California Fall Color

Dude, autumn happens here, too.

Color spotter Richard McCutcheon sends a link showing how this past week’s series of  storms stripped Plumas County’s Indian Valley of color and flooded fields and roads.  A phenomenon called an “atmospheric river” carried three tropical storms from Hawaii to California, deluging the north state.  McCutcheon reports his area was without power for nearly 39 hours.  To see more of his photos, CLICK HERE.

Past Peak – Plumas County - Recent storms have washed away what remaining color was on trees.

Location: Emigrant Gap, Blue Canyon Nyack Airport
Temperature: 44.6 °F
Humidity: 24%
Dew point: 12.2 °F
Wind speed: 5km/hr
Wind direction: 200°
Cloud cover: overcast

A cold winter storm is passing in waves through Northern California, bringing colder temperatures, rain, snow and, most distressingly, wind.

General Update: The storm is affecting fall color in the Sierra and Gold Country, as seen in this photo at left sent from Greenville (Plumas County) by Jeff Luke Titcomb.  Trees that were full of fall color (see photo above) are now covered with snow in the Northern Sierra.  About 15% of leaves that had changed color were blown off branches, causing a colorful shower to be carried away in swirling chaos.  Still, a lot of color remains, particularly among leaves that were still short of peak.

Leaves that are still green or lime, even many that have just turned yellow, will stay hanging from branches, unless the winds blow above 15 mph.  From forecasts seen so far, it appears trees below 4,000 in elevation will be mostly spared the brunt of the storm, though those above that elevation are likely to be rain and snow damaged and – in places where wind is high, stripped from branches.

Pick of the Week is Yosemite Valley, where the color is peaking with color yet to develop on some Pacific dogwood and black oak.

Here’s the latest roundup:

High Sierra

75 – 100% – Bishop, Crowley Lake, Lower Rock Creek, June  Lake, Walker River –  Specific locations in these areas of the Eastern Sierra are still showing beautiful color, though the entire Eastern Sierra is now approaching Past Peak.  With snow falling at higher elevations, this is likely the last week to see color in the Eastern Sierra.

Past Peak – Bishop Creek, McGee Creek, Convict Lake, Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Canyon, Virginia Lakes, Twin Lakes, Sonora Pass, Monitor Pass and Mammoth Lakes - While leaf peeping has ended at these locations, Mammoth Mountain opened for skiing and boarding!  Winter has officially arrived at Mammoth Lakes.

75 – 100% – Yosemite Valley – Photographer Michael Frye reports today that color has multiplied in the past week and Yosemite Valley is peaking now, with still some green leaves to show.  He predicts the combination of a light dusting of snow with the fall color should make for spectacular photography this weekend, if the leaves survive the cold and possible wind.  “The oaks seem to be particularly nice this year,” he reports. Go Now!

Central Valley

75 – 100% – Sacramento – The urban forest of Sacramento has shown spectacular fall color the past week and still has many landmark trees showing yellow and red.  A storm passing over Sacramento will strip leaves from many of the trees that peaked first, but lots of color can be enjoyed between breaks in the storm.

North Coast

75 – 100% – Redwood National Park – Grant Roden reports spots of yellow and red appearing on bigleaf maple and red alders, contrasting with the deep green of the coastal redwoods.  In support, on our Facebook page Richard Stenger posts a photo of bigleaf maple surrounded by redwoods, taken at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

Shasta Cascade

75 – 100% – Siskiyou County – Trees in the lower elevations are hitting their peak or are already beyond it. Cooler temperatures are expected to hit in the next few days so the leaves are expected to fall soon. Most leaves have hit bright colors of yellows and reds.

Modoc County

Past Peak – Modoc National Forest- Most of the trees are past their peaks. There may be a few left with some color, but have started to lose their leaves.

Past Peak – Alturas – Trees in this area are at their peak. Not too many leaves left on the trees.

Lassen County

75 – 100% – BLM Eagle Lake – The area of Eagle Lake in Lassen County is reporting trees at their peak! The trees are beautiful with red, orange, and golden leaves. Few are starting to fall!

Shasta County

75 – 100% – Whiskeytown National Recreation Area – The Whiskeytown NRA is at peak with lots of yellow and orange and some red near the visitor’s center.   Near Whiskeytown Falls, the bigleaf maple are brilliant yellow against green conifers.

