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Aspen and Maple Peak in San Bernardino Mtns

Green Valley Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Green Valley Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Alena Nicholas spent the weekend exploring the San Bernardino Mountains for fall color and finding it at Green Valley Lake and Big Bear.

Green Valley Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Green Valley Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Green Valley Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Green Valley Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Most of the beautiful green, yellow and red color is provided by aspen and maple.

Green Valley Lake is often overlooked, though she writes, it’s “a wonderful, quiet, little lake enjoyed mainly by local mountain residents.”

Big Bear Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Big Bear Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Big Bear is Southern California’s most-visited mountain destination, though it is often overlooked in autumn. That’s a shame, as October days are among the most beautiful to be enjoyed in the San Bernardino Mountains. Alena found many anglers, hikers and mountain bikers enjoying autumn weather.

The maple and aspen color should hold for another week or two, then the oaks will turn orange, just in time for Halloween.

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Green Valley Lake – Aspen and maple are peaking, though what few black oak are there have a way to go.

Near Peak GO NOW! (50-75%) Big Bear Lake – Color can be found along the lake, its roads and trails and in town.

Patchy (10-50%) – Lake Arrowhead and Lake Gregory – Still on the low end of the scale, these mountain lakes will approach peak in two weeks.

 

Big Bear Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Big Bear Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Green Valley Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

Green Valley Lake (10/10/15) Alena Nicholas

 

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There’s Still Hope

Cabin, Hope Valley (10/10/15) Elliot McGucken

Cabin, Hope Valley (10/10/15) Elliot McGucken

Even when you think the color has peaked, when most of the trees have lost their color, a photographer like Elliot McGucken sends an image that teaches you, again, that there’s still hope.

Such is the case with this image of a cabin in the Hope Valley, near Sorensen’s Resort (Hwy 88). Though it does not have the spectacular splash of yellow many fall color photographers would want for their ultimate image of autumn in the High Sierra, it is layered with emotion and texture.

This photograph is near perfection, even though the forest was far from it.

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First Report: Marlette Lake, Tahoe

Marlette Mirror, Marlette Lake, NV (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Marlette Mirror, Marlette Lake, NV (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Color spotter Dotty Molt scores a rare First Report by taking the trail to Marlette Lake near Lake Tahoe.

Marlette Lake, North Canyon Road (10/9/15) Dotty Molt (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Marlette Lake, North Canyon Road (10/9/15) Dotty Molt (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Marlette Lake (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Marlette Lake (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

She writes, “People seem to forget that we have fall color around Lake Tahoe.

“Marlette Lake can only be reached by hiking or mountain biking back 4.5 miles from Spooner Lake.

“It’s a moderate uphill, but a quick downhill, especially on a bike.

“Aspen line the trail all the way back to the Lake, and Marlette has beautiful stands of Aspen on the Southwestern shoreline.

“Beautiful colors are seen around 9 a.m. when the sun peeks over the ridge, illuminating the Aspen from behind.”

Dotty makes an important point… Consider the orientation of the fall color on the landscape in relationship to light.

That is: will it be best viewed in morning or afternoon? Will it be backlit or front lit? How have you set your camera for depth of field, motion or sharpness? Is there something to make the image extraordinary, such as a compositional element that would enhance the image (Dotty’s awareness of the sun star and mirror effect)? Finally, what post production work may be necessary to duplicate what you are seeing and feeling?

Peak GO NOW! – Marlette Lake

Autumn Abstract, Marlette Lake (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Autumn Abstract, Marlette Lake (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Marlette Lake, North Canyon Rd (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Marlette Lake, North Canyon Rd (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Sunstar, Marlette Lake (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

Sunstar, Marlette Lake (10/9/15) Dotty Molt

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Conway/Twin Lakes Update

Conway Summit (10/9/15 Clayton Peoples

Conway Summit (10/9/15 Clayton Peoples

Color spotter Clayton Peoples took a quick road trip into northern Mono County and came away with this report and photos of Conway Summit and the Twin Lakes area.

Twin Laked (10/9/15) Clayton Peoples

Twin Laked (10/9/15) Clayton Peoples

Patchy (10-50%) – Conway Summit – Though still “patchy,” this pass along U.S. 395 “is definitely nearing the 50% mark. Another week will likely bring it to “near peak” or “peak” conditions.”

