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Tahoe Taylor Trek

Spring Creek, Pope Baldwin Bike Path, Lake Tahoe (10/25/20) Steve Arita

Steve Arita followed Clayton’s and my lead by heading to Lake Tahoe and exploring the area near Emerald Bay and Taylor Creek, as the sun was rising.

Tallac Historical Site, Lake Tahoe a(10/25/20) Steve Arita

He found the Tallac Historical Site to be closed, yet its grounds “freely accessible to the public,” with “a lot of fall color in and around the grounds and along the shoreline.”

Travel writer Janet Fullwood visited on Friday to find the color at peak along Fallen Leaf Lake, which feeds Taylor Creek.

The Kokanee are still lingering in Taylor Creek, waiting for the collective signal to swim upstream. Another spotter said she stood on the Pope Baldwin Bike Path bridge over Taylor Creek at just the moment when a black bear came down to feast on the lethargic salmon. She didn’t send photos, though. Ah, well.

  • Pope Baldwin Bike Path, Lake Tahoe (10/25/20) Steve Arita
  • Pope Baldwin Bike Path, Lake Tahoe (10/25/20) Steve Arita
  • Tallac Historical Area, Lake Tahoe (10/25/20) Steve Arita
  • Tallac Historical Area, Lake Tahoe (10/25/20) Steve Arita
  • Fallen Leaf Lake, Lake Tahoe (10/24/20) Janet Fullwood
Sunrise, Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe (10/25/20) Steve Arita

Predicted winds picked up in the afternoon, but Steve didn’t recount their effect. If the winds are strong enough and persistent, they will strip fully turned leaves from the aspen, but not completely. A few that were in the process of turning (as seen center, above) will remain hanging from their limbs.

Hopefully, we’ll get some post-wind pictures, perhaps even one of a bear feasting on salmon.

  • Tallac Historical Area, Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe (6,225′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.
  • Pope Baldwin Bike Path, Lake Tahoe (6,225′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.
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Keep on Truckee

  • Truckee River, Truckee (10/23/20) John Poimiroo
  • Truckee River, Truckee (10/23/20) John Poimiroo

I had to see for myself. Clayton Peoples’ photos of peak color around Lake Tahoe, his shot of Kokanee spawning in Taylor Creek, the webcam images of Truckee with golden cottonwoods along the river. Seeing is believing.

  • Truckee (10/23/20) John Poimiroo
  • Truckee (10/23/20) John Poimiroo
  • Truckee (10/23/20) John Poimiroo

So, I got on I-80 and kept on truckin’ to Truckee to find the color to be as nice as I’ve seen it there.

Martis Creek Cabin, CA-267 (10/23/20) John Poimiroo

Same for North Lake Tahoe, though Martis Creek Cabin (CA-267) near Northstar has seen better days. More than half the aspen are barren, though there’s still beauty.

Tahoe City (10/23/20) John Poimiroo

On my drive along the north then west shore, aspen are full of orange leaves. Tahoe City is ablaze with red, yellow and orange and hot spots of peak color appear anywhere there’s a drainage.

Spring Creek, CA-89 (10/23/20) John Poimiroo

It was Friday, so Tahoe was mostly lightly visited, though people congregated where coffee might be sold or there was a ready place to take a snap for social media. The Emerald Bay parking lot was full – as usual – and wherever lush stands of aspen glowed orange-yellow, crowds were attracted.

Clusters of folk took selfies in a lush grove near Spring Creek north of Taylor Creek on CA-89. Their wild poses, outstretched arms and pursed lips made me wonder if they’d traveled there to be filled with awe or play the fool. For all the selfies taken, I doubt any really saw themselves.

Kokanee, Pope Baldwin Bike Path, Taylor Creek (10/23/20) John Poimiroo

The spawning Kokanee salmon in Taylor Creek were as advertised: brilliant and numerous. The salmon are moving slowly in the creek – almost motionless, so cameras can be hand held. To reduce glare, a polarizing filter is recommended (or dehaze when processing with Adobe Lightroom).

I got there at 3 p.m., which I considered too late by a couple of hours. Midday is probably optimal, since the light comes from overhead, illuminating the stream. I found that long afternoon shadows (same in the morning) make it harder to photograph the fish. At this point in autumn the light is warm and not harsh. So, shooting midday is not the no-no it would be in July.

The only place to see the Kokanee is from the Pope Baldwin Bike Path bridge that crosses the creek. Normally, I’d suggest parking at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, but it is closed.

Instead, there’s a turnout about 100 yards north of the creek. I parked there (parking is also available on a street across the highway from the turnout) and walked back along the bike path to the bridge.

