Discovering Gold in the Shasta Cascade

Gold in a gravel bar along the Upper Sacramento River (11/1/14) Cory Poole

If only finding real gold were as easy as finding figurative gold in California. Color spotter Cory Poole posted this photo on his Facebook site of with the comment that he “found some gold in a gravel bar along the Sacramento River. We’re all richer for his discovery.

A train moves through Shasta-Trinity National Forest toward Mt Shasta (11/4/14) Cory Poole

Poole is a find, as well… an extraordinary photographer taking compelling photographs of the Shasta Cascade.  He is a high school physics and math teacher at University Preparatory School in Redding who just also happens to be an exceptional photographer.  We’ve linked to his Facebook page at left.

Presently, the vast Shasta Cascade region of northeast California is near peak, with the last of peak moving north through the northern Sierra into the southern Cascades.

Sacramento River and Hedge Creek (11/4/14) Cory Poole

Shasta county (Near Peak – 50 – 75%) – Riparian areas beside the Sacramento River seen from I-5 and urban forests in Redding and Anderson are at full peak with black oak, cottonwood and willows colored yellow, orange and red. GO NOW!

Plumas County (Peak 75-100%) Plumas County continues at peak. Bigleaf maple are dropping huge yellow leaves in the Indian Valley.  The Road to the Round Valley Reservoir is flanked by trees covered with yellow and orange oak and maple leaves.  Indian Rhubarb are losing their red-orange intensity, though the North Fork of the Feather River is now being drapes with yellow.  You’ll find color along the Arlington Road, near the Hideaway Motel in Quincy, surrounding Greenville and along the Round Valley Road. GO NOW!

Shasta Trinity National Forest (11/1/14) Cory Poole

Tehama County (Near Peak – 50 – 75%) – Tehama is forecast to peak this or next week.  Many of the cottonwoods flanking the Sacramento River are heavy with gorgeous yellow- orange leaves. GO NOW!

Cottonwood, Butte (11/3/14) Brittany Pozek

Butte County (Near Peak – 50 – 75%) –  Downtown Chico, the CSU Chico campus, Paradise, orchards along CA-99 and Bidwell Park are the places to find the most color in Butte County.  A favorite mid-November road trip is to Chico for lunch at the Sierra Nevada Brewery Restaurant (top rate), a tour of the brewery, fall color viewing in Chico and at Bidwell Park, visits to Orient and Flume Art Glass and Chico’s many exceptional art galleries. GO NOW!

Sims Bridge (11/4/14) Cory Poole

Modoc County (Near Peak – 50 – 75%) – The Modoc people called this land at the extreme northeast corner of California, “The Smiles of God,” for its beauty and bounty.  In autumn, Modoc National Forest is where people head to see its fall color and majesty.  The forest is renowned for its western juniper – the largest unbroken expanse in the world, though it also has mountain mahogany, white-barked quaking aspen and purple sage that in autumn provide beautiful color. More than 300 species of wildlife pass through the region including many migratory waterfowl, Rocky Mountain elk, wild horses, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope. Peak is about to occur and should last almost to Thanksgiving Day. GO NOW!

Sims Flat Campground (11/1/14) Cory Poole

Mossbrae Falls (11/4/14) Cory Poole

McCloud Hotel (11/4/14) SCWA

Trinity County (Near Peak – 50 – 75%) – Quite a bit of change has occurred in the past week with the Trinity River now brightly colored with yellow bigleaf maple, chartreuse wild cucumber and orange black oak surrounding Weaverville and along CA-299. GO NOW!

Lassen County (Peak 75 – 100%) – Fall Color has about another week to show in the Susanville area and Bizz Johnson trail, Mountain Meadows Reservoir and northeastern Lake Almanor are exploding with fall color. GO NOW!

Siskiyou County (Peak 75 – 100%) –Siskiyou County peaked last week and is now moving toward past peak. Beautiful color is found in Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta, Weed and McCloud from both native and exotic trees.  GO NOW!

Lenticular clouds over Mt Shasta (11/4/14) Cory Poole