Shasta Cascade Now Turning – Plumas/Modoc Peak

Butte County:

15-30%- Butte County- Susan at the Oroville chamber reports that about 30% of Butte County’s trees have begun shifting from summer yellow to deep autumn red, a few are beginning to lose leaves.

Shasta County:

0-15% – Whiskeytown National Recreation Area- Sheila of Whiskeytown NRA says the national park is beginning to experience peeks of fall color changes. The tips of leaves are beginning to show signs of a rust color, but they seem to still enjoy their brilliant green. The wind is beginning to pick up, so if sailing/boating is a passion of yours, check out this transform from the lake.

30-50%- Burney Falls State Park– According to the Burney Falls Chamber, there are vibrant oranges and reds being seen on the maple trees in town. On Main Street near Cal Trans the trees change is in full peak. Also, on 299 there are trees showing their spots here and there. There is more change to come in the town of Burney.

Tehama County:

30-50%- Lassen Volcanic National Park– Melani at Lassen Volcanic reports the autumn shift is in full swing with everything from the top tips of the Aspens to the lowly ferns shifting into brilliant shades of yellow, gold, and chocolate brown. There is still some green to be seen, but not for much longer.  Melani found Hat Creek and the Devastation Area  to be inspirational with the aspens and ferns changing from green to yellows, golds, and browns.

Lassen County:

50-75%- Bizz Johnson Trail- “Gorgeous” is the word Stan from the Eagle Lake Field Office  used to describe the landscape that can be seen along the Bizz Johnson Trail. This week is said to be the peak of the color change with the Aspens in full transformation into a rich gold and yellow. Along the river pines, oaks, and sagebrush are flaunting brilliant yellows and oranges, while in town Maple trees are displaying vibrant reds.

Saturday, Oct. 29 is the last day to catch Lassen Lands & Trails Trust’s “Take the Bus, Bike the Bizz” event, offering shuttle services to enjoy the beautiful fall colors while biking the trail.  Bikers must reserve a spot to shuttle their bike to and from the trail. Catch the bus at the Historic Susanville Railroad Depot (check-in at 8:00am) to Devil’s Corral. Bus fares range from $2-$3 depending on your destination to Devil’s Corral or Westwood. They also recommend parking at the junction of A-21 and hwy 36 in Westwood, parking your vehicle and riding the trail, then taking the shuttle back to Westwood. However you decide to “Bike the Bizz” Don’t miss out on this fall beauty! 530-257-3252

Siskiyou County:

30-50%- Mt. Shasta- The Mt Shasta Ranger Station reports the area is just now starting to experience fall color changes, which can be seen in the aspens, birch, and maples, located in the mid-elevation, mainly around Lake Siskiyou and Castle Lake. The trees are just starting to show shades of yellow, orange and golden tones, with the suspected peak of the color beginning within the next few weeks.  But all that could change overnight with a cold spell, so they are in a limbo place. The dogwood, oaks and ferns will be coming in red soon, and the maples a bright yellow.

Trinity County:

15-30%- Weaverville- Cindy at the Weaverville Ranger Station reports the trees are just starting to change along Hwy 299 near Weaverville between Arcata and Redding, but they are being stubborn to give up their summer glow.  Most color can be seen from oaks, maples, and locusts which are turning yellow with a hint of red.

Plumas County:

75-100% Plumas County- The waterways and surrounding areas around the county are overflowing with dynamic fall colors.  Dogwoods, Aspens, and Maples are reaching their color peak with bright yellows and deep oranges. Even the Indian Rhubarb is showing up and displaying itself in shades of red and orange. Want to see the true colors of fall? Recommendations are to stick to the off-road forest service trails to see some true surprises of nature. These colors are sure to go about another week or two.   Susie Bracken says colors are just exploding with Quincy, Antelope Lake, and the entire off road forest service routes in full color. The oaks are a little slow but the maples are displaying a bright yellow and the Indian Rhubar a vibrant deep red. There are many surprises to be found and it should last for another few weeks.

Modoc County:

75-100% Modoc County- The aspens have been changing yellowish to orange tones making for an incredible backdrop. Most of the fall colors have changed.  As far as the high country goes, autumn is on its way to winter.

A Thousand Words

Conway Summit (10/22/11) © 2011 Bill Langton

They say a picture is worth… well you know the rest.  This weekend, we received a comment that Conway Summit was past peak.  So, Bill Langton went out there this past Saturday and took this photo.  Worth a thousand?  You be the judge.

