Big Changes at Bishop Creek – Go Now!

What a difference a week makes.  Color spotter Jared Smith of the Parchers Resort near South Lake (Bishop Creek Canyon) reports impressive change this week with color exceeding 50% in several areas.  Here’s his report and comparative photos of the change.

30-50% Overall Conditions – Really impressive change in the amount and intensity of the fall color throughout the canyon since last week. Still lots of green below 9,000 ft but the color is coming on really fast at the higher reaches of the canyon and some of the groves are looking very brilliant. Barring any adverse weather, now through mid October is the zone for those who enjoy the autumn speander. Due to the elevation variance our canyon is tough to put an overall grade on but its certainly safe to say that starting now, there is a great amount of color to be seen.

 

Table Mountain Campground (9/21/12) Krisdina Karady

50-75% – Table Mountain Camp (8,900 ft) – Incredible transformation from last week with with well over half of the aspen in this grove exhibiting  bright yellow and some orange. Still some greenery left to turn but this is one of the nicest areas right now.

Surveyor’s Meadow (9/20/12) Krisdina Karady

50-75% – Surveyors Meadow (8,975 ft) – Another area that really popped this week is Surveyor’s meadow aproximately a mile down from Parchers Resort. Color is splashed from the creekside trail all the way up the mountain to near the Tyee Lakes trail. Still some green left to turn but I would guess this area to be at peak color next week.

Creekside path above Surveyor’s Meadow (9/20/12) Krisdina Karady

Lake Sabrina (9/20/12) Krisdina Karady

30-50% – Lake Sabrina (9,150 ft) – Lake Sabrina really went off this week with a drastic change in color. Still a bit off the best peak color I’ve seen there but it certainly breathtaking even right now. The water level is a bit low this year due to the weak winter we had but the aspens clearly don’ t seem to mind.0-15% – North Lake (9,255 ft) – Still not much happening at North Lake yet with exception to the lower parking lot which has a nice stand of trees showing a bunch of bright yellow.

50-75% – Steiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8,600 ft) – This is kind of a sleeper spot as the dirt road accessing this beautiful stretch of aspen growth is easy to miss. Still, if you keep an eye out to your left about a mile past Mountain Glen Campground you should find it. Very even yellow with some orange hues coming through as well. This is certainly near the higher end of the range – somewhere close to 75% and will likely be in peak color come next week.

All Photographs Copyright 2011 by Jared Smith, www.SmithSierraPhotography.com or courtesy of fall color contributors Krisdina Karady.

8 replies
  1. John says:

    Man, it’s changing fast. I’ve booked the room and scheduled everything for Oct 12 trip. Hopefully it won’t be too late by that time. Praying.

  2. Sue Johnson says:

    I can see them now. Thanks . They are beautiful. Heading down 395 next week. Thinking of going to Lundy canyon and then to saddlebag lake area. I will have a week to explore and camp. Cant wait !!

  3. kevin lennox says:

    Fished Lake Sabrina, North and South Lakes on September 23rd. Just learning about fall colors but the entire area leading up to the lakes were bursting in colors. Many trees were peaked while others were lime green/yellow. Never have seen anything like it!

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