Color spotters Don Vilfer and his wife rode by horse to the upper reaches of Rock Creek in the Eastern Sierra (Mono County) to find aspen near 10,000′ in elevation near peak.
He reported, “At the end of the canyon and up at 10,000 feet the color is at 70% or so. I shot the attached on Saturday, from our camp overlooking the canyon. There are bands of color on the other side of the canyon as well and some groves at creek level that have turned.”
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2016-09-13 16:01:162016-09-13 16:01:16Go Now! - Rock Creek Near 10,000'
Two of my favorite meteorologists to watch are Mark Finan and Eileen Javora of KCRA-TV3 (NBC) in Sacramento. They aren’t just spot-on accurate meteorologists, they’re fans of fall color, too.
I suppose that comes with the job. As, how would you otherwise immerse yourself in analyzing the weather and predicting it, without also becoming fascinated by the turn of seasons?
Mark moved from meteorologist to color spotter this past weekend, driving a long loop in search of inspiration (and there is much of it along this drive), east from Sacramento over Carson and Monitor passes, then south along the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway over Conway Summit and past Mono Lake, June Lake and Mammoth Lakes, to Convict Lake and back… all to see what’s developing.
Like others who have visited the area, he notes that most of the well-known fall color locations along the route remain mostly green or lime (Caples Lake, CA-88; Monitor Pass, CA-89; June Lake and Convict Lake), though promising yellow is emerging at the highest elevations: (above Mono Lake and on individual trees at June Lake).
For those judging whether to head to the east side or not, it is still a bit early, though emerging color can be seen and it will continue to improve through the last two weeks of September, particularly at the highest elevations.
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Photographer Darrell Sano was mesmerized this past weekend by early autumn beauty seen in the Eastern Sierra.
He stayed in Mammoth Lakes at Twin Lakes and reports, “it was truly a memorable experience. The fall light is gorgeous, and the night sky was clear and pristine.”
Darrell poked around the Mammoth Lakes Basin though, because we’d just posted shots of that area by Josh Wray, chose to send images from nearby Convict Lake where color is just starting, “especially the low shrubs.”
Convict Lake is a late bloomer by Eastern Sierra standards, due to its lower elevation. If you go now, don’t expect to find aspen to be showing much color, though the beauty and serenity of the lake is uplifting.
Darrell wrote he found Convict Lake to be “wonderful to watch fishermen float above giant boulders in the clear water.” His imagery seems almost Salvadore Dali-esque, doesn’t it?
Hiking Rock Creek Canyon, he found patches of color anywhere from high above the road, down to eye level.
Darrell pointed out things many people miss when they visit too late in autumn. He noted the beauty of the trees when backlit, that their “golden leaves were stunning, a visual treat in the clear air.”
As always, we recommend looking down not just up, and Darrell confirmed that recommendation, saying the low grasses lining the crystal-clear lakes that he hiked past carpeted the edges with autumn color.
On Darrell’s return to the East Bay, he crossed Sonora Pass (CA-108) and found patchy areas of color on the east side of the pass. The aspen in this area are artistically set among boulders and water falls, well worth including on your search for fall color.
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Yucaipa Regional Park, Yucaipa (9/10/16) Alena Nicholas
Yucaipa Regional Park, Yucaipa (9/10/16) Alena Nicholas
Liquidambar, Yucaipa Regional Park, Yucaipa (9/10/16) Alena Nicholas
California sycamore,Yucaipa Regional Park, Yucaipa (9/10/16) Alena Nicholas
Fisherman’s Retreat, Redlands (9/10/16) Alena Nicholas
Yucaipa Regional Park, Yucaipa (9/10/16) Alena Nicholas
Fisherman’s Retreat, Redlands (9/10/16) Alena Nicholas
From Southern California, color spotter Alena Nicholas sends this first report on Yucaipa Lakes and Fisherman’s Retreat.
Alena has moved to an area within the Inland Empire that is central to the San Bernardino, San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains, giving her the opportunity to explore areas we’ve not had fall color reports from, previously.
Alena writes, the mountains have a number of mesas along the foothills and near mountain bases, “with a crazy variety of trees that will turn this fall!”
This weekend, she visited Yucaipa Regional Park in Yucaipa where three small lakes are surrounded by exotic and native deciduous trees. Several types of water birds can be seen, as well.
At this point, while a little yellow is showing, the trees are mostly still green or lime. However, Alena sees a lot of promise, and recommends exploring the area’s oak woodland valley that is coursed by a stream that runs for 10+ miles.
Yucaipa Regional Park is not far from I-10 with nice campsites for RVs or tents, picnic day areas, shoreline for fishing and many hiking trails.
South of Yucaipa in Redlands on San Timoteo Canyon Rd. is Fisherman’s Retreat. As its name implies Fisherman’s Retreat is a great place for families and catching catfish. It also has similar stands of deciduous trees prime for a show this autumn.
Just Starting (0-10%) – Yucaipa Lakes and Fisherman’s Retreat.
To be assured of autumn color, bring it with you, as the couple above did on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle when they stopped at Twin Lakes, yesterday.
Mammoth Lakes’ Josh Wray captured the scene and reports that color continues to emerge among the willows, grasses and aspen surrounding Mammoth Lakes.
Here’s his report:
Just Starting (0-10%) – Mammoth Lakes Basin 8,500ft – The trees near the first parking lot at Twin Lakes have started to turn. There are even some willows and few aspens that have turned to yellow. As you make your way to the first Twin Lakes bridge near Tamarack Lodge, look northwest and you’ll gain a better view of the changing hillside. Trees around the lake are in that lime green stage, but my guess would be that in the next week or so we’ll start to see more brilliant colors on the water.
