Shasta Cascade – Page 17 – California Fall Color

Redding Reddens

Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Shasta View Dr., Redding (10/18/18) Laura Jean

Redding saw a lot more red in late August than its residents wanted to see. The red was from the Carr Fire which burned 229,651 acres to the west and northeast of Redding, before it was contained. The fire devastated neighborhoods in the city’s northest corner and was the sixth-most destructive in California history.

So, it’s reassuring to see that a more welcomed type of red returning to Redding … fall color.

Redding is a central location from which to explore the Shasta Cascade (the northeast corner of UpStateCA). From Redding, roads spoke out to prime fall color viewing at Lassen Volcanic National Park, Plumas County, McArthur-Burney Falls State Park and Hat Creek, Coffee Creek and Scott Valley, Mt Shasta, Chester, Lake Almanor and Susanville, Weaverville, Red Bluff and Chico. Much of these areas are either now peaking or approaching peak.

Within its city limits, Redding is bisected by the Sacramento River which has beautiful riparian forests and wetlands. Across the length of California’s northernmost metropolis, Frémont cottonwood, black oak, Oregon ash California buckeye and blue oak grow beside the Sacramento River.

One of the best places to begin a Redding Fall Color adventure is at Sundial Bridge, Santiago Calatrava’s architectural masterpiece that spans the mighty Sacramento River, connecting Turtle Bay Exploration Park and the McConnell Arboretum and Gardens.

Many of Redding’s neighborhoods are forested with colorful exotic trees and several have breathtaking views of Mt. Shasta and the Sacramento River. Redding color spotter Laura Jean sends these pictures of the welcomed color that has reddened Redding’s boulevards.

More about Redding and its nine fall color driving tours is found at VisitRedding.com

Redding – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

Chinese pistache, Shasta View Dr., Redding (10/18/18) Laura Jean

October 20, 2018/by John Poimiroo

Books, Fall Color Report, Foliage, Shasta Cascade

Indian Rhubarb – Darmera

Indian rhubarb, Rock Creek, Meadow Valley (10/18/18) Michael Beatley

One of California’s most spectacular native plants is Darmera, or Indian Rhubarb.

With its large, umbrella formed, orange-red leaves, it is spectacular when contrasted with wild blue streams and lush riparian foliage in the Shasta Cascade.

Plumas County color spotter, Michael Beatley visited “Rock Creek in Meadow Valley, which flows into Spanish Creek, which flows into the North Fork of the Feather River, which flows into the Sacramento river and on to San Francisco Bay.” Rock Creek and Spanish Creek were gold mining creeks in the 1860s.

To get to the most colorful examples of Darmera beside these creeks, you’ll need to hike to them. Begin by driving six miles west of Quincy along Bucks Lake Road toward Meadow Valley.

“Just before the park,” Michael explains (which park, he never said – but we figure there must be only one), “turn left onto the USFS dirt road at the sign that reads, ‘Deans Valley, Meadow Camp 2 miles.’ At the bridge is Meadow Camp, a National Forest campground which lies beside Rock Creek. Hike downstream. There are no trails; forge your own. The Indian Rhubarb is at Peak and just Past Peak. Gold pan, if you like. Best time is 10 a.m., as the sun crests the tree tops hitting the water. The campground is dry and free. The road is dirt, bumpy, but accessible by car. This is a hiking spot for fall color, not a drive by.”

I tried to find the camp on Google maps, but could not. You’ll have to trust Michael’s directions to find it. This may just be the time to pack along a copy of the 3rd Edition of NOLS Wilderness Navigation by Gene Trantham and Darran Wells.

It’s NOLS’ official guide to finding your way in the outdoors, since no bread crumbs were otherwise left by Michael to follow.

Indian rhubarb, Rock Creek, Meadow Valley (10/18/18) Michael Beatley

Indian Rhubarb, Rock Creek, Meadow Valley – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

October 20, 2018/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Hike of the Week, Shasta Cascade

Sampling Chips

Chips Creek, Ben Lomond Trail, Plumas County (10/18/18) Chico Hiking Association

Bigleaf maple, Chips Creek, Ben Lomond Trail, Plumas County (10/18/18) Chico Hiking Association

The Chico Hiking Association dipped into Chips Creek along the Ben Lomond Trail (a section of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) yesterday, to find bigleaf maple Patchy and black oak Just Starting.

Ben Lomond is an 7.9-mile, lightly trafficked, out-and-back trail beside Chips Creek, a tributary of the North Fork of the Feather River.

The trail is considered to be difficult with a 4,297-foot gain along its length. Hikers rate it as excellent and scenic, though demanding.