Cathedral Lake, Yosemite National Park (10/23/11) Donna Mercer

Here is another shot worth a thousand, taken yesterday at Cathedral Lake in Yosemite National Park by Donna Mercer.  Click on the photo to see an enlargement and note the beautiful red brush along the lakeshore.  Note to travelers:  Tioga Pass (Hwy. 120 West) is open as is Sonora Pass (Hwy. 108)  and Monitor Pass (Hwy. 89).  Always check CalTrans Road conditions at this time of year before heading across, as conditions can change quickly:  800-427-7623.

One of the Top Five!

Lundy Falls and autumn berries (10/22/11) © 2011 Alicia Vennos

Yesterday on KGO-AM810, On The Go host John Hamilton asked me to rank this autumn for fall color.  I hadn’t thought about it until that moment, but this autumn certainly has to rank among the top five I’ve seen since beginning to write about California Fall Color in the early 1980s.  And, fortunately for us, it shows no sign of an early end.

Today, color spotter Alicia Vennos reported the color in Mono County should last “another week, two at best. We’ve been really lucky because there’s been virtually no wind here!”  Here’s the latest from the east side:

Lundy Falls (10/22/11) © 2011 Alicia Vennos

75 – 100% – Lundy Canyon – Alicia took these photos that show Lundy at its fall best.   The color ” is at peak in many areas along the hiking trail, past peak in some.  Lundy Falls are surrounded by rich gold and orange….always a great photo op at the viewpoint which is about a half-mile uphill from the trailhead.  The aspen groves beyond the beaver pond on the hiking trail are still golden with some amazing orange and red trees on your right-hand side (to the west), as you are hiking in!  The bush with red berries was found at the second set of waterfalls

Quaking Aspen, Lundy Canyon (10/22/11) © 2011 Alicia Vennos

75 – 100% – McGee Canyon – As other photographers have reported, McGee was predicted to peak this weekend and it has, as has Lower Parker Bench just south of June Lake Loop.

Dogwood and Oak Peaking Near Snake Lake

Dogwood and Bigleaf Maple, Road 45, Plumas County (10/21/11) © 2011 Richard McCutcheon

Backcountry Color, Road 45, Plumas County (10/21/11) © 2011 Richard McCutcheon

75 – 100% – Road 45, Plumas County – Color spotter Richard McCutcheon sends these photos of oak and dogwood at peak along Plumas County Road 45 above Snake Lake.  Richard finds beautiful places like these on his ATV while touring backcountry byways in Plumas County.  To see more of Richard’s colorful discoveries, CLICK HERE.

Follow the Yellow-treed Road

Convict Lake (10/21/11) © 2011 Alicia Vennos

Color spotter Alicia Vennos writes this morning that she’s off to see the wonders of Lundy Canyon.  With camera in hand, she took these shots of Convict Lake and June Lake and reports “this weekend promises to be another vibrant one in Mono County.”  Elevations  above 9000 feet are  now past peak in terms of aspens although willow and underbrush still have a nice glow.

Past Peak – Convict Lake – Alicia’s photo Convict Lake, taken yesterday, shows aspen “at lake level past peak, but the overall impact of Convict is still autumn bright!”

June Lake (10/20/11) © 2011 Alicia Vennos

75 – 100%, nearing Past Peak – June Lake Loop – And her photo of June Lake, taken this past Thursday shows “the wild orange of the aspens right now.  Some of the Loop is at the height of its peak, other parts are past.”   She says “Parker Bench is peaking nicely as is Lundy and Lee Vining Canyon, according to two local photographers.   Summer-like temps are making the weekend extra lovely, too!”

When Alicia reports back on Lundy Canyon, we’ll post her update here.

7 Best Spots for Fall Color

Yosemite Valley © 2006 John Poimiroo

KCET-TV blog editor-in-chief, Zach Behrens contacted us for our views on the best color spots in California.  There are just too many, but given Zach’s limitation, we settled on seven general areas.  To read the full report, CLICK HERE.

Gallimaufry – Bloggers’ Report

Now and then, we look at what other bloggers are writing about California Fall Color (all of whose links are in the Blogroll at left) … here’s a summary of the latest…

75 – 100% – McGee Creek Canyon, Eastern Sierra – One Horse Studio photographer and blogger Greg Boyer reports McGee Creek should be at prime this weekend, though is starting to see the June Lake Loop just past peak.  The lower areas leading to Convict Lake are glowing.