Patchy (10-50%) Twin Lakes – Tucked beneath a Sierra escarpment at the southwest corner of the Bridgeport Valley, these lakes are much like Conway Summit, “but near 50%, with peak likely pretty soon.”

Near Peak GO NOW! (50-75%) – Convict Canyon – Color spotter Alicia Vennos adds, “The colors from the lower section of the canyon up through the campground have increased in intensity. The foliage along the lake has definitely begun to develop more color but there are still areas that haven’t turned. The change seems to be taking a little more time this year and it is difficult to predict the pace. The foliage throughout the canyon seems to be changing at different rates. One section may be bright yellow and adjacent to it are pockets of green. Even with the unpredictably, the peak should be just around the corner. The colors we have now are still amazing and a walk along the new path on the South Shore is recommended.”

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Where’s The Color?

Remembering Lake Sabrina at Peak (10/1/14) Jared Smith

Remembering Lake Sabrina at Peak (10/1/14) Jared Smith

CaliforniaFallColor.com has been posting reports since 2009.

To date, hundreds of reports from photographers, local tourism officials, leaf peepers and others who just love beauty and nature have been received.  With so many reports under our belt, we figured they might be useful in showing where most of the fall color has been seen in California. Using the state’s tourism regions as guide, here’s the ranking:

  1. High Sierra – 44%
  2. Shasta Cascade – 15%
  3. Inland Empire – 9%
  4. Los Angeles County – 7%
  5. Gold Country – 6%
  6. San Francisco Bay Area – 6%
  7. North Coast – 4%
  8. San Diego County – 3%
  9. Central Valley – 2%
  10. Central Coast – 2%
  11. The Deserts – 1%
  12. Orange County – 1/2 of 1%
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Bishop Canyon – Snow Chills Fall Color High Up

North Lake (10/6/15) Erick Castellon

North Lake (10/6/15) Erick Castellon

An early, though brief winter storm that dropped snow high up in the Eastern Sierra this past Sunday damaged and reduced what color was remaining above 9000′ in Bishop Creek Canyon.  There’s still a lot of beautiful color to be seen, but it has descended.

Overall Conditions Above 8400ft Elevation – Peaking – Go Now! – The upper reaches of Bishop Creek Canyon have now gone past peak, though they flamed out in brilliant splashes of red.  Lots of yellow and some lime is found between 8,400 and 8,600′.

Overall Conditions Between 7500ft & 8400ft Elevation – Patchy (10% – 50%) – A lot more color has developed at these elevations, though many of the groves had already been stripped of leaves.  Still, large areas of lush foliage will continue to show nicely in the coming two weeks.

North Lake (10/3/15) Jeff Hemming

North Lake (10/3/15) Jeff Hemming

Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT! – Sabrina Campground to Sabrina Dam (9000ft).

Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT! – Willow Campground (9000ft) .

Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT! – North Lake (9255ft) .

Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT! – Weir Pond (9650ft).

Past Peak– YOU MISSED IT! – Parchers Resort (9260ft)

Past Peak– YOU MISSED IT! – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft) .

Past Peak– YOU MISSED IT! – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft) .

Lake Sabrina (10/6/15) Aditi Das

Lake Sabrina (10/6/15) Aditi Das

Past Peak– YOU MISSED IT! – Lake Sabrina (9150ft).

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Stiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8600ft) – It is as good as it will get this year at Stiny.  It’s peak, but we’re being generous in that rating.  This area lost a lot of leaves earlier in autumn.

Near Peak GO NOW! (50-75%) – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft) – Yellow and some green are surrounding the waterfall and in the groves between there at Mt. Glen Campground. As predicted, this is probably the best color to be seen up Bishop Creek Canyon and it has another week to show.

Near Peak GO NOW! (50-75%) – Aspendell (8400ft) – Much better color has developed here in the past week.  Some spotters classified it as peaking.

Peak GO NOW! Groves at Cardinal Village – While aspen from Cardinal Pinnacle down have blown, aspen down the creek from the  North Lake turnoff winding down the canyon past the mine towards Cardinal Village are full of yellow.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Four Jeffries (8000ft) – The aspen here continue to lighten.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Intake II (8000ft) – The canyon wall is mostly stripped now but there are some very nice patches near the dam, and a couple of the large aspen along the shoreline are yellow.

Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Big Trees Campground (7800ft) – Yellow is beginning to appear.

 

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Color of the Week: Red

Pacific Aspen, North Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

Pacific Aspen, North Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

The color of the week has been red, particularly at North Lake in Bishop Creek Canyon where Pacific Aspen have turned crimson.

North Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

North Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

South Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

South Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

South Fork Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

South Fork Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

North Lake (10/6/15) Erick Castellon

North Lake (10/6/15) Erick Castellon

North Lake (9/25/15) Julie Kirby

North Lake (9/25/15) Julie Kirby

This deep a tone of red has surprised many who thought aspen turned only yellow. Colorado’s famous mountain slopes flickering with yellow aspen are a trademark of autumn in the Rocky Mountains.  However, aspen that grow in the high alpine canyons of the eastern Sierra Nevada have the ideal combination of warm, sunny days and cold, cold nights to bring out red, orange and pink, as well as yellow and lime.

We post, today, a selection of great photos taken in past days by a selection of color spotters. Bravo for finding the color and sharing your vision with us.

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First Report: Ebbetts Pass

Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kofala

Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kolafa

I can’t recall when we’ve received a report on the fall color at Ebbett’s Pass, but today we correct that with one from color spotter Kimberly Kolafa.

Kimberly apologized for not having sent photos until this week, as she was in Maine backpacking amidst fall color “that never happened!” Un, huh, and…

Well, we have our own dismal story here, as most observers are noting that the drought has “really impacted leaf peeping,” so we quoteth Ms.Kolafa.

The drought is making it very difficult to rate an area, as aspen (such is the case with Carson Pass) may be stripped, while willows and ground shrubs are still Patchy but developing beautiful color.

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. — Henry David Thoreau

If you’re driving this route, look for interesting subjects to contrast what color is there, as Kimberly did, while turning rotten apples into sweet-tasting apple cider (couldn’t pass up the autumnal metaphor).

Chalmer's Mansion, Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kofala

Chalmer’s Mansion, Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kolafa

She found the Chalmers Mansion and Cemetery, edged with bright color and came away with this story to complement her image.

Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kofala

Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kolafa

Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kofala

Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kolafa

Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kofala

Ebbetts Pass (10/4/15) Kimberly Kofala

Lewis Chalmers was superintendent of a mine in the Silver Mountain mining district (1870s – ’80s).  He and his brother had emigrated from Scotland; he returned to Britain in 1885 to raise funds for his mining operations and died there in 1904. Several of his family are buried near the mansion.

Photos like Kimberly’s shot of Chalmer’s Mansion could make up for the lack of color, in some locations, this autumn.

Editor’s Note: Please read the following comment about Hwy 4. This beautiful and historic route could use a little TLC, right now.  As, recent events (the Butte Fire, in particular) hurt the local economy and folks who live along the route would welcome seeing photographers, leaf peepers and all who appreciate beautiful places visit their communities and spread the word that the beauty and history are still there.  Favorites of ours are Ironstone Vineyards (Japanese maples in autumn, daffodils in springtime) in Murphy’s and Calaveras Big Trees State Park up the highway, where dogwood are getting good.  Bonnie Nordby suggests a particularly photogenic location. Our arms reach out to Brad Nordby’s family which lost their home during the fire.  Autumn is a reminder that what is lost always returns.

Patchy (10-50%) Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4) Shrubs – Grasses are yellow with green undergrowth and shrubs are yellow to maroon red along Silver Creek.

Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Ebbetts Pass Trees – Like Carson Pass and the Hope Valley, most of the aspen have lost their leaves, though again similar to these areas, there are patches of aspen and cottonwood that remain green or are changing to lime and yellow.

Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Monitor Pass.

Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Taylor Creek, South Lake Tahoe – Aspen are past peak, but there’s hope for a good salmon run, as the creek appears to be running better than past years.

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Here Comes The Sun! – Mono County Shines

Parker Lake (10/3/15) Alicia Vennos

Parker Lake (10/3/15) Alicia Vennos

Color spotter Alicia Vennos reports the Eastern Sierra was blessed with a full day and a half of rain and snow at higher elevations this past Sunday.  That made fall colors stand out even more beautifully in the bright sunlight that has come out, since.

