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Quincy At Its Best

Quincy Methodist Church (10/23/23) Michael Beatley

The quaint town of Quincy is peaking and according to color spotter Michael Beatley, it is the very best show in many years and you don’t want to miss it.

An historic town with historic color this year, Quincy is “ablaze with color and so very close to peak,” says Beatley. 

“Maples, Sycamores surround the historic Plumas Superior courthouse,” he adds. “Jackson Street has many 19th century homes, lined with maples. Dame Shirley Park next to the courthouse downtown is beautiful, and named after a gold rush lady who wrote the Dame Shirley Letters while living at Rich Bar during the gold rush.”

You don’t want to miss Quincy this year, so GO NOW and enjoy!

Maples and Sycamores in Quincy (10/23/23) Michael Beatley
Dame Shirley Park (10/23/23) Michael Beatley
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Quincy – Peak of the Week

Feather Bed Inn, Quincy (10/22/22) Sharon Jiang

The Plumas County seat of Quincy is one of the prettiest small towns in California and California Fall Color’s Peak of the Week.

Sharon Jiang found Quincy to be a riot of fall color on a visit this past Friday when she drove the scenic Deer Creek Highway (CA-32) from Chico to Plumas County.

At the Elam Campground, Deer Creek is lined with peaking carnelian, honey, burnt-orange and amber Darmera (Indian paintbrush).

On arrival in Quincy, Sharon was greeted by a mix of exotic flowering plum and native cottonwood dressed in carmine and goldenrod. Historic downtown Quincy blends native and exotic trees in a showy display of orange, yellow, red and green tincts.

Quincy and its surrounding fall color spots are prime now and through the coming week. 

  • Elam Campground, Deer Creek, CA 32 (4,380′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Quincy (3,342′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Over The Top

Lobdell Lake Rd (10/8/22) Jeff Simpson

Fall color is over the top at many Mono County locations, including its passes: Monitor, Sonora and Tioga, but don’t delay. Peak has now dropped to between 8,000 and 8,500′.

Drive of the Week is the Sonora Pass to Lobdell Lake and return. Lobdell Lake Rd is the best it’s been seen in recent years. AWD is recommended. Include a sunset visit to the east side of Sonora Pass.

Peak of the Week is Lundy Canyon. Though now Near Peak, it should be fabulously colored in coming days.

Conway Summit (10/11/22) Patrick Griley
McGee Canyon (10/8/22) Jeffrey Lu
June Lake Loop (10/12/22) Jeff Simpson
Bodie Hills (10/7/22) Jeff Simpson
Swager Creek (10/6/22) Jeff Simpson

ROCK CREEK CANYON

  • Upper Rock Creek Road (9,600′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Middle Rock Creek Road (8,500′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Lower Rock Creek Road (7,500′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.

CROWLEY LAKE/MCGEE CREEK, CONVICT LAKE

  • Crowley Community (6,949′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Closer to 50% in town, but brilliant up the hill.
  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – There is a mix of color in McGee Creek Canyon, with Peak at the campground near US 395 and a blend of Peak and Past Peak groves all the way to the top.
  • Convict Lake (7,850′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – It’s perfect at the back left corner of the lake, while still green in some sections. Should be perfect for the coming 10 to 14 days.

JUNE LAKE LOOP

  • June Lake Loop (7,654′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – The June Lake Loop just topped 50% and still has many green areas, plus peaking stands. Colors are best near the June Mountain parking area, Silver Lake and Rush Creek.

BENTON & 120 EAST 

  • Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

LEE VINING / LUNDY

  • Tioga Pass (9,943′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go Now, you almost missed it.
  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Just topped 50% and will continue to improve through the weekend.
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Still green near the campground, but brilliant higher up and around the lake. Lundy is Peak of the Week.

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES / DUNDERBERG / SUMMERS

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Approaching Near Peak.
  • Bodie Hills (9,419′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Last call for the upper elevations.
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go Now, you almost missed it. – This is last call for the Virginia Lakes. There are green areas up the road, but at the lake and beyond, it’s peaking or now past peak.
  • Conway Summit (8,143) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – You’ll see everything at Conway Summit, from deep orange groves to past peak. It’s a gorgeous mix of textures.
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′) PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! –  Peaking colors from the road to the top of the mountain with sections of red and crimson.

LOBDELL / SONORA PASS/ WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ 

  • Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Great groves with color while other sections are still very green. Drive of the Week is Sonora Pass to Lobdell Lake Road.
  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Full peak, but won’t last much longer.
  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! –  The groves just east of the pass are the best seen there in years. 
  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Still not ready. Should be Near Peak in two weeks.
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It Happens Fast

In a day, fall color transitioned from hardly showing to Near Peak above 9,000′ in Bishop Creek Canyon, as these images of the Groves Above Table Mountain (S Fork Bishop Creek) show.

