Color spotter Jeff Titcomb has been exploring many beautiful spots in Plumas County in the past week where the colors are going off. Put the following areas on your GO NOW list: Indian Valley, Genesee, Round Valley and Almanor.
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!
Color spotter Jennifer Natale took a drive last weekend on Hwy 88 over to Kirkwood. She stopped at the Hope Valley Red Barn, hiked Big Meadow to Scott’s Lake and then headed to South Tahoe.
She found some nice color along the Kirkwood overlooks and at Sugar Pine Point Park. There was also lots of color at Fallen Leaf Lake and Taylor Creek in South Lake Tahoe that was at or near peak.
Get to all of these areas soon as the color won’t be there for long.
Color spotter Michael Beatley got out last Friday morning and hiked the Cascades Trail. It is 5 miles west of Quincy via Hwy 70 to Old Hwy. According to Beatley, it may be the most beautiful trail in the Quincy area, and after looking at his photos, we couldn’t agree more.
Running above Spanish Creek for 3 miles from Old Hwy. to Barlow Road, the historic trail is lined with Big Leaf maples, dogwood, alder, and Darmera.
“It is so very beautiful at 100% for the maples and 50% for the Darmera,” Beatley said. “Time to go is now within the next few days.
The fall color is all lit up along the trail to Paradise Meadow in Lassen Volcanic National Park, according to color spotter and Park Guide, Shanda Ochs.
Ochs got out on a beautiful fall color hike on Oct. 18 to Paradise Meadow where all foliage was at peak.
Color spotter Jeff Titcomb has been religiously documenting the Mountain maple trees at the Quincy Airport this season. Per the usual, the tree on the right side of the photo is progressing quicker than the tree to the left.
Over the years, between color spotters and californiafallcolor.com Founder John Poimiroo, it was determined that the tree on the right is receiving more light and therefore changing more quickly.
An article by Brent Cook, titled How a Tree Grows, explains, “If you’ve ever seen a tree that has green leaves on one side and red, orange, or yellow leaves on the other, it was probably a result of different amounts of sunlight. In the northern hemisphere, leaves that are on the southwest side of a tree will receive much more sunlight than leaves on the opposite side. Leaves near the top of a tree will also receive more sunlight than leaves at the bottom of the canopy. Consequently, phytochrome (photoreceptors) will trigger abscission (fall color) sooner in leaves getting more sunlight.”
While it seems a bit counterintuitive, it sure makes for interesting fall photos.
In Plumas County, the foliage is at about 80% on Hwy 36 toward Lassen and off of Highway 32 it is about 75%.
Color spotter Jeff Titcomb reports that things are still looking good on La Porte Road in Quincy and in Quincy, itself.
There are yellow big leaf maples, ornamental maples, and pretty lilac leaves. The oaks are just starting, the rhubarb is still green and the aspens are almost done.
Color spotter Michael Beatley sent in the following from Quincy on Oct. 14, 2023.
Photos from “this morning in downtown Quincy the maples and sycamores around the historic courthouse and Jackson Street, which runs parallel to Main St. Colors are at 80%. Peaking within a few days.”
On Oct. 12 Beatley also reported from Spanish Creek, which runs from above Meadow Valley, through Quincy to the North Fork of the Feather River, to the Sacramento River and on.
“It is a beautiful waterway, lined with Darmera, and aspens, willows, black oak, big leaf maples. The color is variable depending on elevation. Oakland Camp where these [photos] were taken is at 3500′ and at 60%.”
Another confirmation that this weekend is THE time to go see fall color in various areas around the state!
Color spotter Phil Reedy sent in the following:
Earlier this week, color spotter Peter Robbins took the drive from the west side of the Sierra up route 50 toward the Lake Tahoe Basin, crossing over to Hope Valley, then down US 395, spotting color all along the way. Robbins stated that none of the areas he drove through will disappoint, which is why it’s this week’s “Drive of the Week.”
Following details reported by Robbins:
First stop to fuel the voyage was my favorite coffee shop in South Lake Tahoe, Cuppa Joe, and their parking lot/seating area showed the promise of what was to come.
There is a nice stand of aspens across from the golf course between Lake Tahoe and Meyers.