Do not, however, venture off the bike path into closed areas near Taylor Creek or you could be fined. And, please be respectful of nearby residential areas.

In all, count Tahoe as one of the places to see or (depending on your purpose) to be seen this weekend.

  • Cisco Grove, I-80 (5,643′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Rainbow Lodge, I-80 (5,800′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Kingvale, I-80 (6,118′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Coldstream Valley, Truckee (5,817′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Truckee (5,817′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Northstar, CA-267 (6,175′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Martis Creek Cabin, CA-267 (7,000′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW You Almost Missed It.
  • Kings Beach, CA-28 (6,225′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Tahoe City, CA (6,225′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Spring Creek (6,225′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Pope Baldwin Bike Path, Taylor Creek – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Webcam Colorful

Ryan Boyd scores a First Report – and he didn’t even have to leave home – for webcam screen captures he found of Truckee on Tahoetopia.com.

Clearly, folks, Truckee is peaking as these images document. Good thing I’m heading there, tomorrow.

Now, if you know of webcams in places where fall color can be seen (Lake Arrowhead, Napa Valley, Mineral King, etc.), send similar screen captures and you could score a First Report, too.

  • Truckee (5,817′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Tahoe National Forest

Indian Rhubarb, Yuba River, Downieville (10/20/20) Philip Reedy

The Tahoe National Forest is a large area of the Sierra Nevada, north and west of Lake Tahoe. It includes four districts that encompass the Yuba River, American River, Truckee and Sierraville.

Color spotter Philip Reedy and his lady mounted their trusty steed and headed there yesterday on a scouting trip, driving from Davis to Truckee along I-80, north on CA-89 to Satley, then following CA-49 west across Yuba Pass and past Downieville and back down to the Sacramento Valley.

Their drive to Truckee on I-80 was uneventful. There were spots of color to be seen, “but nothing exciting.”

  • Cold Creek Campground, Tahoe National Forest (10/20/20) Philip Reedy
  • Cold Creek Campground, Tahoe National Forest (10/20/20) Philip Reedy
  • Cold Creek Campground, Tahoe National Forest (10/20/20) Philip Reedy

Between Truckee and Sierraville, there are four areas of fall color at campgrounds along the Little Truckee River: Upper Little Truckee, Cold Stream, Cold Creek and Cottonwood Creek.

These spots offer indifferent color, sometimes brilliant, sometimes ragged. Phil found a lot of the aspen at Cold Creek to be at “peak and beyond.” A park attendant was closing the campground for the season, so expect the gate to be closed at these locations, though you can always park at the entrance and walk in.

Yuba Pass, CA-49 (10/20/20) Philip Reedy

Along the Yuba Pass, “there were some nice groups of aspen, all at peak and soon to be shorn of their leaves.”

Packer Lake, Lakes Basin (10/20/20) Philp Reedy

Beyond, on the way to the Lakes Basin, the Reedys stopped at Packer Lake to picnic and to Phil’s surprise, directly across the lake was a lovely stand of aspen reflected in its perfectly still waters. A few were green, but most had turned.

There was a reason we Scouts were reminded over and over again to “Be Prepared.” Phil hadn’t brought along a float tube so he was not prepared to position himself on the water as if fly fishing with the golden reflection of this stand surrounding the tube, as he remotely triggered the shot. It would have made the perfect cover to submit to one of his publications. Though, if he hustles, the color will still be there next week.

Salmon Creek, Bassetts (10/20/20) Philip Reedy

Back on 49, now heading toward Downieville, he found lots of nice trees along Salmon Creek and on the mountainside to the south.

Kentucky Mine, where the color was nice last year on November 1, was too early, but should be nice in two weeks (Boy, is California dependable or what!?). The old stamp mill there, when surrounded by color, makes for some nice photos.

Indian Rhubarb, Yuba River, Downieville (10/20/20) Philip Reedy

As they continued downriver toward Downieville, some of the Indian Rhubarb had turned along the Yuba River and he noted, “If past years are good predictors, it should be very nice in a week to 10 days.”

Lavezzola Creek,Downieville (10/20/20) Philip Reedy

The Reedys finished their loop through three quarters of the Tahoe National Forest at one of Phil’s favorite spots, Lavezzola Creek, near Downieville. There, Indian Rhubarb resembled yellow, lime and deep green paint droppings on the black granite draw through which the creek runs. Yellow bigleaf maple and orange black oak were flirting, “Come back and see me sometime.” In a week to ten days, it should be excellent, he reported.

The above locations are noted on the California Fall Color Map.