Parchers Resort staffers report rapid change in Bishop Creek Canyon with, “Trees between 8,000 and 9,000′ lightening quickly and yellow starting to show. But it’s gonna be a minute. This includes popular spots like Mist Falls, Groves above Cardinal Village, Aspendell and the groves around Mt. Glen Camp.” At this pace, by the weekend, all areas above 9,000′ should be Near Peak and some Peaking.

CaliforniaFallColor.com Peak of the Week is Lake Sabrina. Drive of the Week is Bishop Creek Canyon.

Color spotter John Pan was at North Lake on Sunday and confirmed conditions to be Patchy.

North Lake, N Fork Bishop Creek (9/25/22) John Pan
South Lake, Fork Bishop Creek (9/27/22) Michelle Pettit
Convict Lake (9/26/22) John Pan

Pan continued north to Mono County and found Patchy color surrounding Convict Lake – a surprise as Convict is usually a late bloomer.

Elsewhere in Mono County, Linda Hennessy reported Just Starting to Patchy color at the Virginia Lakes, road to Bodie and Twin Lakes. But then, that would be normal at Bodie and Twin Lakes at this point in autumn. Expect a more complete Mono County report on Wednesday.

UPDATED ON 9/28

Southern Inyo County

  • Mt Whitney Trail (8,360′ to 14,505”) – Patchy to Peak (10-100%) GO NOW!
  • Whitney Portal (8,375′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Onion Valley (9,600′) – Patchy (10-50%)

South Fork, Bishop Creek Canyon

  • South Lake (9,768′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Weir Pond (9,650′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Willow Campground (9,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Stiny Loop. Mt. Glen Camp (8,850′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Four Jeffries (8,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

Middle Fork, Bishop Creek Canyon

  • Lake Sabrina (9,150′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!  – Peak of the Week
  • Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Aspendell (8,400′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Intake II (8,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

North Fork, Bishop Creek Canyon

  • North Lake (9,225′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • North Lake Rd (9,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Bishop

  • Bishop (4,150′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Owens Valley (4,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
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Mono County – Still Waiting

Quaking aspen, Rock Creek (9/20/22) Patrick Griley

“Still waiting” are the words Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson used to describe this week’s update,  as many favorite fall color destinations in the Eastern Sierra are still green.

He reports “Groves of yellow/green aspens above the 9,500′ foot level that include destinations at Lobdell Lake Road, Bodie Hills, Virginia Lakes and Rock Creek Lake.”

As was reported yesterday from Bishop Creek Canyon in Inyo County to the south, everything above 9,000′ is “not yet” ready to be called Patchy (10 – 50%), and yet one location below 9,000′ is.

Rock Creek (9/21/22) Patrick Griley

Sagehen Summit is the only location in California now classified as Patchy and, as Jeff comments, “it will be the best bet for significant color this weekend.” It is likely to be the first location in California to peak, as an early peak is its normal pattern, despite being only at 8,139′ in elevation. Therefore Sagehen scores the hat trick of Peak of the Week, Hike of the Week and Drive of the Week.

Conway Summit (9/21/22) Patrick Griley

A factor indicating change is the overnight temperature predicted for the coming week. Jeff said it was 32 degrees in Bridgeport on Tuesday morning at dawn, and as seen in Patrick Griley’s photograph, taken on Wednesday, there was a dusting of snow at Mammoth Lakes and surrounding mountain peaks above 10,500′. However, freezing overnight temps only last until Friday. Next week, the overnight lows at Mammoth Lakes will be in the mid to high 30s.

ROCK CREEK CANYON

  • Rock Creek Road (9,600’) –  Just Starting (0-10%) – Lightly tinted with yellow/lime at lake level and higher elevations. The best color will be found on the trails heading to higher elevations. 

CROWLEY / McGEE CREEK / CONVICT LAKE

  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Convict Lake (7850′) –  Just Starting (0-10%)

MAMMOTH LAKES

  • Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

JUNE LAKE LOOP

  • June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

BENTON & 120 EAST 

  • Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Patchy (10-50%) – Presently, this is the best spot in all of California to see fall color. It will approach Near Peak next week, so be prepared to GO NOW! And, why should you go? Use the magnifying glass in the top nav bar and search for “Sagehen Summit.” You will find gorgeous photographs of past peak color there – which doesn’t last long. It is well worth an early trip when at its best.

