Here Comes The Sun! – Mono County Shines

Color spotter Alicia Vennos reports the Eastern Sierra was blessed with a full day and a half of rain and snow at higher elevations this past Sunday.  That made fall colors stand out even more beautifully in the bright sunlight that has come out, since.

The most significant color to be seen in Mono County is at 9,000′, where we issue a GO NOW! alert for Rock Creek.  Alicia writes that it’s gorgeous and peaking from East Fork up to Rock Creek Lake.

This is the perfect weekend to make the drive, considering that this is the last weekend Pie in the Sky Cafe will be open.  Get there early, as they almost always sell out before noon.

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Rock Creek – Rock Creek Road from East Fork to Rock Creek Lake. Color is now flooding this section of Rock Creek. Look out for motorists who are in awe, and always check rear-view mirror before pulling over or slowing down suddenly. From East Fork down to Tom’s Place, the aspens are still green in many sections, and Lower Rock Creek Road and the trail — popular with mountain bikers, hikers and anglers — is also yet to pop.

Patchy (10-50%) – McGee Creek – Aspen around McGee Creek Campground and McGee Creek Pack Station are just starting to turn color.  Hike up the trail for a mile or two and the aspen are bright yellow, orange and red.

Patchy (10-50%) – Convict Canyon – The colors from the lower section of the canyon up through the campground have increased slightly in intensity. The foliage along the lake has definitely begun to develop more color but there are still areas that haven’t turned. The change seems to be taking a little more time this year and it is difficult to predict the pace. The foliage throughout the canyon seems to be changing at different rates. One section may be bright yellow and adjacent to it are pockets of green. Even with the unpredictability, the peak should be just around the corner. The colors there now are still amazing and a walk along the NEW PATH on the south shore is recommended.

Patchy (10-50%) – Mammoth Lakes – The lakes basin continues to brighten.

Patchy (10-50%) – June Lake Loop/Hwy. 158 – The Loop is taking its sweet time this year — or maybe it just seems that way, because our readers can hardly wait. Most of the aspens are just beginning to hint at the awesome color that is yet to come.  Around the Fire Station down canyon, the trees are beginning to move towards yellow-orange.  Even Parker Lake , off the north end of the Loop, seems slow to move to peak. We thought that last weekend it would be pretty close to prime but on Saturday, it still had more hues of lime-green and gold than orange.  It is a gorgeous 4-mile hike round trip with stunning views of Mono Lake and the color will have picked up a bit the last few days so still a good bet. Try and get to the lake itself before 9:00 am if possible as you will almost be guaranteed a spectacular reflection of the mountains on the surface of the water — unless it’s a windy morning, of course.  For those who are fit and enjoy a longer, steeper hike, try Bloody Canyon out of Walker Lake. The trees at the lake level have yet to really start turning but a couple of miles up the trail, you’ll find some exceptional color.  The June Lake Autumn Beer Festival is this Saturday, Oct. 10 at Gull Lake Park.

Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Sage Hen Meadow Road.

Patchy (10-50%) – Lee Vining Canyon – Tioga Pass Road has awesome views of Lee Vining Canyon and the aspens look like they are still a couple of weeks from peaking.  Log Cabin Road area is starting to shine.

Patchy (10-50%) – Lundy Canyon – The thick aspen stands that line the road are still just beginning their autumn wardrobe change! Along the Lundy Canyon trailhead, the color is heating up a bit around the waterfall viewpoint, although still another week or more from peak.

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Twin Lakes – The higher elevations have been peaking over the last week in the areas around Barney Lake and Horsetail Falls. Expect to see greens, lime greens and some yellows around Upper and Lower Twin Lakes and Robinson Creek. The next two weekends should be spectacular here. Color spotter Jen Heger adds, “Aspen have many shades of yellow, light orange with patches of green.  Trees still have all their leaves… Just breathtaking and not many people around!”

Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Virginia Lakes

Patchy (10-50%) – Conway Summit – Conway summit is also brightening substantially, making for really pretty photos right from the pull-outs on US 395. Always use caution when pulling over, of course. Bridgeport’s Ducks Unlimited Dinner is October 17 which should be perfect timing for peak color if you are hungry for a delicious dinner and a ton of great raffle prizes!

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Green Creek – Colors are at peak and are past peak in other places. The recent storm last Sunday blew off many leaves before reaching full color. We recommend starting at Summers Meadow and working your way up to Green Creek.

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Summers Meadow – Go Now! Summers Meadow off Green Creek Road will be perfect over the next week. Some leaves at the upper elevation may be past peak but there is still plenty of photo opportunities along Lower Summers Meadow Road.

WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Monitor Pass – Go Now Colors have peaked at the top of Monitor Pass but as you progress down the mountain expect to see more color.

Patchy (10-50%)  Walker Canyon – The colors along the West Walker River are starting to glow in certain sections.

Patchy (10-50%)  Towns of Walker & Coleville – Still mostly green and traditionally is one of the last destinations to turn throughout the Eastern Sierra. Plan your trip for the last weekend in October.

SONORA PASS

Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Sonora Pass/Leavitt Meadows – Leavitt Meadows is starting to turn gold, as are some of the aspens as you drive up Sonora Pass. The Leavitt Meadows Pack Station is open until mid-October for anyone wanting to take a ride by horseback to see the color!