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Camanche Colorizes Calaveras County

Lake Camanche (10/17/16) Terry Willard

Lake Camanche (10/17/16) Terry Willard

Lake Camanche (10/17/16) Terry Willard

Lake Camanche (10/17/16) Terry Willard

Lake Camanche (10/17/16) Terry Willard

Lake Camanche (10/17/16) Terry Willard

… and Amador and San Joaquin counties, too, because Lake Camanche sits astride all three counties.

South of Ione and east of Lodi, Lake Camanche – managed by East Bay Municipal Utilities District – is famous for fishing (record largemouth bass inhabit its waters), camping, boating, horseback riding and picnicking. Though in autumn, it earns kudos for its native and exotic trees that cast their reflections in its still waters.

Lake Camanche color spotter Terry Willard sent these photos of color emerging there, today.  Surrounding Lake Camanche is California’s vast Central Valley. It is one of last large areas in the state to peak.

To Lake Camanche’s south is Stockton (University of the Pacific) and Modesto (American Graffiti); to its east is Lodi and its many vineyards and tasting rooms; to its west is the Gold Country with autumn color filling more vineyards and historic 1850s towns; and to its north are Sacramento with its urban forest of towering chartreuse-colored London Plane trees (sycamore) and miles upon miles of walnut orchards along CA-99.

The color at Lake Camanche should peak in two to three weeks, in time with peaks in these other locations, making Lake Camanche a central and inexpensive place to base when exploring autumn scenes throughout the region.

Lake Camanche – Patchy (10-50%)