50 – 75% – Redding – The color is most evident near the Sacramento River where bigleaf maple peaking.  In residential areas, look for brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, and green. Oak trees are providing a show of yellow along winding roads in the green belt. Placer Road is like a dream where brightly colored trees surround a small pond. The sun shines through the trees like a stain glass window off La Paloma Way.

75 – 100% – Trinity County – Trinity County has reached its peak. Most of the trees are at full color, mostly yellow and oranges. Leaves have started to drop!

Tehama County

75% – 100% –  Lassen Volcanic National Park – Manzanita Lake is at 50-75%, with aspen still holding their golden color and Maples turning red.  Pacific dogwoods are turning red.  The main park road is now closed due to snow.  At the southwest entrance near Mineral, there is lots of yellow, still.

30 – 50% – Red Bluff- Red Bluff is showing its varied fall color with orange, red and yellow among native and exotic foliage.  Red Bluff should peak near Thanksgiving Day.

50 – 75% – Butte County – Much of Butte County is approaching peak color with lots of red and yellow. Trees will be hitting their peaks in the next few weeks, especially at Bidwell Park in the City of Trees.

75 – 100% – Plumas County – Look for gold and red colored oaks near Indian Valley and lots of cottonwood still holding their orange-yellow, though today’s winds may reduce the number of leaves on branches.  Until today, the weather has been sunny, but rain and snow should change leaf peeping prospects, shortly.

 

Location: Quincy, Calif.
Temperature: 30.2 °F
Humidity: 92%
Dew point: 28.4 °F
Wind speed: 15km/hr
Wind direction: 170°
Cloud cover: few clouds

75 – 100% – Indian Valley - Color spotter Jeff Luke Titcomb reports the Indian Valley, southeast of Lake Almanor is “at peak color right now.”

This scenic mountain meadow was so named in 1851 for the large number of native Maidu people living there.  Greenville is the largest town in the valley.  Other communities include Taylorsville, Crescent Mills and Canyon Dam.

The valley is considered to be one of the best places in Plumas County for a scenic drive, due to its being surrounded by mountains, its tree-lined meadow and ranches, old barns and grazing cattle.

 

75 – 100% – Taylorsville - Richard McCutcheon sends these snaps of cottonwood along Indian Creek in Taylorsville (Indian Valley, Plumas County, Northern Sierra).

This is likely the last weekend to see such brilliant color, so if you can get away… go now!

CLICK HERE to link to Richard’s blog and more photos.

 

Shasta Cascade color spotter Brittini McGuire provides this roundup of color from far northeastern California.  An early winter storm that rolled through Northern California this past week has not diminished the color to be seen across the Shasta Cascade, as most of the trees are still approaching peak, though some previously turned leaves were blown off branches.  Areas of the Shasta Cascade – other than Sacramento Valley cities – are near peak.  Here’s the latest:

50 – 75% – Siskiyou County – The change has been slow but with the colder nights are finally contributing to sugaring. The forest is full of yellow with some red.

Modoc County:

50 – 75% – Modoc National Forest – Modoc NF is experiencing bright fall colors with mostly yellow and orange, with some red. Many trees have begun to lose their leaves.

50 – 75% – Alturas – Approaching peak with lots of yellow, green, oranges and some red.

Lassen County

50 – 75% – Eagle Lake – The BLM is reporting Eagle Lake as “A sight to see,” with cooler weather having accelerated the color change.  Aspen have been busy changing to gold, orange and red.

Shasta County

50 – 75% – Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Trees at lower elevations around the lake are at about 50% of change.  The oaks, brush, and smaller trees are all showing great color change with bright lime and yellow.  Trees on the mountain are now about 60% color change.

50 – 75% – Redding – This city is a convenient base from which to explore the color to be seen in upstate California.  It also has beautiful color, particularly near Sundial Bridge, along the Sacramento River Trail and in residential areas south of City Hall.  Lots of yellow, orange and red can be seen among both native and exotic trees.  Visit the McConnell Arboretum and Gardens on the north side of Sundial Bridge for a display of varied species.

Trinity County

50 – 75% – Trinity County – Most deciduous species in Trinity County have turned yellow and red colors.

