Apple Harvest
As American as … Apple Hill, Julian and Oak Glen.
These California apple harvest destinations are famous for their cider, pie, strudels, confections and sauce, all made of apples, of course.
Even though the apple pie was invented in England, the following prove that nothing could be truer than the expression “as American as apple pie:”
- In El Dorado County, Apple Hill is so popular that a free shuttle bus system has been established to keep the roads in Camino from becoming gridlocked on autumn weekends;
- Ten restaurants serve apple pie in Julian, a city of 1,500 (San Diego County) and
- Twenty-four varieties of apples are grown and sold at Oak Glen (San Bernardino County).
That’s just the start of why autumn adventures in apple country has become such a tradition for Californians. Presently, fall color is Just Starting, though the apple harvest is happening, and Americans LOVE their apples.
San Bernardino County color spotter Alena Nicholas was there, today, and sent these images, but no apple pie. C’mon, Alena, share the love.
- Apple Hill, Camino (3,133′) – Just Starting (10-50%)
- Oak Glen (4,734′) – Just Starting (10-50%)
- Julian (4,226′) – Just Starting (10-50%)
Indian Falls: Short Hike 4 Color
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.
- Black oak, Indian Falls (3,202′) – Peak – (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Indian rhubarb and Bigleaf maple, Indian Falls (3,202′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Kings Creek Falls
The hike to Kings Creek Falls in Lassen Volcanic National Park begins with lacy meadow grasses that grow throughout Kings Creek Meadow, then it rises through a textural blend of yellow Lemmons willow and a mix of hot pink and scarlet shrubs, to the wispy white falls that are embraced by Tolkienesque-like willow.
If ever there is a middle kingdom in California, it is Lassen Volcanic at this magical time of year.
Shanda Ochs hiked there this week and suggested that there are so many unusual and vibrant plants to see along the trail that one might want to carry a pocket field guide to identify them.
One of the difficulties of identifying plants in the Shasta Cascade is that field guides written for the Sierra Nevada or other parts of Northern California don’t often work.
That’s because the volcanic soil, deep snowfall, climate and other conditions have encouraged the evolution of different native plants than are found in the Klamath range, Sierra Nevada, or nearby Sacramento Valley.
Part of the joy of hiking at Lassen Volcanic and on Mt. Shasta, is that you’re always finding something unexpected and new.
For a guide to the Kings Creek Falls Trail, CLICK HERE.
At Manzanita Lake at the northwest entrance to Lassen Volcanic NP, Shanda said the willow that ring the lake, are “about done, with alder still in change. The cottonwood is also about 75% with some almost bare, to others about half changed.”
It’s always difficult to rate an area when some species have peaked, others are peaking and still others near peak, but we’ll classify it at peak, as it isn’t going backwards.
Kings Creek Falls (7,300′), Lassen Volcanic National Park – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Manzanita Lake (2,900′), Lassen Volcanic National Park – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Sweet As Can Be
Sugar maples (Acer saccharum) are sweet to the eye. Perhaps that’s why so many were planted in Plumas County.
This particular specimen sugars the scenery along Hideaway Rd. in Greenville.
Leaves of the sugar maple can evolve in color through a full spectrum from dark green to lime, to yellow-green, to yellow, to yellow-orange, to orange, red and burgundy, during autumn.
Though numerous of the exotic trees have been planted in Quincy, Greenville and other Plumas County towns (Northern Sierra), none seem to have naturalized, leading a UC Davis botanist, with whom we consulted, to conclude that planting one is not likely to interfere with the growth of native trees.
Sugar Maples, Plumas County (3,586′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Though Difficult, Look Down
We often advise, “Look down, not just up.”
That’s a difficult thing to do when you’re in the Eastern Sierra, as the mountains draw your attention up to them.
However, if you only look up, you miss the beauty to be seen down upon the high desert floor.
Ursula Esser sends these images of Onion Valley Road in the Owens Valley, with rabbitbrush, shrubs and boulders creating a fall palette of yellow, orange, sage, grey and auburn near Independence.
Independence (3,930′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Big Bear’s Gettin’ Big
Frémont cottonwood are Near Peak at Big Bear (above), where fields of yellow rubber rabbitbrush lead up to the golden-orange trees. Color spotter Steve Shinn laments that, “What the fires didn’t get our crazy weather and lack of rain did.”
Nonetheless, bigleaf maple at Big Bear and quaking aspen at Aspen Grove Trail are also peaking, Black oak are still Just Starting.
- Big Bear (6,752′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Skate Skiing to Peak
True to Mammoth Lakes’ 360-degree adventure theme, skate skiers have invented another new way to experience autumn, by skate skiing past boulevards of fall color on Eastern Sierra canyon roads.
Mammoth Lakes is now virtually skating to Peak color, with GO NOW conditions at all canyon locations from Mammoth Lakes south to Rock Creek Rd.
A Fall Color Instameet is planned at Convict Lake on Saturday. For details, CLICK HERE.
Here’s what’s happening:
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Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,900ft+) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT! – There’s still plenty of color around Twin Lakes. Though, the trees on the backside of Lake George are just about finished and will most likely be gone by the end of the weekend.
- Laurel Canyon (8,500′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – 4WD high clearance vehicle required.
- Convict Lake (8,000’+) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – It’s finally “Go” time at Convict Lake. It’s only going to get better over the coming week.
- McGee Creek (8,000’+) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – McGee Creek is gorgeous. There’s lots of green, so this area will be at peak for a couple more weeks. Nevertheless, GO NOW!
