Yosemite: At Peak for a Week
Lower Yosemite Fall (11/3/16) Vince Piercey
Bold color remains to be enjoyed in Yosemite National Park though most of the maple and dogwood have another week of peak before they’re gone, reports color spotter Son H Nguyen.
Son traveled the Wawona Road (CA-41 – south entrance) from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point on Saturday and found the color from Tunnel View to Glacier Point to be “amazing. Golden oak dominated the mountain, dogwood and maples just turned.”
One of the most photographed fall color locations in the national park is Fern Spring.
It is passed soon after entering the floor of Yosemite Valley (by CA-120 [north entrance] or CA-140 [west entrance]) and turning onto South Side Drive.
Fern Spring is tucked away in a small turnout surrounded by bigleaf maple, black oak and dogwood.
Fern Spring, Yosemite Valley (11/5/16) Son H Nguyen
South Side Drive, Yosemite Valley (11/5/16) Son H Nguyen
Yosemite Valley (11/5/16) Son H Nguyen
Merced River (11/5/16) Son H Nguyen
Black oak, Yosemite Valley (11/5/16) Son H Nguyen
Son found the color at Fern Spring to be past peak, though the fallen leaves floating in its dark pool and occasional pink and yellow highlights from surrounding dogwood and bigleaf maple still make it worth visiting for a few more days.
Color along the Merced River is near past peak, though glimpses of beautiful color are still hanging in there.
The best color to be found in Yosemite Valley are the black oaks near the base of Yosemite Falls that have turned bright orange. A few have gone “straight to brown, already.”
Vince Piercey was there this past Thursday and captured some of the turning leaves beside Lower Yosemite Fall.
Yosemite National Park – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Best color to be seen is among the black oak at the base of Yosemite Falls.
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