Tehama County

Past Peak – Lassen Volcanic National Park – The main park road through Lassen Volcanic National Park is now covered with snow, due to early storms that arrived this week.

50 – 75% – Manzanita Lake – Color spotters near this scenic lake at the northwest entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park are reporting aspen and willows surrounding the lake having turned yellow, with maples turning red.  Black cottonwoods near Hat Creek standout with bright gold.

30 – 50% – Red Bluff – Catalpa trees are turning from bright green to yellow. The Redbuds are showing their golden tone.

30 – 50% – Butte County – Chico is known as both the City of Roses and the City of Trees.  In autumn, the city is flush with color from a variety of big elms, black oaks, alders, gingkos, hornbeams, birch and maples.  Look for lots of red and yellow, though still plenty of green this week.  Peak will occur in the coming two weeks, should storms diminish.

75 – 100% – Plumas County – Plumas County has been at full peak, particularly in the highest areas of the Sierra for the past two weeks.  Indian rhubarb, aspen and bigleaf maples are in their glory, though brown is beginning to join these colors.  The cottonwood and aspen in the Graeagle-Quincy area are gorgeous.  Despite being at peak, most trees have not yet turned, so there’s still a week or two left of fall color in this beautiful corner of California.

Location: Redding, Calif.
Temperature: 53.6 °F
Humidity: 52%
Dew point: 35.6 °F
Wind speed: 4km/hr
Wind direction: 330°
Cloud cover: n/a

Here’s the latest from the Shasta Cascade, as reported by color spotters Grace Smith and Amanda Sweeny.  Areas peaking in the Shasta Cascade and Northern Sierra include Lassen Volcanic National Park and drainage areas of Plumas County.

CLICK HERE to see photos of Lassen Volcanic’s fall color.

Shasta Cascade

30 – 50% – Siskiyou County – There has been very little change with the colors in the past week.  Colder nighttime temps are contributing to some sugaring, with lime, yellow and some red.

15 – 30% – Modoc County – The Modoc National Forest is reporting lots of yellow, some orange and red.  Alturas is experiencing quite a bit of change with lots of yellows, greens and oranges.

Lassen County

30 – 50% – BLM Eagle Lake / Bizz Johnson Trail & Lassen National Forest – The aspen have been busy, changing to lime green, yellow, orange, red and gold.

Shasta County

15 – 30% – Whiskeytown NRA – About 25% trees have turned red, yellow and brown near the visitor’s center. Trees on the mountain are still filled with bright green and yellow.

0 – 15% - Redding – So far, very little color is apparent in Redding with yellow and bright green predominating.

30 – 50% – Trinity County – Approaching half of the bigleaf maple are now showing yellow, there’s still a lot of lime

Tehama County

Lassen Volcanic National Park – Ranger Amanda Sweeny reports:

75 – 100% – Manzanita Lake - The alder, cottonwood and occasional aspen are at peak color.

50 – 75’% – Devastated Area / Hat Creek – The cottonwood are near
peak color and the aspen are still slowly turning

75 – 100% – Southwest area – The rusty orange mat of Mules Ear is dotted with
late blooming rabbit brush.

0 – 15% - Red Bluff- Experiencing ittle no to change just yet.

0 – 15% – Butte County –  Starting to show yellow and red.

75 – 100% – Plumas County – Indian Rhubarb (drainages) and aspen are now at peak.  The dogwoods are starting to show their bright pinks and greens. Oakland Camp area is bursting with color while their oaks are starting to turn.

Location: Redding, CA
Temperature: 87.8 °F
Humidity: 16%
Dew point: 35.6 °F
Wind speed: 7km/hr
Wind direction: 160°
Cloud cover: n/a

Signs of change continue to progress  in the Southern Cascade and Northern Sierra.

Color spotter Sue Fischer of the Manzanita Lake Cabins in Lassen Volcanic National Park (Southern Cascade) sends these photos, showing the progression of color change.

15 – 30% – Manzanita Lake - Aspen along the shore of Manzanita Lake are showing more color, though it will likely still be two weeks before it approaches peak.

15 – 30% – CA-44 - Locust near Viola along Hwy 44 are coloring chartreuse to yellow, with hints of orange.