- Crowley Lake (7,000’+) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Beautiful Colors are starting to fill the town of Crowley. Worth driving through town when traveling south from McGee to Rock Creek.
- Rock Creek (8,000’+) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!- Some groves are at peak. Others are off to a slow start. The lower half of Rock Creek Rd. is stunning while above 9,000′ it is Past Peak. Colder nighttime temps have helped speed the process.
The Week That Was “Fantastic!”
This past week was fantastic throughout Mono County, local color spotter Jeff Simpson reports.
Just about anywhere you drive right now, you look up and see color … fantastic color.
Plus, it’s gonna last. Peak fall color will be seen this and the following week in prime areas of Mono County.
Hot spots for full peak color this weekend include: Monitor Pass, McGee Canyon trail, Parker Lake trail and Lundy Canyon trail, which we designate as Hike of the Week for its gorgeous color and beautiful waterfalls.
Approaching full peak are Convict Lake, the June Lake Loop, Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Lake, Conway Summit, Summers Meadow and Twin Lakes/Bridgeport. While there’s still a good amount of green in these areas, more than half the trees are showing great color with stands of peaking yellow and orange aspen.
This was a great year to see Sagehen Meadows and Tioga Pass, though those areas are now solidly Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT.
Nearly Past Peak are Sonora Pass, Upper Rock Creek and Upper Virginia Lakes. Though, lower down in these areas, Peak color can still be enjoyed.
Walker/Coleville/Topaz
- Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – The large stand of aspen east of the summit is perfect late in the afternoon.
- Lobdell Lake Road (8,600′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Past peak in most areas but a lot of color still hanging around. If you want orange and red colors this is your spot! (AWD is recommended).
- Walker Canyon (5,200′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Should be good in 7 to 10 days.
- Towns of Walker & Coleville – Patchy (10-50%) – Mostly green throughout the valley, though some of the cottonwood are showing gold. This is the last area in Mono County to peak.
- Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Wow. Sonora Pass was the best we’ve seen this past week. Peak color has now descended to Leavitt Meadow.
Bridgeport/Virginia Lakes
- Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Predictions were spot on. This area is Near Peak, though with still lots to change in coming weeks. Take the dirt roan around lower Twin to see great angles of the Sawtooth Mountains.
- Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – This has to be one of the best years for Virginia Lakes, due to the length of time it has been at peak. A lot of color has fallen at the top, but lower sections of the road remain good. AWD recommended.
- Conway Summit (8,143′) –Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – You cannot go wrong including Conway Summit on a vist to the East Side, right now. It will remain good, conditions permitting for another two weeks. Peak should occur early next week and last a week or longer.
- Summers Meadow (7,200′) –Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – We love Summers Meadow. It has one of the great long stretches of brilliant color in the state at peak. Presently, the color has worked down, though has a wonderful mix of red, orange, yellow and lime
Lee Vining
- Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
- Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
- Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Hike of the Week!
Benton & 120 East
- Sagehen Summit (8,139’) –Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
June Lake Loop
- June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Still early.
- Parker Lake (8,000′) – – Patchy (10-50%) – Best bet.
Mammoth Lakes
- Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! (Look for Mammoth Lake’s report, coming next)
Crowley Lake/McGee Creek/Convict Lake
- McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! Uh, did I say “BRILLIANT?”
- Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – There’s really nice Near Peak color in the hills above Tom’s Place. As long as you’re there, get a slice of pie. I always do.
- Convict Lake (7850′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Convict Lake is a week from perfection. There’s still some green at the back side of the lake. It’s best when those trees there light up in brilliant splashes of yellow to be reflected in the lake’s dark waters. Presently, the best fall color is along the west end of the lake. When Convict Lake gets going, it competes for honors as the prettiest fall color scene on the East Side, because of the blue (yes, blue) folded metamorphic rock of Laurel Mountain and that stunning blanket of yellow below.
Rock Creek Canyon
- Rock Creek Road (8,500’+) –Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – It’s Past Peak at Rock Creek Lake and higher, though still fantastic in the lower sections near East Fork Campground.
Eastern Sierra Portfolio
Elliot McGucken has captured some of the most compelling images we’ve seen of Bishop Creek Canyon.
He was there on Friday and returned by way of Sonora Pass on Saturday, sending this selection of his favorites from that trip.
The intense color seen in these shots is no longer seen at the same locations. Though, there are still many great images to be captured in the canyon for another week to two weeks, at descending elevations.
- Bishop Creek Canyon – Past Peak (9,000’+) YOU MISSED IT.
- Bishop Creek Canyon – Peak (8,500 – 9,000′) GO NOW!
- Bishop Creek Canyon – Near Peak (below 8,500′) GO NOW!
- Sonora Pass – Past Peak (above 9,000′) YOU MISSED IT!
- Sonora Pass – Peak (below 9,000′) GO NOW!
Mono County on the Run
Running does not happen on a boring treadmill in Mono County.
It’s a 360-degree adventure that happens on trails surrounded by intensely beautiful fall color.
Leor Pantilat and friend show how they experienced fall color on the run in these images taken over the preceding weeked at Sonora Pass, Molybdenite Canyon, Barney Lake, Parker Lake and Lundy Canyon.
They got there so fast, they had time to kick back, take a breath and relax.
Peaking aspen were everywhere they ran without treadmill tedium. (click to enlarge images)
- Sonora Pass – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Molybdenite Canyon – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Barney Lake – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Parker Lake- Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Lundy Canyon – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!