SoCal Mountains: Past Peak, Still Glowing in Places
Lake Arrowhead (11/12/16) Alena Nicholas
We’ve been reporting that Southern California’s mountains are past peak, though as color spotter Alena Nicholas shows us in this post… many spots of bright color can still to be discovered.
Lake Arrowhead (11/12/16) Alena Nicholas
She traveled to Lake Arrowhead and Lake Gregory in the San Bernardino Mountains and Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains to find these scenes.
Lake Arrowhead (11/12/16) Alena Nicholass
Lake Arrowhead (11/12/16) Alena Nicholas
Lake Arrowhead (11/12/16) Alena Nicholas
Idyllwild (11/12/16) Alena Nicholas
Idyllwild (11/12/16) Alena Nicholas
Lake Gregory (11/12/16) Alena Nicholas
Lake Gregory (11/12/16) Alena Nicholas
While the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa prepares for the holidays by putting up colorful lights and decorations, nature continues to light up the forest with black oak and Rocky Mountain maple providing orange and red ornaments.
Should you visit Lake Arrowhead, stop into the Gift Gallery to see Alena’s photographs. We extend the same invitation to other photographers and color spotters who contribute your work to this site. Should you have them on display, tell us and we’ll pass the word to others so they can see what you’ve seen and photographed.
Alena agrees that the mountains are generally past peak, but for the observant the glow continues.
Southern California Mountains – Peak to Past Peak – YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
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Went up to Lake Arrowhead last weekend. And, I’d have to agree that it’s past peak. However, Heart Rock Trail’s oaks were at peak. Downhill from the Heart Rock waterfall (dry), there’s a small grove of big leaf maple that were a little past peak.
I also hiked the Les Loop Nature Trail at the Dogwood Campground. Boy was this a disappointment this year. Apparently, the rainstorm that passed thru a couple of weeks ago wiped-out what little fall color there was. And, a lot of them were dying.
The saving grace for me this fall was a trip that we took to Utah in October. At Capitol Reef National Park we hit the cottonwoods at their peak. The Sulfur Creek trail was a blast. Fall color and red rock. Kinda hard to beat.
Near Moab, the Grandstaff trail (aka Negro Bill Canyon) meanders along a creek that flows into the Colorado river. It’s a riparian environment with a variety of fall color that one wouldn’t expect in such a desolate area. And, a natural bridge to boot!
Already looking forward to planning next year’s fall color vacation. Hopefully, we’ll get lucky again.
Great info, Jimbo. Next time you travel outside the state, if you get nice photos, we’d love to share them as a Special Report. We do that occasionally though, obviously, focus on California. Nice recommendations.