30 – 50% – Arlington Road - Color spotter Richard McCutcheon often  finds hidden gems along remote country roads.  A22, the Arlington Road from Hwy 89 east to Taylorsville in Plumas County, is one of those with surprises.  He spotted brush and fields wearing USC cardinal and gold on a recent drive to Taylorsville.

 

For more about the Shasta Cascade, visit www.shastacascade.org.

Location: Chico, CA
Temperature: 64.4 °F
Humidity: 59%
Dew point: 50 °F
Wind speed: 4km/hr
Wind direction: 130°
Cloud cover: scattered clouds

Most of the color in the Shasta Cascade is found above 8,000’ in Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Aspen are showing bright yellow there.  Other areas are several weeks away from peak.  Color spotter Brittini McGuire sends the following report:

0 – 15% – Siskiyou County – Colors in Siskiyou County are just beginning to appear, with about 10% of trees showing lime & yellow.

0 – 15% – Modoc County – The Modoc National Forest and Alturas area are reporting 10% change. Though there is very little to no change at this point, cooler nights portend the shift to orange and yellow.

Lassen County:

0 – 15% – BLM Eagle Lake / Bizz Johnson Trail still only 5%.

0 – 15% – Lassen National Forest – 5% of aspens are exhibiting color.

Shasta County:

0 – 15% – Whiskeytown NRA – 10% of elms turning bright yellow and orange near the visitors center.

Trinity County:

0 – 15% – Weaverville Chamber – Lime and yellow is seen on 15% of trees.

Tehama County:

50 – 75% – Lassen Volcanic National Park – At 8,000′ and higher, aspens are approaching peak, with some losing leaves. At 6000’, the aspen are 30-40% and willows at 60%. Around 5000’ the aspens have a way to go, with 15% showing yellow.

0 – 15% – Butte County – Mostly lime green and yellow and just starting.

Plumas County:

0 – 15% – Plumas National Forest – The forest is beginning to show lime green and yellow on bigleaf maple. Some leaves are edged with red.

Location: Redding, CA
Temperature: 95 °F
Humidity: 16%
Dew point: 41 °F
Wind speed: n/a
Wind direction: n/a
Cloud cover: n/a

15 – 30% – Devastated Area - National Park public information officer Karen Haner reports that aspen along the main park road through the Devastated Area (10 miles east of Manzanita Lake) are approaching 30% yellow, with progress every day.

50 – 75% – Hat Lake - About 60% of the willows near Hat Lake are “in full glory”.

0 – 15% – Manzanita Lake - Willows and aspen at Manzanita Lake (as reported this past weekend) are coloring up.  Karen says “As folks venture throughout the Park on trails at similar elevations, they will find similar changes to aspen and willows.  A new webcam on the Lassen Volcanic NP website (www.nps.gov/lavo) allows leaf peepers to see the change at Manzanita Lake.

Location: Lassen Volcanic Nat'l Pk.
Temperature: 84.2 °F
Humidity: 17%
Dew point: 35.6 °F
Wind speed: 6km/hr
Wind direction: 240°
Cloud cover: n/a

0 – 15% – Plumas County - Color spotter Karen Moritz reports northern Sierra nights are becoming much cooler with 5% of forests sparkling with fall color. Non-native trees and shrubs in Quincy have turned, with willow yellow-orange and rabbitbrush bright yellow in the woods. Plumas County shut its visitors bureau this year, so the many services the former Plumas County VB gave to leaf peepers will not happen this autumn.

Legendary service by Suzi Brakken and her “Awesome Autumn” crew included their cleaning windshields of visiting leaf peepers and putting signs in rear windows to identify vehicles that might stop suddenly to view Plumas County’s stunning autumn leaves.  Sadly, that’s all gone, as are the county’s visitor centers that used to promote fall color.

Karen reports, “There are chambers of commerce offices where folks can drop in, but due to budget problems, the only one normally open daily is the one in Graeagle. The Forest Service offices are open as usual, though, and they do a good job of helping visitors.” The Northern and Central Sierra typically follow the Eastern Sierra in their display of color… more reds in Plumas County, more pastel pinks and oranges at Yosemite. Though formal visitor information will no longer be available from Plumas County, keep visiting here and we’ll include any reports and photos received from local color spotters.