Rock Creek Lake (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

The most significant color to be seen in Mono County is at 9,000′, where we issue a GO NOW! alert for Rock Creek.  Alicia writes that it’s gorgeous and peaking from East Fork up to Rock Creek Lake.

This is the perfect weekend to make the drive, considering that this is the last weekend Pie in the Sky Cafe will be open.  Get there early, as they almost always sell out before noon.

Rock Creek Lake Campground (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake Campground (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake Campground (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake Campground (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake Campground (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake Campground (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Rock Creek Lake (10/4/15) Alicia Vennos

Silver Lake (9/30/15) Alena Nicholas

Silver Lake (9/30/15) Alena Nicholas

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Rock Creek – Rock Creek Road from East Fork to Rock Creek Lake. Color is now flooding this section of Rock Creek. Look out for motorists who are in awe, and always check rear-view mirror before pulling over or slowing down suddenly. From East Fork down to Tom’s Place, the aspens are still green in many sections, and Lower Rock Creek Road and the trail — popular with mountain bikers, hikers and anglers — is also yet to pop.

Patchy (10-50%) – McGee Creek – Aspen around McGee Creek Campground and McGee Creek Pack Station are just starting to turn color.  Hike up the trail for a mile or two and the aspen are bright yellow, orange and red.

Patchy (10-50%) – Convict Canyon – The colors from the lower section of the canyon up through the campground have increased slightly in intensity. The foliage along the lake has definitely begun to develop more color but there are still areas that haven’t turned. The change seems to be taking a little more time this year and it is difficult to predict the pace. The foliage throughout the canyon seems to be changing at different rates. One section may be bright yellow and adjacent to it are pockets of green. Even with the unpredictability, the peak should be just around the corner. The colors there now are still amazing and a walk along the NEW PATH on the south shore is recommended.

Lower Twin, Mammoth Lakes (10/7/15) Jen Heger

Lower Twin, Mammoth Lakes (10/7/15) Jen Heger

Patchy (10-50%) – Mammoth Lakes – The lakes basin continues to brighten.

Patchy (10-50%) – June Lake Loop/Hwy. 158 – The Loop is taking its sweet time this year — or maybe it just seems that way, because our readers can hardly wait. Most of the aspens are just beginning to hint at the awesome color that is yet to come.  Around the Fire Station down canyon, the trees are beginning to move towards yellow-orange.  Even Parker Lake , off the north end of the Loop, seems slow to move to peak. We thought that last weekend it would be pretty close to prime but on Saturday, it still had more hues of lime-green and gold than orange.  It is a gorgeous 4-mile hike round trip with stunning views of Mono Lake and the color will have picked up a bit the last few days so still a good bet. Try and get to the lake itself before 9:00 am if possible as you will almost be guaranteed a spectacular reflection of the mountains on the surface of the water — unless it’s a windy morning, of course.  For those who are fit and enjoy a longer, steeper hike, try Bloody Canyon out of Walker Lake. The trees at the lake level have yet to really start turning but a couple of miles up the trail, you’ll find some exceptional color.  The June Lake Autumn Beer Festival is this Saturday, Oct. 10 at Gull Lake Park.

Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Sage Hen Meadow Road.

Patchy (10-50%) – Lee Vining Canyon – Tioga Pass Road has awesome views of Lee Vining Canyon and the aspens look like they are still a couple of weeks from peaking.  Log Cabin Road area is starting to shine.

Lundy Canyon (10/4/15) Dotty Molt

Lundy Canyon (10/4/15) Dotty Molt

Lundy Canyon (10/4/15) Dotty Molt

Lundy Canyon (10/4/15) Dotty Molt

Patchy (10-50%) – Lundy Canyon – The thick aspen stands that line the road are still just beginning their autumn wardrobe change! Along the Lundy Canyon trailhead, the color is heating up a bit around the waterfall viewpoint, although still another week or more from peak.