Just Starting (0-10%) – Lake George 9,000ft – Lake George is the highest drive to lake in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, and it sits at about 9,000’. It’s not uncommon to only share this lake with a few float tubers in the early morning, so get up there while the light is good and enjoy the breathtaking views of Crystal Crag and the Mammoth Crest. From the dock look due west and you’ll be able to see a large patch of willows starting to change.
Just Starting (0-10%) -Mammoth Rock 9,100ft – There is a large grove of tall aspens that reside near the historical site of the old town of Mammoth Lakes. This area is also a highlight due to the access to the Mammoth Rock trail for hiking and mountain biking. It’s still in its early stages for color change, but this spot is expected to produce a brilliant display this year.
Just Starting (0-10%) -Laurel Creek 8,000ft – This is one of my favorite fall color spots to watch go through the stages. Because of the length of the grove, higher sections take on color earlier while the lower sections add some contrast. This view is visible from highway 395 but to gain the ultimate view drive down Sherwin Creek road for a closer look. Also if you’ve got 4×4 with high clearance you can take the technical road up to Laurel canyon and lakes. The meadow at the beginning of the canyon is a sight to behold in Autumn.
Harvest Along the Bohemian Highway, Sonoma County (9/5/16) Darrell Sano
What a wonderful state. What other place has a road called The Bohemian Highway?
Harvest Along the Bohemian Highway, Sonoma County (9/5/16) Darrell Sano
Mays Canyon, Guerneville (9/5/16) Darrell Sano
Harvest Along the Bohemian Highway, Sonoma County (9/5/16) Darrell Sano
Darrell Sano spent his Labor Day exploring Sonoma County, returning with these shots of color developing along the Bohemian Highway (CA-116), where vineyard workers are busy, seven days a week, bringing in the harvest.
Despite its overall Patchy rating, GO NOW! or you’ll soon miss seeing grapes on the vines. Plus, Darrell advises that “the light is turning amazing now, fall is here!”
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Middle Martis Creek, Hwy 267 (9/6/16) John Poimiroo
A Labor Day weekend sojourn sent us traveling east along I-80 (Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway) to Truckee, then south on CA-267 across Brockway Summit to North Lake Tahoe.
Spots of emerging yellow are seen among lime to dark green quaking aspen and black cottonwood at Dutch Flat and Cisco Grove.
Quaking aspen, Agate Bay (9/5/16) John Poimiroo
Middle Martis Creek, Hwy 267 (9/6/16) John Poimiroo
The groves of green quaking aspen and willows beside Middle Martis Creek and surrounding an abandoned settler’s cabin, halfway between Northstar and Brockway Summit on Hwy 267, are backlit with lime and emerging yellow.
At Agate Bay, aspen brighten the forest with drips of yellow and some leaves damaged with black leaf spot fungus.
Lake Davis color spotter Rene Blanquies, said the aspen groves between Sierraville and Truckee along CA-89, are not yet showing much color.
A year ago, we reported infestations of black leaf spot fungus along this route at the Cottonwood Creek, Cold Creek, Cold Stream and Upper Little Truckee campgrounds, and several stands of dead aspen in this area. Rene noted that the dead aspen now have a “bleached bones” appearance.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Truckee and North Lake Tahoe
Holiday weekends always seem to delay posting observations. That’s the case with these reports, submitted with apologies for their maturity.
Virginia Lakes Rd. (9/7/16) Carolyn Webb
Quaking Aspen and Rabbitbrush, Virginia Lakes Rd. (8/27/16) Carolyn Webb
Carolyn Webb reported from the Virginia Lakes Resort last week that color has been appearing increasingly along the Virginia Lakes Rd.
Above is a photo received on 9/8/17 to compare how the color has developed in the past 12 days. Since she took the original shot of quaking aspen (at left), more yellow has emerged and the rabbitbrush remain at full peak bloom.
Early Color (8/31/16) Anirudh Natekar
Flowering Plum, Santa Rosa (8/31/16) Anirudh Natekar
Anirudh Natekar contributed shots of color found in Santa Rosa. Though, we assess it to be normal summer color. Some ornamental trees, like purple leaf plum, Japanese maple, American persimmon and Norway maple, provide beautiful maroon, purple and deep red color in summer. Even liquidambar can do so.
Though, the red or purple color is not the result of autumn. It’s just the tree’s normal color. Still, they do provide bloody good contrast to the greenness of summer.
Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano
Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano
Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano
Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano
Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Soto
Darrell Sano took an 8-mile “town walk” this past week from the BART station at Lake Merritt in Oakland up windy hilly roads through Piedmont.
The day was clear and sunny day, he reported, “a departure from the overcast ‘June Gloom’ that has plagued the Bay Area most of July and August, with below average temperatures and a thick marine fog blanketing the sky. Darrell got a number of lovely images of what’s happening among the landscaped and native color of the East Bay, backlit with late summer light. Darrell exudes, “There is nothing like fall light!… backlit fall colors simply glow vividly.”
Eastern Sierra destination marketing organizations (DMOs) have again published a comprehensive guide to fall color along US 395, a route named by USA Weekend as “one of the USA’s five best road trips.”
California’s Eastern Sierra Fall Color Guide & Map lists major annual events, significant fall color plants, and directs color spotters to 21 locations along US 395 from Big Pine to Topaz where spectacular fall color can be viewed.
The publication can be obtained at Mono County and Inyo County websites and visitor centers or CLICK HERE.
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