The trailhead is in Beldon off CA-70 at the upper end of Rock Creek Reservoir (Feather River). After a short climb, the trail parallels Chips Creek. If you continue, it continues to climb, eventually descending to near the creek, which is a native trout stream.

Certainly, this isn’t a trail for casual color spotting, but for someone who wants a challenge, it’s rewarding. Therefore, for it’s beauty and challenge, the Ben Lomond Trail is named Hike of the Week.

Patchy bigleaf maple and black oak are seen along the hillsides and down to Chips Creek. There is nice gold and orange color among shrubs and small trees now (a wildfire burned the area in 2012), though the color will continue to improve over the coming two weeks.

Ben Lomond Trail, Chips Creek (2,400′) – Patchy (10-50%)

October 19, 2018/by John Poimiroo

Foliage, Shasta Cascade

Meadow Valley Morn

Pacific dogwood, Bigleaf maple, Black oak, Meadow Valley (10/16/18) Michael Beatley

Aspen, Meadow Valley (10/16/18) Michael Beatley

Black oak, Meadow Valley (10/16/18) Michael Beatley

Manzanita, Meadow Valley (10/16/18) Michael Beatley

Dogwood, Meadow Valley (10/16/18) Michael Beatley

Mornings are golden in Meadow Valley, Plumas County color spotter Michael Beatley reports.

Michael shot pictures along Big Creek Rd, just west of Meadow Valley in Plumas County. It is the lower road to Bucks Lake. Turn Left at the split in the road where the sign reads, “Bucks Lake via Big Creek Rd for RVs.” The road is populated with bigleaf maple, Pacific dogwood, black oak, and some quaking aspen.

As Beatley’s photographs show, this nine-mile road to Bucks Lake is gorgeous and “worth the drive.” Intense purple, orange, red, yellow, vermillion, gold, lime, pink and green tones, illuminated by shadowed light create magical results on a Meadow Valley morn.

Best time of the day to drive Big Creek Rd. is between 9 a.m. and noon. A 4WD vehicle is required. Accommodations may be obtained in Quincy (click the UpStateCA graphic below for guidance).

Plumas County is at Peak now and through the coming week. A trip to the Northern Sierra now is a must for anyone who’s never seen it at Peak.

Meadow Valley – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

October 18, 2018/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

A Place With Alps

Coffee Creek, CA-3, Trinity County (10/16/18) Jeri Rangel

Bowerman Barn, Covnington Mill, Trinity County (10/16/18) Jeri Rangel

What place has alps, cowboys, an untamed river and empty roads that wind through the yellow-splashed wild?

Jeri Rangel found the answer as she drove California highway 3, with not a car or truck ahead or behind. She knew that those that are, pull over to let you pass. That is, if you’re in a hurry, and no one seems to be.

Along the highway, she passed corrals with horses grazing idly. Along the Trinity River, lemony bigleaf maple and rosy dogwood lit up the woods.

You’re on the highway to Alps they call Trinity, in a county of the same name, traveling the vast Shasta Cascade region of UpStateCA.

Trinity County (3,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)

October 17, 2018/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade, Uncategorized

Ordered To Appear

Sugar maple, Thompson Ranch, LaPorte Rd., Quincy (10/14/18) Michael Beatley

The Thieler Tree, Quincy (10/14/18) Michael Beatley

You are hereby ordered to appear at the Plumas County Courthouse in Quincy to attest that trees surrounding the court are Near Peak.

Now that you have been duly served, what can you expect to see?

Towering maple, plane trees and elm, anytime from now through this weekend and the following week, depending on conditions. The trees will be glorious, carrying heavy loads of orange, red and lime.

Local color spotters Michael Beatley and Jeff Luke Titcomb report that Quincy’s most photographed maple, The Theiler Tree at the former residence of Judge Alan Theiler, is red-hot and not-to-be-missed. It’s on West High Street and Lee Way, behind the courthouse.

Other great spots to photograph in and surrounding Quincy, include Community United Methodist Church at 282 Jackson St. This white steepled church is backed by black oak, when at peak (it’s still early) are deep orange (seen below in the UpStateCA graphic).

Plumas County Courthouse, Quincy (10/14/18) Michael Beatley

Plumas County Courthouse, Quincy (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Spanish Creek at Oakland Camp (10/14/18) Michael Beatley

Thompson Lake, near Bucks Lake, Plumas County (10/15/18) Michael Beatley

Along LaPorte Rd. look for Thompson Ranch and its landmark sugar maple, which is now peaking. In fact all the sugar maples in town are a rich orange-cream color.