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Twin Lakes – The higher elevations have been peaking over the last week in the areas around Barney Lake and Horsetail Falls. Expect to see greens, lime greens and some yellows around Upper and Lower Twin Lakes and Robinson Creek. The next two weekends should be spectacular here. Color spotter Jen Heger adds, “Aspen have many shades of yellow, light orange with patches of green.  Trees still have all their leaves… Just breathtaking and not many people around!”

Virgina Lakes Road (10/4/15) Dotty Molt

Virgina Lakes Road (10/4/15) Dotty Molt

Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Virginia Lakes

Dunderberg Meadow (10/6/15) Philip Reedy

Dunderberg Meadow (10/6/15) Philip Reedy

Dunderberg Meadow (10/6/15) Philp Reedy

Dunderberg Meadow (10/6/15) Philp Reedy

Patchy (10-50%) – Conway Summit – Conway summit is also brightening substantially, making for really pretty photos right from the pull-outs on US 395. Always use caution when pulling over, of course. Bridgeport’s Ducks Unlimited Dinner is October 17 which should be perfect timing for peak color if you are hungry for a delicious dinner and a ton of great raffle prizes!

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Green Creek – Colors are at peak and are past peak in other places. The recent storm last Sunday blew off many leaves before reaching full color. We recommend starting at Summers Meadow and working your way up to Green Creek.

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Summers Meadow – Go Now! Summers Meadow off Green Creek Road will be perfect over the next week. Some leaves at the upper elevation may be past peak but there is still plenty of photo opportunities along Lower Summers Meadow Road.

WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Monitor Pass – Go Now Colors have peaked at the top of Monitor Pass but as you progress down the mountain expect to see more color.

Patchy (10-50%)  Walker Canyon – The colors along the West Walker River are starting to glow in certain sections.

Patchy (10-50%)  Towns of Walker & Coleville – Still mostly green and traditionally is one of the last destinations to turn throughout the Eastern Sierra. Plan your trip for the last weekend in October.

SONORA PASS

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Sonora Pass/Leavitt Meadows – Leavitt Meadows is starting to turn gold, as are some of the aspens as you drive up Sonora Pass. The Leavitt Meadows Pack Station is open until mid-October for anyone wanting to take a ride by horseback to see the color!

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Dogwood Days in the Shasta Cascade

Dogwood Drupe, Coffee Creek Rd, N. Trinity Lake (10/5/15) Jeri Rangel

Dogwood Drupe, Coffee Creek Rd, N. Trinity Lake (10/5/15) Jeri Rangel

These are dogwood days in the Shasta Cascade as this photo of Dogwood drupes, taken by Jeri Rangel, attests.

The dogwood are now laden with their brightly colored drupes, which are the flower of the dogwood tree.

In springtime, the white blossoms, commonly thought to be the tree’s flower, are actually the flower’s leaves, called bracts.  They surround the actual yellow/green colored flower.

In autumn, the drupe turns black, orange and vibrant red as seen in Jeri’s photo.  In this picture, the dogwood tree’s leaves have not yet turned color, though they will transition from green to shades of pink, orange and rose.

Resting Buck, Plumas County (10/4/15) Jeff Titcomb

Resting Buck, Plumas County (10/4/15) Jeff Titcomb

Elms and Aspen, Antelope Lake (10/4/15) Jeff Titcomb

Elms, Antelope Lake (10/4/15) Jeff Titcomb

Aspen, Plumas County (10o/4/15)

Aspen, Antelope Lake (10/4/15)

As is being reported from other corners of California, a fourth year of drought is having its effect on Plumas County’s trees. Bigleaf maple, cottonwood, willow and black oak should be moving from patchy to near peak right now, though little of that is happening. In fact, the maples and cottonwood have shed most of their leaves, with very few left on the trees to turn.  Those that are, have disappointing color.

There is hope for the willows and black oak, however, as they appear healthy and are rated as Patchy.

Though the report indicates parts of this prime color area are Past Peak, it’s still too early to declare that.  Considering that color spotters in Quincy are reporting that 25% of the trees are turning, as usual, we’ll wait a week or two more.

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Antelope Lake, Plumas County – Aspen and elms surrounding Antelope Lake are at full peak.  Color spotter Jeff Titcomb found a buck resting in the grass near Greenville.  He said it little noticed him, while enjoying a break out in the open, during the middle of hunting season.  Brave buck.

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