LEE VINING / LUNDY

  • Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES / DUNDERBERG / SUMMERS

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Bodie Hills (9,419′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Just Starting (0-10%) Decent changes at both Little and Big Virginia Lakes. Please remember to be respectful of your parking locations along the road and don’t block entrances to private residences. Hunting season is also in full swing here and along Dunderberg Meadow/Green Creek/Summers Meadow roads.
  • Conway Summit (8,143) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

LOBDELL / SONORA PASS/ WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ 

  • Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – Just Starting (0-10%) Just starting along the road with the best color being found just below the lake. 
  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
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Triple Crown Fall Color

Plumas County Courthouse, Quincy (10/16/21) Michael Beatley

Plumas County has received the Triple Crown of Fall Color, being designated as Peak of the Week, Hike of the Week and Drive of the Week.

Quincy (10/16/21) Michael Beatley

Peak of the Week – Quincy – The county seat of Plumas County is at its glorious best, right now. Numerous landmark trees, including sugar maples, bigleaf maple and sycamore provide brilliant displays of yellow, gold, orange and red color in downtown Quincy surrounding the Plumas County Courthouse and along nearby streets and parks.

Cascade Trail, Spanish Creek (10/16/21) Michael Beatley

Hike of the Week – Cascade Trail – This trail starts near the town of Keddie and travels beside Spanish Creek which is lined with beautiful Indian Rhubarb (darmera). Their large, fan-shaped leaves are vibrant orange-red at peak and overhang the blue waters of the creek. Cadmium yellow bigleaf maple provide spots of background color in a green forest.

CA-89, Plumas County (10/18/21) Michael Beatley

Drive of the Week – CA-89 from Graeagle to Quincy – A beautiful drive, Highway 89 passes spots of bright yellow aspen and bigleaf maple before reaching Quincy. Beyond Quincy, CA-70 drops through the Feather River Canyon which is part of California’s famed “stairway of power” for the many hydroelectric dams along its length.

  • Quincy (3,342′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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The Triple Crown

Virginia Lakes (9/13/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

It’s rare when a location wins the triple crown of California Fall Color: Peak of the Week, Drive of the Week and Hike of the Week.

Mono County wins all three this week with:

  • Peak of the Week – Virginia Lakes
  • Drive of the Week – Dunderberg Rd.
  • Hike of the Week – Little Lakes Valley

Here’s why they were chosen:

Peak of the Week – Virginia Lakes is consistently one of the first areas in California to peak. At an elevation of 9,819′ it gets the coldest nights, soonest. This year, overnight temperatures have been in the mid 30s, though the high elevation at Virginia Lakes has allowed for the earliest color change. Although Patchy color was reported just a couple of days ago, there, photographs show it to be Near Peak and it’s likely to move to Near Peak this weekend. So, Virginia Lakes gets a GO NOW!

Dunderberg Meadows Rd (9/17/21) Brinn Little

Drive of the Week – Dunderberg Road is an all-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive road near Virginia Lakes. You’ll see beautiful Patchy to Near Peak color along it and since you’re heading to Virginia Lakes, include a ride along Dunderberg Rd.

Upper Rock Creek Rd. (9/19/21) Clayton Peoples

Hike of the Week – The Little Lakes Valley is reached by driving to Rock Creek Lake in Southern Mono County, then hiking to a beautiful valley surrounded by rugged sawtooth mountain peaks and emerging fall color. This hike is well worth a trip to Mono County even when the color isn’t at peak.

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Yosemite is Back

Black oak and cottonwood, Swinging Bridge, Yosemite Valley (11/1/20) Steve Arita

Yosemite National Park reopened to day visitation yesterday and both Steve Arita and Adarsh Dattani were there to record its beauty.

Steve reports the fall colors are beautiful with peak black oak, bigleaf maple and emerging Fremont cottonwood. A few dogwood still carry rosy leaves, though they are the exception.

As is typical of autumn, the Merced River was just a trickle, though rain is expected to fall on Friday. Once it does, it will recharge the waterfalls. Snow is a possibility, which would be beautiful should it drop as low as the valley (4,000′) and frost the gold and orange fall color with white.

Gates of the Valley, Yosemite Valley (11/1/20) Steve Arita

Steve marveled at the alpenglow. When you live in the valley for as many years as I did, you learn to wait for the alpenglow (the refraction of sunset light through the upper atmosphere) to paint El Capitan and Half Dome pink. Sunsets are best enjoyed in Yosemite Valley by facing east, not west, in order to see this effect.