75 – 100% – Quincy, Plumas County – Black Oak Naturalist Joe Willis reports seeing red maple in Quincy.  Joe is an advocate of looking down and finding natural treasures along the landscape… things you might not otherwise notice, like unusual fungi, insects and critters.

75 – 100% – Antelope Lake, Plumas County – Virtual Drive color spotter Richard McCutcheon gets out and about gorgeous Plumas County on his quad, finding wonderful color and providing a virtual drive of the fall color in his area.  Richard’s latest drive took him to Antelope Lake where auburn trees are flickering among the gold.

Dogwood Near Valley View, Yosemite Valley (10/21/11) © 2011 Michael Frye

30 – 50% – Yosemite Valley – Photographer Michael Frye shows through his photography that fall color need not be shot at peak to be impressive.  His delicate photographs of mist, turning leaves and reflections in Yosemite Valley’s Merced River are threaded with emotion and take you deep into the moment.  Michael says there’s been little color in Yosemite Valley so far, though he estimates 60% of the bigleaf maple have turned completely yellow in the Valley.  CFC predicts the next three weeks will be increasingly beautiful in the Valley.  CLICK HERE to visit Michael Frye’s blog and see more of his exceptional photographs.

Photo tip: When in Yosemite Valley, stop at Fern Spring upon entering the Valley from Hwy 120 or 140, at any turnout along the Merced River for pink to rose dogwood and  near Yosemite Village for orange leaves on black oaks.  For the sharpest photos, shoot all pictures on a tripod.  In low light, use your camera’s timer to take the picture so that you’re not pressing the shutter, which can move the camera and blur the image.

Colorful Routes to the Eastern Sierra – Go Now!

From the Central Valley and SF Bay Area, the most direct and most colorful route to June Lake and Mammoth Lakes is across Tioga Pass (CA Hwy 120).  Color spotters are reporting rosy dogwood glowing in the forests of Yosemite National Park along the park’s Big Oak Flat and Tioga roads (Hwy 120).

75 – 100% – Tioga Pass (Hwy 120) – 90% of the aspen are showing yellow with “huge swaths of color, with quite a bit of orange” along slopes visible from US 395, according Ann Turner reporting in CalPhoto.com.

75 – 100% – Monitor Pass (Hwy 89) – Most of the aspen over the pass are at peak with brilliant yellow.

75 – 100% – Conway Summit (US 395) – Broad areas of orange, yellow and red color cover the hillsides east of US 395 at Conway Summit.

75 – 100% – Carson and Luther Pass (Hwy 88 and 89) – The Hope Valley is flickering with bright yellow and at peak.

Peaking in the Hope Valley – Go Now!

When we write “Go Now!” in a headline, don’t delay… go as soon as possible.  If you delay a week, you’ll be muttering to yourself, “Uh, they lied to us, there’s no color here.”

The missive to head to the Hope Valley (Hwy 88) is true now, as color spotters are reporting spectacular yellow, gold, orange and red aspen there, right now.  Look down this blog to see the Oct. 6 posting of a video from Sorenson’s Resort.  It’ll give you an idea of how spectacular the color is there at peak.

75 – 100% – Hope Valley – Brilliantly colored aspen with gold, orange and red in the Hope Valley, Caples Lake and at Red Lake.  Don’t delay.

“Beyond Fabulous” throughout Mono County – Go Now!

US 395, Between Bridgeport and Walker (10/18/11) © 2011 Alicia Vennos

Mono County color spotter Alicia Vennos reports that all areas of Mono County are at peak right now and “beyond fabulous”.  She continues, “even with the help of photos it’s hard to describe.  This season’s range, depth and layers of orange and red-rust tones are outstanding… and by all accounts, this is one of the most picture-perfect autumns in recent memory.  Places like Conway Summit really have to be seen with your own eyes!  Lundy Canyon and June Lake Loop are magnificent and at their height of color.”

Conway Summit (10/18/11) © 2011 Alicia Vennos

75-100% – Conway Summit – Peaking with deep colors of  orange and red.

June Lake Loop, Hwy 158 (10/18/11) © 2011 Alicia Vennos

50-75% – June Lake Loop – Nearing peak, with some areas at peak.  Go now, as the color will last only another week at this intensity.  Hwy 158 between Grant and Silver Lakes is at peak and glorious.

West Walker River (10/18/11) © 2011 Alicia Vennos

50-75% – West Walker River – Between Bridgeport and Walker along US 395, the aspen and cottonwood are peak with mostly yellow and some orange.