  • Upper Little Truckee Campground (6,200′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Cold Stream Campground (5,817′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Cold Creek Campground (5,800′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Cottonwood Creek Campground (5,800′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Sierraville (4,957′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Salmon Creek Campground (5,800′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Yuba Pass (5,636′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Kentucky Mine (5,407′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Sierra City (4,717′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Lavezzola Creek (3,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Downieville (2,966′) – Patchy (10-50%)
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Tahoe’s Time

Quaking aspen, Lake Tahoe (10/19/20) Clayton Peoples

It’s Tahoe’s time to shine. Lake Tahoe often gets missed because it follows peak in the Hope Valley. As Lake Tahoe comes into its own, there’s still enough color in the Hope Valley to attract those looking for densely lush color. So, Lake Tahoe gets overlooked.

Color spotter Clayton Peoples, lives within striking distance (Reno), so he has the advantage of getting up to the lake fairly often and notes that Tahoe’s mix of vegetation and elevations, from lake level (6,200′) to the rim, complicate assessing peak, as a variety of tree at a lower elevation may be peaking, while a different variety, higher up, might not.

He mentions the predominant tree at lake level, the black cottonwood, which are now Patchy, as are the lake’s white and mountain alder, willows, and mountain and rocky mountain maple that grow on slopes surrounding the lake. Clayton estimates a week to two before they peak.

Quaking aspen, Lake Tahoe (10/19/20) Clayton Peoples

Yet, Quaking aspen at all elevations are peaking. A few holdouts remain, “but the majority are sporting yellow, orange, even red. Aspen near CA-89, west of Taylor Creek are holding onto their leaves better than usual, and are at full Peak. This is also true of those along Luther Pass, between Meyers and the Hope Valley,” he asserts.

And, as reported yesterday in Tahoe Nevada Peaks Red, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is now at Peak and glorious.

  • Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, NV (10/19/20) Clayton Peoples
  • Aspen, Mt. Rose, NV (10/19/20) Clayton Peoples
  • Aspen, Lake Tahoe (10/19/20) Clayton Peoples
  • Aspen, Lake Tahoe (10/19/20) Clayton Peoples
  • Aspen, Lake Tahoe (10/19/20) Clayton Peoples

This means it’s Tahoe’s time. To see Tahoe’s aspen at their best, go now, but you can expect to enjoy seeing lots of other foliage (cottonwood, maple, alder, willows) at peak in the coming two weeks.

  • Lake Tahoe (6,225′) – Patchy to Peak (10-100%) GO NOW!
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Tahoe’s Salmon Spawn

Kokanee salmon, Pope Baldwin Bike Path, Lake Tahoe (10/19/20) Clayton Peoples

Lake Tahoe is unquestionably beautiful, though its displays of fall foliage are limited to a few areas. What Tahoe lacks in wide swaths of bright color, as seen nearby in the Hope Valley, it has made up for with fall wildlife viewing opportunities … until this autumn.

Too many people came to see bear fish for spawning Kokanee salmon in Lake Tahoe’s Taylor Creek, causing the USDA Forest Service to issue Forest Order 19-20-10 that has outlawed “going into or being within the Taylor Creek Closure Area” including being on trails and National Forest roads within 400 feet of the creek, from Fallen Leaf Dam to Lake Tahoe.

That’s the prime area to see spawning salmon at Lake Tahoe. The stated reason for the closure was that too many people were climbing over fences and walking though the forest to take selfies as bear fished for salmon in the creek, thus creating damage and threatening the wildlife. The Forest Service also referenced trail maintenance and health safety issues as contributing factors though, fundamentally, too many people were acting inappropriately.

Fortunately, Kokanee can still be seen from the Pope Baldwin Bike Path that crosses the creek and from which the above photo was taken (legally). As such, the Pope Baldwin Bike Path is CaliforniaFallColor.com’s Hike/Bike of the Week. Please stay on the bike path.

Parking is found at a turnoff 100 yards north of the creek and a side street across from the turnoff. Walk back to the creek and the bridge that crosses it. Do not walk into the closed area or you can be fined.

During the spawn, Kokanee salmon are fluorescent red. They swim upstream from the lake to lay and fertilize eggs in tributaries beyond Fallen Leaf Lake. Their distinctive vermillion color makes them particularly vulnerable to predation by American black bear and eagles.

“The Kokanee, landlocked cousins of the sea-going Sockeye Salmon, were introduced to Lake Tahoe in 1944 by biologists working on the lake’s north shore.” a USDA Forest Service website states, “These predecessors of today’s inhabitants quickly adapted to the alpine environment, joining brown trout, rainbow trout and Mackinaw among the most prominent game fish in Lake Tahoe. However, no other species in Lake Tahoe offers such a spectacular show during their mating season.