American Black Bear, Yosemite Valley (11/1/20) Adarsh Dattani

American black bear were out foraging in the Valley. They are often active in autumn and more easily seen because shrubbery doesn’t disguise them as much.

Pacific Dogwood, Yosemite National Park (11/1/20) Adarsh Dattani

Dattani found dogwood to be at Peak higher up and just turning red in the Valley (later than usual). Bigleaf maple are now Past Peak. Cottonwood are colored lemon and lime, while the black oak are blushing orange.

Yosemite is a definite GO NOW and could be outrageously beautiful should it snow to valley level on Friday, then clear. As such, a Thursday – Sunday visit is recommended.

Swinging Bridge, Yosemite Valley (11/1/20) Adarsh Dattani

Yosemite National Park is CaliforniaFallColor.com’s Peak of the Week.

  • Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park (4,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Statewide Summary

Courthouse Square, Quincy (10/28/20) Philip Reedy

Now that the skies have cleared of haze almost entirely across the Eastern Sierra, wouldn’t you know it? Fall color is mostly past peak.

There is peak color to be seen along US 395, but it no longer compares with the overwhelming beauty photographed two weeks ago. Now to appreciate autumn’s display, in the Eastern Sierra, you need to be inspired by the contrast of bare limbs beside others laden with deep color.

The best remaining color in Inyo County is found at the bottom of Bishop Creek Canyon, in Pine Creek Canyon where lush stands of black cottonwood are found, in the Round Valley where old cottonwood shade decaying shepherd’s shacks and at the Buckley Ponds near Bishop where soaring trees reflect their golden boughs upon still waters.

North along US 395 in Mono County, Twin Lakes is the last great remaining holdout still to peak fully. The legendary June Lake Loop is now capped with a cerulean sky (wildfire smoke has cleared away), though its long boulevards of aspen are a shattered mix of still-green, peaking gold and brown leaves and, of course, barren branches. Hikers trekking to Lundy Lake still enjoy color at the start of the trail, but as they reach the beaver ponds, it dwindles and a chill breeze alerts them that winter is approaching.

Peak has ended over Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass, Ebbetts Pass, Monitor Pass and Carson Pass. Only Echo Summit, Donner Pass and Yuba Pass have yet to peak fully. The Hope Valley is officially past peak and this is likely the last week of peak at Lake Tahoe. 

Even in Plumas County at the northern end of the Sierra, peak fall color is disappearing. The county’s famous sugar maples are now denuded, their orange leaves spin behind passing cars. Downtown Quincy remains a hold out with big color surrounding the Plumas County Courthouse.

Increasing numbers of Past Peak reports does not mean the show has ended. Peak has just dropped in elevation to between 3,500 and 6,000′, depending on location. Also, different species are now peaking.

Gone are the Pacific aspen. Arriving are the black oak, which display black limbs and deep orange leaves from Halloween into November. Bigleaf maple continue to dazzle with their gigantic gamboge leaves. And soon the vineyards, orchards and foothills will be dressed. While, long, undulating Vs of squawking geese indicate it’s time to head to the rice fields to see crane, heron, egrets, ducks and stilts posturing and preening. 

Throughout Plumas County’s Indian Valley a decided air of final harvest remains as gold and orange dominate. Peak fall color has moved to the northern end of the Sierra and southern Cascades, to embrace Lake Almanor, Susanville and arc through the Shasta Cascade toward the Trinity Alps, Marble Mountains and north coast.

We’ve heard little from color spotters in that part of California. They’ve been dealing with wildfires and Covid closures and only now are sending back photos of plants that had no idea the rest of the world had stopped. While we were focused on fighting fires and a virus, they’ve been turning color.

In Southern California, the exotics in the San Bernardino Mountains (notably Big Bear Lake and Lake Almanor) have been peaking for a week. Aspen are now past peak. Near Peak are black oak. Native trees at Oak Glen are between Patchy and Near Peak, with lots of color and activity among the U-pick orchards and farm stands.

Hike of the Week is a walk through downtown Quincy. CLICK HERE for the route.

Bike of the Week is the Lake Almanor Recreation Trail near Chester. An 18.9-mile lightly trafficked, dog-friendly bike/foot path connects Almanor West with Canyon Dam. The trail has a 830′ gain. This is a pine and fir forest with fall color mostly consisting of willows. Though, good color is found around the lake in Chester, along the south east shore and down CA-89 through the Indian Valley.

Indian Valley, CA-89 (10/19/20) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Peak of the Week and Drive of the Week is the Indian Valley (CA-89) between Quincy and Lake Almanor in Plumas County (northern Sierra). Orange black oak are brightening the route. Visit the Plumas County Courthouse in Quincy to look up into towering fully peaking trees at Courthouse Square.

