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Shasta, Siskiyou and Plumas Peaking

Anderson River Park (10/23/13) SCWA

Anderson River Park (10/23/13) SCWA

GO NOW! – 75-100% – Siskiyou County – The area surrounding Mt. Shasta between 3,500’ and 4,000’ is at full peak.  Now is the time to get a shot of Mt. Shasta with fall color in the foreground, though it will be declining now, through the weekend and into next week.  Good places to head are lower Castle Lake Road, lower South Fork Road (Forest Road 26), and Pondosa on Hwy 89 east of Mt. Shasta.  Aspen near Pondosa are at peak, though now dropping color.

GO NOW! 50-75% – Shasta County – The area in and around Redding is approaching peak, so we’re issuing our first Go Now Alert for Shasta County.  Bigleaf maple, oaks and riparian brush are nearing peak with lots of yellow, orange, gold, red, and chartreuse in the woods.  Areas along the Sacramento River Trail, at Sundial Bridge, Turtle Bay Exploration Park, and Anderson River Park are brightening up with some areas below 50% and others near peak.   Great fall color is also seen at the Coleman Fish Hatchery and the Battle Creek Wildlife Area, where fall colors and salmon returning to the area can be seen simultaneously.   Drive west on CA-299 for color splashes between Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and Weaverville.

Black Oak, Plumas County (10/23/13) Jeff Titcomb

Black Oak, Plumas County (10/23/13) Jeff Titcomb

GO NOW!  75-100% – Plumas County – Oaks along Highway 89 have been at peak for the past week.  Aspen and dogwood are also peaking, providing for abundant shows of yellow, orange, and red in the forest.  See Jeff Titcomb’s remarkable videos of fall color (posted earlier this week).

30 – 50% – Butte County – Little has changed this week in Butte County. Trees are still showing a variety of colors ranging from greens to reds, with the best places to see fall color remaining as: Bidwell Park, the Hwy 32 corridor, CSU Chico, the Hwy 99 corridor, Manzanita Ave., and Esplanade Ave.  On Oct. 26, Chico holds its 25th Open Art Studios Art Tour. More about it is found at www.chicoartcenter.com

Sacramento River Discovery Center, Red Bluff (10/23/13) Grace Smith

Sacramento River Discovery Center, Red Bluff (10/23/13) Grace Smith

30 – 50% – Tehama County – More color is appearing at lower elevations of Tehama County, though the change is similar to Butte County. There is a considerable amount of yellows, and more oranges and reds appearing among bright greens.  Areas to see the best displays are found at The Sacramento River Discovery Center, Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, and Lassen Volcanic National Park. While the fall color is fiddling around, so will be western fiddlers at the Western Open Fiddle Championship in Red Bluff, Oct. 24 – 26. More about it is found at www.westernopenfiddle.com