall foliage. She jogged and hiked around Jenkinson Lake on Saturday as the fall color was peaking. Black oaks, bigleaf maple, cottonwood, dogwood. willow and grasses are all displaying deep color, which should last through this week.

Jenkinson lake is a quiet and peaceful area with a few fisherman dotted along its banks. It’s also a great place to see waterfowl, geese, grebes and migrating black and white coots. The entire loop is 8.1 miles or hikers can easily do a portion then turn around. And, there are picnic grounds and campsites.

Jenkinson Lake (Peak 75-100%) – Fall color should remain at peak through the coming week, weather permitting. GO NOW!

November 6, 2014/1 Comment/by John Poimiroo

Sagehen Meadows Peaks – GO NOW!

Mono County From Just Starting to Near Peak

Hike of the Week: Lake Gregory Lookin’ Good

Hike of the Week: Big Pine Creek

Shasta Cascade – Fire and Ice (Hike of the Week)

Hike of the Week: Garden to Sky

Hike of the Week: Doane Valley Nature Trail

Hike of the Week – Empire Mine SHP

Hike of the Week: Jenkinson Lake

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