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June Is Busting Out All Over

Conway Summit (10/19/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

It’s time to break out into song, ’cause June Lake is busting out, and peak color is being seen all over Mono County.

Mono County Tourism’s Jeff Simpson calls it “the week we’ve been waiting for,” and it’s easy to see why. For the next week to ten days the best color left in the Eastern Sierra is putting on a show. That’s why the June Lake Loop has been named CaliforniaFallColor.com’s Peak of the Week and Driving Tour of the Week.

As is seen in Jeff’s and Alicia Vennos’ photographs, weather and smoke vary greatly day by day, hour by hour. One moment it’s crystal clear, the next it’s congested.

Knowing when it’s best outside, is a matter of referring to tools like PurpleAir.com. This app provides an immediate color-coded view of what’s happening where you are and where you plan to go.

Despite the intermittent haze, the entire front country of the Eastern Sierra is open to fall color viewing. It is only wilderness areas in the backcountry of Inyo National Forest that remain closed.

All locations pictured here can be visited, and as is evident – they’re beautiful right now.

Unfortunately, not everyone visiting the outdoors this year has done so responsibly. Yesterday, I posted that Taylor Creek at Lake Tahoe had to be closed because people were jumping fences and trampling the forest in order to take selfies of bear feeding on spawning salmon.

The many fall color spotters I’ve met are responsible and careful about protecting the places we visit. So, we can help keep the forests open for fall color and wildlife viewing by packing out any litter that’s been left behind and encourage others to do the same.

It’s all about practicing Mountain Manners, as they say in Mono County.

Monitor Pass, CA-89 (10/16/20) Jeff Simpson

Walker / Coleville / Topaz

  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – We’ve had Monitor Pass at Peak to Past Peak for a week. It won’t last much longer.
  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – The Antelope Valley should peak within the week. Towering cottonwood rain bright golden leaves on US 395 that swirl as vehicles pass.

Sonora Pass / Lobdell Lake Rd.

  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – The top of the pass is past peak, but Leavitt Meadows is still gorgeous.
  • Lobdell Lake Rd (9,274′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – Most of Lobdell Lake Rd. is now past peak, though those groves that were green when the rest of the road was peaking are now lovely. This is the place to go to be at one with nature and feel what it must have been like for Mark Twain to travel similar dirt roads through the aspen.

Bridgeport / Virginia Lakes

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – It’ll just get better each day over the coming week as Peak arrives.
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Conway Summit (8,143) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Rolling layers of color, lush trees and a horizon that rises to alpine splendor. A broad vista hardly gets better that at Conway Summit, right now. Be cautious when stopping along US 395 to view the color. Find a wide area along the turnout and be cautious before exiting your vehicle. The trees can lose leaves, but we don’t want to lose you.
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Cascading layers of brilliant color are dressing the rolling hillsides of Summer’s Meadow.

Lee Vining

  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! –  As we reported four days ago, Lee Vining Canyon has powered up. Its forest has red, gold, yellow, lime, orange. Drink it all in.
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – If you didn’t hike Lundy Canyon last week, this is the last week to see it it its best. There’s probably a week to ten days of additional peak color there, but don’t delay.

June Lake Loop

  • June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – “
    June Lake Loop is California Fall Color’s Peak of the Week. As the song goes, “June is busting out all over!” It’s just “spectacular” throughout the the June Lake Loop (CA-158). All its classic viewing spots will be perfect for the next week to ten days. GO NOW!

Mammoth Lakes

  • Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – The Mammoth Lakes Basin is past peak, though beautiful color lights up the town of Mammoth Lakes along Snow Creek.

Crowley Lake/ McGee Creek Canyon / Convict Lake

  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Everything up McGee Creek is now at peak, including the campground and pack station. A walk along the creek is a delightful fall color experience.
  • Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – Every fall color viewing location in Mono County is now peaking. Crowley still has a little green, but now more color than not is showing. It’ll stay good for two solid weeks. So if your travels don’t get you to the Eastern Sierra until November, you’ll still find scattered peak color here.
  • Convict Lake (7850′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Convict Lake has just edged past 75%, so it’s got a solid week to ten days of glorious color ringing it.

Rock Creek Canyon

  • Rock Creek Rd (9,600′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, You Almost Missed It. – The upper section of Rock Creek Rd. is past peak, though from midway down to Tom’s Cabin is where you’ll find the best color.
  • Lower Rock Creek Rd. (7,087′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
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