“Each autumn, nature calls mature Kokanee to return to the streams from which they were hatched, select a mate, spawn and die.  As that time approaches, adult males develop a humped back and a heavy, hooked jaw, equipping them for the inevitable battles over both mates and territory, and both sexes turn from their usual silver/blue color to a brilliant red.  Then, en masse, the fish make one mad dash to their mating grounds, fighting their way up the shallow stream, displaying their colors to attract a mate, then battling to protect the small patch of gravel stream bed where they make their ‘redds’ or nests.

“Along the stream banks, the autumn aspens, willows and grasses will be as brilliant as the display in the creek below.  Almost as dramatic as the story of life and death being played out in the water are the colorful combinations of orange, gold and red as the vegetation prepares to shed their foliage in anticipation of winter,” states the Forest Service website.

A violation of the Forest Closure is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both (16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. § 3559, 3571, and 3581).

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Tahoe Nevada Peaks Red

North Canyon, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park (10/18/20) Phil Farrell

With peak color dropping out of the Hope Valley, Lake Tahoe is next up.

Phil Farrell hiked the four-mile length of North Canyon, in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, accessed from Spooner Lake.

He found Pacific aspen at peak, and estimates this will last another week, as there are some very green trees.

A quarter of the aspen have turned red, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park (10/18/20) Phil Farrell

About a quarter of the aspen are turning red. That’s something seen throughout the Sierra. Where in previous years the trees were mostly yellow, we’re now seeing them blush.

Aspen are distributed along the full length of North Canyon, with larger groves covering theowl at its head.

  • North Canyon, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Last Hope

Hope Valley (10/15/20) Marc Crumpler

This is likely the last peak weekend in the Hope Valley. Marc Crumpler was there a couple of days ago and wrote Caples was now past peak and the rest of CA-88 was barely hanging on.

  • Hope Valley (10/15/20) Marc Crumpler
  • Hope Valley (10/15/20) Marc Crumpler
  • Hope Valley (10/15/20) Marc Crumpler
  • Hope Valley (10/15/20) Marc Crumpler
  • Hope Valley (10/15/20) Marc Crumpler
  • Hope Valley (10/15/20) Marc Crumpler
  • Hope Valley (10/15/20) Marc Crumpler

Below is what Hunter Irvin found when he visited the Forestdale Creek Rd. near Red Lake on Sun., Oct. 18, proving it’s time for the fat lady to sing, cause we’re losing Hope.

Forestdale Creek Rd., Hope Valley (10/18/20) Hunter Irvin

Hope Valley, CA-88 – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.

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Simply Marvelous at Marlette

Flume Trail, Marlette Lake State Park (10/15/20) Barry Calfee

Comedian Billy Crystal, in his impersonation of actor Fernando Llamas, used to joke, “You look marvelous, simply marvelous.”

That can be said of Lake Marlette on the east side of Lake Tahoe, presently. “It looks marvelous, simply marvelous.”

Color spotter and cyclist Barry Calfee was there yesterday and reported that the Flume Trail was lined with peak fall color between Spooner Lake and Lake Marlette.

The trail passes picturesque Spencer’s cabin, a 280-square-foot cattleman’s cabin from the 1920s to the 1960s.

  • Spencer’s Cabin, Lake Marlette (10/15/20) Barry Calfee
  • Flume Trail, Lake Marlette (10/15/20) Barry Calfee
  • Lake Marlette (10/15/20) Barry Calfee
  • Flume Trail, Lake Marlette (10/15/20) Barry Calfee
  • Lake Marlette (10/15/20) Barry Calfee
  • Flume Trail, Lake Marlette (10/15/20) Barry Calfee
  • Lake Marlette (7,823′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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As Good As It Gets

Red Lake Creek Cabin (10/14/20) Steve McCarthy

The aspen behind Red Lake Creek Cabin a mile west of the junction of Blue Lakes Rd and CA-88 continue to develop. More intense orange is showing, and those up on the hillside are Near Peak. As Steve McCarthy’s photo (taken today) demonstrates, it’s about as good as it gets.

If you live in Northern California, rise before sunrise and drive there to arrive at approx. 7:45 a.m. From then until 9 a.m. it should be beautiful.

It’s now prime and will probably stay that way only through the weekend, diminishing each day.

Photo tips: mount camera to a sturdy tripod, release shutter with the camera timer or a cable release, experiment with varied sized lenses – wide angle, medium, tele, set your ISO below 250, put the camera on aperture setting and meter for depth of field (small f stop) – this will mean a long exposure, and – finally – respect fellow photogs. When you’ve got it, release your place for next waiting. Most of all, have fun.

  • Red Lake Creek Cabin, Hope Valley – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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