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Retreat to Idyllwild

Black oak, Ernie Maxwell Trail (11/4/19) Mark Hanning-Lee

Idyllwild has long been a favorite Southern California retreat.

The San Jacinto mountain town is surrounded by scenic terrain that invites hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and awe.

  • Black oak, Ernie Maxwell Trail (11/4/19) Mark Hanning-Lee
  • Black oak, Ernie Maxwell Trail (11/4/19) Mark Hanning-Lee

Mark Hanning-Lee hiked the Ernie Maxwell Trail and explored the area last week, showing black oak, manzanita and Frémont cottonwood at peak. By now, the areas he photographed with an iPhone X are at the end of peak with lower elevations (Lake Hemet) and northwest-facing areas now peaking.

Mark parked at the Humber Peak trailhead and walked south along the Ernie Maxwell trail. He recommends an afternoon hike, as it is lit from mid afternoon to sunset.

  • Lake Fulmor, CA-243 (11/5/19) Mark Hanning-Lee
  • Stone Creek, CA-243 (11/5/19) Mark Hanning-Lee
  • Frémont cottonwood, Idyllwild (11/5/19) Mark Hanning-Lee

In town, a spindly Frémont cottonwood by the Town Crier office was still full of golden leaves. He then continued north 10 miles on State Route 243 to find Near Peak color along Stone Creek and Lake Fulmor.

  • Idyllwild (5,413′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
  • Lake Hemet (4,340′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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It’s Nuts Along The Midway

Walnut orchard, Midway Rd. (11/10/19) Robert Kermen

Walnut orchards are carrying Near Peak to Peak color along Midway Rd. between Durham and Chico.

Chinese pistache, Midway Rd. (11/10/19) Robert Kermen

For those who can get there, the coming week and a half will be beautiful in the Chico area. Best bets: Midway Rd., Chico Seed Orchard, Downtown Chico, the Esplanade (Chico’s famous boulevard), Chico State University campus and Bidwell Park drainages.

  • Walnut orchard, Midway Rd. (11/10/19) Robert Kermen
  • Walnut orchard, Midway Rd. (11/10/19) Robert Kermen
  • Chinese pistache, Bidwell Park, Chico (11/11/19) Robert Kermen
  • Chico (197′) – Near Peak to Peak (50-100%) GO NOW!
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Backroad Soliloquy

Newtown Rd., Placerville (11/9/19) John Poimiroo

California’s mid-19th-century gold rush towns are links in a golden chain of backroads that wind through the fabled Mother Lode. I explored a few of them today, in search of fall color and impressions.

The byways rise, twist and drop alongside creeks and rivers that spill out of the western Sierra. The drainages are presently gilded with yellow bigleaf maple, orange black oak and golden black locust.

My Saturday drive traveled through Placerville, whose surrounding hills are dotted with deep orange black oak, then traveled south to Pleasant Valley by way of Newtown Rd. The South Fork of Weber Creek hugs Newtown Rd. and is backlit with dazzling clusters of yellow maples and orange oaks.

From the junction of Newtown Rd. west toward Diamond Springs on Pleasant Valley Rd, the twisted limbs of venerable valley and black oak overhang the road, enveloping it and creating a boulevard of deformed branches heavy with color. Large orange and yellow leaves tumble from the canopy in a gentle fall to eventually chase passing vehicles.

At Pleasant Valley’s wineries (Narrow Gate, Holly’s Hill, Sierra Vista, Miraflores and others), tasters swirl glasses of ruby Syrah and repeat a common soliloquy of how warm and dry this autumn is.

  • Newtown Rd., Placerville(2,447′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
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Danville’s Urban Forest

Downtown Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd

Danville loves its trees. The East Bay town’s symbol is its 350-year-old Danville Oak.

Each year in November, the Town gathers on Diablo Road at the base of the tree to celebrate the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The ceremony is a festive evening that includes a visit from Father Christmas and the Snow Angel escorted by local high school bands.

Through the years, the Danville oak has provided support for signs announcing a special birthday or anniversary for a Town citizen.

  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd
  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd
  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd
  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd
  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd
  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd
  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd
  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd
  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd
  • Danville (11/9/19) Ryan Boyd

The Danville Oak isn’t the only tree celebrated. The entire village of Danville is forested with landmark trees that for the next two weeks – as Ryan Boyd’s photos show – will provide peak color.

Danville’s annual tree lighting ceremony occurs on Friday, Nov. 29.

  • Danville (358′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
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Freeman’s Maple on Fire

Freeman’s maple, LA County Arboretum (11/8./19) Frank McDonough

Freeman’s maple, Acer fremanii, is on fire at the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia, reports Frank McDonough.