The Indian rhubarb at Spanish Creek in Oakland camp are now peaking at 3,500′, so get there quick to see their bright red-orange umbrella-shaped leaves reflected in the creek’s still waters.

More reflections of aspen are seen at Thompson Lake west of Quincy near Buck’s Lake.

Jeff Luke Titcomb said most of Plumas County’s fall color backroads can be driven in a normal passenger vehicle. To prove it, he sent a photo of his classic Cadillac DeVille that he drove on a spotting trip to Round Valley.

He described, “The road away from Almanor is gravel and well maintained. Some days, though, you’ll be sharing it with logging trucks. The color down in the ravines is full of dogwoods and the springs are running pretty strong with lots of yellow maples, the oaks are coming on too, now. You will need to stop and explore the canyon’s full of color, which is getting very strong now.”

Be sure to appear by your appointed court date and time (not to late in the day), or you could miss Peak color in and around Quincy.

Quincy (3,432′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

Dogwood, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Bigleaf maple, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Bigleaf maple and willow, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Plumas County Courthouse (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Quincy, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Sugar maple, Quincy, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Sugar maple, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Black oak, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Plumas County Courthouse (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Quincy, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

October 16, 2018/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, First Report, Shasta Cascade

California’s Crater Lake

Crater Lake Campground, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jason Paine

California has a Crater Lake, too.

It’s not as big, as deep or as blue as Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park, but unlike the national park, hardly anyone is ever there.

It’s Crater Lake Campground in Lassen National Forest near Susanville.

The campground has 17 sites that rent for $10 each.

Groves of peaking aspen ring the lake, as shown in these shots in this First Report on Crater Lake submitted by Jason Paine.

Best of all, by camping there in autumn, you can say you visited Crater Lake and had it all to yourself.

Crater Lake Campground (6,929′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

October 15, 2018/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

About Time For Lassen Volcanic

Hat Creek and Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/12/18) Phillip Reedy

Manzanita Lake and Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/12/18) Phillip Reedy

Color spotter Phillip Reedy admitted he hadn’t visited Lassen Volcanic National Park in a while and “it was about time.”

He admitted, “While it can’t compare to the Eastern Sierra, there were still some colors to be seen, plenty of golden grass and even a few aspens here and there.

“The best thing was how few people there were. No jockeying for a spot to set up a tripod there.”

Lassen Volcanic National Park (8,512′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

Kings Creek Meadow, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/12/18) Phillip Reedy

October 15, 2018/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

Road to Round Valley

Bigleaf maple, Round Valley (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

“Road to Round Valley,” sounds like it should be a country song, doesn’t it?

In my mind, I hear the “Yodeling Blonde Bombshell” Carolina Cotton, singing about losing her first love along that road “when a black oak stole his blackened heart.”

The pain of her loss just makes me saddle sore, though having seen these oaks at peak, I understand how her cowboy’s affections could be stolen so easily.

So, when Jeff Luke Titcomb sent images taken along the “Road to Round Valley” in Plumas County, the black oak, bigleaf maple, California ash and Pacific dogwood he’d photographed had me humming a cowboy melody as Carolina might sing, complete with mournful yodel.

Pacific dogwood, Round Valley (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

California ash, Round Valley (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Black oak, Round Valley (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Jeff writes, “The road to round valley is still waiting for the oaks to change and they still have some time to go. Dogwoods started early but slowed down when the rain came, but now the leaves are just dropping in some places most likely due to months of dry weather.”

The action appears to be among the bigleaf maple, “which are in full color.”

Perhaps in my reverie, Carolina wins her cowboy’s heart again “beneath the spreading branches of granny’s golden maple tree.” Brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?

Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Bigleaf maple are Near Peak, though dogwood have slowed and black oak are weeks from peak.

October 13, 2018/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

Indian Falls: Short Hike 4 Color

Black oak, Indian Falls (10/12/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Indian rhubarb, Indian Falls (10/12/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

It’s a short hike from CA-89 to Indian Falls. So short, that Jeff Luke Titcomb walked there for a picnic lunch.

Indian Falls is a popular summer swimming hole (be cautious of ankle grabbing rocks), but in autumn it’s a convenient spot for a quick get away.

Black oak (Quercus kelloggii) that have grown between cracks among the boulders like larger bonsai trees, have turned bright red and orange. Mid October is an early Peak for black oak, which is more a Halloween tree.

In comparison, the bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) and Indian rhubarb (Darmera) near the creek are Patchy. Still, it’s worth the hike to see the oaks and enjoy a bit of solitude by Indian Creek.