June Lake is Jumping – Go Now!
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 (Peak – 75 – 100%) – The June Lake Loop/Hwy. 158 is particularly beautiful from Gull Lake, “down canyon” to Grant Lake. GO NOW!
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!
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!
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Yosemite Stages for Coming Beauty
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.
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.
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.
Aspendell: Color Survivor
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.
Steve concludes that “Aspendell is definitely the place to go for what remains of spectacular fall colors” up Bishop Creek Canyon.
Redwoods Ablaze With Color
The Save The Redwoods League reported on its Facebook page this past Friday that “the redwood forest is ablaze with color.”
So, we called color spotter Grant Roden at Elk Meadow Cabins. Grant is a naturalist/guide located at Orick near Redwood National and State Parks. He said the color has peaked at Elk Meadow, though he’s heard that spots along The Redwood Highway (U.S. 101) are peaking, as this photo from the Save The Redwoods League website shows.
Because the elevations in the North Coast are consistent, the color descends much as it does in New England, by latitude along the coast starting at Del Norte County, then descending to Humboldt and eventually Mendocino County. North Coast vineyards, of course, go off on their own schedule by grape variety, and many are peaking, now.
Grant said the elk rut, this past September, was one of the most spectacular in recent memory. He said he could hardly get out the Elk Meadow Cabins front office door for the battles occurring between bull elk on the lawn surrounding the lodge. The rut is one of the most colorful, fascinating and exciting wildlife events to occur annually in California. It’s certainly worth planning a trip to see, next September.
Also of note is that the return of moist weather to the North Coast has become an unexpected attraction, with drought-parched Californians reveling in the rain.
The Redwood Highway (Peak – 75 – 100%) – We’re asking North Coast spotters to confirm this report by sending photos.
Redwood National and State Parks (Past Peak) – YOU MISSED IT!
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Lake Gregory Cleans Up Good
We received a comment from Cindy, a color spotter, that she was disappointed with the color to be seen at Lake Gregory this past weekend, reporting that it didn’t match the rest of the San Bernardino Mountain’s peak billing.
So, we investigated, communicating with Michelle Fox at Lake Gregory who provides these photos. A group of local volunteers were at the lake doing a volunteer, end-of-summer, shore cleanup when Michelle photographed the scene. Bravo to all those who volunteered their Sunday to keep Lake Gregory pristine.
Michelle agrees that the color will continue to develop (weather permitting), whereas other areas of the San Bernardino mountains have been shown as peaking, perhaps because Lake Gregory is one of the lower elevations in the mountains. Still, it’s a beautiful place with delicate color.
Lake Gregory (Patchy – 10 – 50%) – Oaks and other deciduous trees surrounding the lake have been slowly developing their color since first reported on Oct. 5. Unlike higher elevations in the San Bernardino Mountains, Lake Gregory has not neared peak and will continue to develop color in coming weeks.
Lake Hemet (Just Starting – 0 – 10%) – A report from Lake Hemet states that little color has yet developed in the San Jacinto Mountains. On the basis of that report, we’ve downgraded the San Jacintos and ranges to the south, to Just Starting. Reports and photos from the San Jacintos, Mt. Laguna, Julian and Mt. Palomar are appreciated.
Good Advice, Great Sunsets!
The Los Angeles Times, took our advice and recommended trips this past weekend to the San Bernardino Mountains. Turns out, it was good advice, as evidenced by the spectacular shot of Rim of the World (between Lake Gregory and Lake Arrowhead) that Nick Barnhart captured on Sunday.
CLICK HERE for a link to the LA Times’ article.
UPDATE: 10/22/14
Here’s another lovely sunset of the San Bernardino Mountains taken by Nick Barnhart last evening. I have to ask after seeing Nick’s great photographs (and I’ve photographed sunsets in So. Calif.), “Why go to the beach?”
Her Hardest Hue to Hold
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.
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.
Tahoe Glittering Gold
Lake Tahoe (Peak – 75 – 100%) – Color spotter Kimberly Kofala reports Lake Tahoe is glittering with gold. GO NOW!
June Lakes Hangin’ in There, Mammoth Lakes Spotty
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.”
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!
Bishop Creek Canyon (Peak 75 – 100% and Past Peak) – Spots of brilliant color can still be found at Aspendell. GO NOW!
Bishop Creek – Gone With The Wind
“Two days of wind was all it took to strip the vast majority of aspen in the higher reaches of Bishop Creek Canyon,” color spotter Jared Smith writes on his last report of autumn. Parchers Resort closes for the season on Sunday (Oct. 19) and with its shuttering, Jared’s reports come to a close. He’s always the most diligent of the contributors to this blog, with accurate and thorough reports that have guided photographers, leaf peepers and travelers to the Eastern Sierra. It has become a tradition here to thank him for his beautiful photographs and helpful commentary. Here’s what he had to write, today:
Overall Conditions – Above 8,500′ Elevation – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
Overall, the weather this past month has been exceptional, so Jared wrote he wouldn’t complain for the sudden end of the show up Bishop Creek Canyon. This year, there was ample time for folks to see the color and get some beautiful shots. With Sabrina, North Lake, Sabrina Camp, Parchers Resort and Willow Camp almost completely stripped of leaves, there’s not much left to be seen in the higher reaches of the canyon.
Overall Conditions – Between 7,500 and 8,500′ Elevation – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
While a few areas still have some beautiful color, most notably Intake II, Aspendell and the Four Jeffries area, much of the color on either side of the canyon is past peak and/or stripped because of the last two days of wind.
Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
Just a few small pockets of color persist in and around the resort.
Stiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8,600′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
Still some decent color in this area but we’re definitely past the peak color.
Mist Falls and the Groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
The wind was especially harsh in this area and what was at peak color over the weekend is now mostly gone. Only a fraction of the grove is showing brilliant color but it’s still worth a look.
Aspendell (8,400′) – Peak Color (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
The trees in this neighborhood seem to have withstood the wind storm quite well and there is a ton of color along Hwy 168 both before and after the small community. The area leading up to Cardinal Village is also looking brilliant.
Groves above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
Just a few pockets of color is left above Cardinal.
Four Jeffries (8,000) – Peak Color (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
Some of the smaller scrub aspen have already peaked and dropped but the larger trees are just now showing peak color. There is actually a fair amount of green still holding strong so it’s feasible that we may get another full week of color out of this area if the weather cooperates.
Intake II (8,000) – Peak Color (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
This area is just on the verge of passing the peak color mark but there is certainly enough beautiful orange and yellow to garner a peak color rating. Especially beautiful is the grove above the lake in the campground.
Willow Campground (9,000′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
Very little color survived the wind.
Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Patchy – (10 – 50%)
We’re really not seeing much color develop here, just some lime green. The trees here don’t look particularly healthy with some of the foliage turning from light green to brown without any yellow – perhaps the drought was just too much for the trees down there.
Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
Some patchy color is still hanging around near the back of the campground but most of the color along the road is gone.
Surveyors Meadow (8,975′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
Just a few tiny patches of yellow are left.
Lake Sabrina (9,150′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
The fall color show is over up at Lake Sabrina with just a few select trees here and there showing any color.
North Lake (9,255′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
The wind didn’t leave much color unfortunately.
Weir Pond (9,650) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
No color is left at Weir.
Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – (Past Peak) YOU MISSED IT!
All of the color was stripped by the wind unfortunately.
With Jared’s final report, conditions up Bishop Creek Canyon will no longer be reported. They, too, are now gone with the wind. However, reports move up to June Lake and the Shasta Cascade and down Southern California.