Known as Jeffersred (cultivar) or Autumn Blaze (trade name), this fast-growing hybrid maple was crossed between red maple, Acer rubrum (midwest), and silver maple, Acer saccharinum (Eastern).

It’s a popular choice in urban forests across California due to its dense crown, attractive shape and red-orange autumn leaves.

  • American elm, LA County Arboretum (11/8/19) Frank McDonough
  • Tupelo tree, LA County Arboretum (11/8/19) Frank McDonough
  • Black locust and Eastern redbud, LA County Arboretum (11/8/19) Frank McDonough
  • Freeman’s maple, LA County Arboretum (11/8/19) Frank McDonough
  • LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Arcadia (482′) – Patchy (10-50%)
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Ripe as an Apple

Bargain apples, Boa Vista, Apple Hill (11/8/19) John Poimiroo

Apple Hill is as ripe for fall color as its apples are for picking.

  • Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
  • Bosc Pears, Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
  • Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
  • Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
  • Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
  • Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
  • Chestnuts, Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
  • Pony Express Pony Rides, Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
  • Apple Tree, Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo

A visit to Camino in El Dorado County was stuffed full of tasty images, as delicious as one of their apple pies or wines.

Zinfandel, Boeger Winery, Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
Zinfandel vines, Boeger Winery, Apple Hill, Camino (11/8/19) John Poimiroo
  • Apple Hill, Camino ( ) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
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Classic Camping

Classic Shasta Trailer, Lake Hemet, (11/8/19) Chance Gordon

An Indian Summer is extending the camping and fall color seasons in the San Jacinto Mountains where, at Lake Hemet, the days have been warm, the nights cool, and classic trailers even cooler.

Jeff Brown reports from Lake Hemet Campgrounds that wildlife viewing (bald eagles), fishing (rainbow trout) and fall color spotting (cottonwood, black oak) are at their peak in mid November.

  • Lake Hemet – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Napa’s Vintage

  • Vineyard, Napa Valley (11/7/19) Charles Hooker
  • Vineyard, Napa Valley (11/7/19) Charles Hooker
  • Vineyard, Napa Valley (11/7/19) Charles Hooker
  • Gingko biloba, Far Niente Winery (11/7/19) Charles Hooker
  • Gingko biloba, Far Niente Winery (11/7/19) Charles Hooker
  • Gingko biloba, Far Niente Winery (11/7/19) Charles Hooker
  • Gingko biloba, Far Niente Winery (11/7/19) Charles Hooker
  • Valley oak and Gingko biloba, Far Niente Winery (11/7/19) Charles Hooker
  • Gingko biloba, Far Niente Winery (11/7/19) Charles Hooker

Clear blue skies and vintage autumn color are being seen throughout the Napa Valley, making it Peak of the Week.

Gone are the hazy days delivered by October’s Kincade Fire, as wine country has been transformed back into a beautiful drive, bike ride or stroll.

Charles Hooker of Napa was out for a bike ride today and passed by the boulevard of Gingko trees leading to the Far Niente Winery in Oakville, sending back these camera phone snaps of that gorgeous road.

Thanks for sharing, Charles, it gives me one more reason to go wine tasting and return to the beauty of the Napa Valley.

  • Napa Valley (20′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Dried Grapes

  • California Wild Grape, Cameron Park (11/5/19) John Poimiroo
  • California Wild Grape, Cameron Park (11/2/18) John Poimiroo

California wild grape, Vitis californica, were at peak a year ago this week. So, as I passed through Cameron Park, I stopped, expecting to find them full of color.

They were, but not as I’d have preferred to see them.

So, I continued east on US 50, the Lincoln Highway (America’s first transcontinental highway) to Placerville, the El Dorado county seat.

As I climbed the west slope of the Sierra toward Placerville, clumps of orange black oak and golden Fremont cottonwood glowed from surrounding woods.

Placerville is at peak with the oaks particularly good in the midday sun.

  • Placerville (1,867′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • California Wild Grape, Cameron Park (1,198′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT.
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Lake Arrowhead – Not? Hot!

Rabbitbrush and black oak, Lake Arrowhead (11/5/19) Alena Nicholas

Lake Arrowhead is defying expectations. By now, it was supposed to be not. Instead, it’s still hot.

Lake Arrowhead (11/5/19) Alena Nicholas

Black oak are still carrying deep orange color in the San Bernardino Mountains surrounding Lake Arrowhead and Lake Gregory, as seen in these snaps sent in by Alena Nicholas.

  • Lake Arrowhead (5,174′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
  • Lake Gregory (4,554′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
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