Carson Pass Colors Up

There’s a grove of vermillion aspen that pokes its head above the pine and fir on the east shore of Caples Lake.

The stand is best photographed across the lake near the Caples Lake Resort, as Philip Reedy did this week. He was on his favorite patrol, driving CA-88 across the pass and down to the Hope Valley.

Only about 25% of the trees have turned, he reports, and this grove is at peak and could be gone by now. It does that.

When we post GO NOW!, the photos seen are at least a day old and a lot can happen in a day. It’s best to use the site as a planning tool and schedule your trip to an area as soon as you see it is nearing the high end of Patchy, do not wait to see photos of an area at peak, as when you get there, the area will be on the backside of the peak.

What’s unusual about the above grove is that it is consistently red, year in, year out. Yellow aspen are nearby, but it always appears as if painted by a Renaissance master in candlelight.

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Further along Hwy 88 are two other favorite spots, the red barn and Red Lake Creek Cabin, both are hugely popular photo locations. You can find them by looking for the bright yellow porcelain “Take Picture Here” logos embedded on the right of way by Caltrans (being facetious).

No, there are no porcelain “Take Picture Here” landmarks mounted to the pavement, because they aren’t needed. There’s usually a car or two stopped near these locations during autumn which is a sure give-away that maybe you oughta stop, too.

Don’t dis yourself, if you’ve missed stopping. I’ve passed them once or twice until realizing, “Wait! That could make a good picture!”

Reedy writes, “The meadow by the red barn … is still mostly green, but there are a lot of aspen surrounding that meadow, so it should be great in a week or two.”

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At Red Lake Creek Cabin, “quite a few trees have turned, but many are still green.  At peak, both sides of the highway are bright yellow, but … the north side is still mostly green.  By Red Lake Creek, it was all green nine days ago, but is now in full color.”

Around the cabin, the trees “have begun to change nicely, perhaps 50%.  I suspect that it will be in full glory in a week or so,” Phil added (By the way, Phil’s photo of CA-88 and the Red Lake Creek Cabin, seen above, is the most creative and informative view of the cabin, I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them.).

If you’ve not been able to find the cabin previously, look closely at the photo (click on it to enlarge) and you’ll see that the cabin is partially obscured by small trees, though there’s a turnout to allow for parking there. Also, refer to the California Fall Color Map (at right) to find its exact location.

The pasture at the junction of Hwy 88 and Blue Lakes Rd “continues to shine.  There are a lot of trees in full color, many still green, and some already bare.  Most of the trees in the ‘front row’ are in full color right now, so this is the time to see that area.”

From the intersection of CA-88 and CA-89, past the recently renamed Wylder Hope Valley Resort (formerly Sorensen’s) the groves vary from Patchy surrounding the resort to full color beyond it.

Showers are expected Sat., Oct 10. It’ll be partly cloudy Fri., Oct 9 and sunny on Sun., Oct. 11. Color photography will probably be best on Sunday, though windows of broken clouds and dramatic skies could occur on Friday and Saturday.

The rain will strip many fully peaked leaves from their branches, but enough will remain to keep the Carson Pass and Hope Valley colorful through the following week.

• Shot Rock, CA-88 (7,600′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Silver Lake, CA-88 (7,300′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
• Thunder Mountain Trailhead, CA-88 (8,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Kirkwood Lake, CA-88 ((7,660′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Caples Lake, CA-88 (7,800′) – Patchy (10-50%) to vermillion grove at Peak (75-100′)
• Woods Creek Trail, CA-88 (8,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
• Forestdale Creek Rd, CA-88 (7,543′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Red Lake Creek Cabin, CA-88 (7,550′) – Patchy (10-50%) to Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
• Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, CA-88 (7,550′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
• Hope Valley, CA-88 (7,300′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Wylders Hope Valley Resort [Sorensen’s] (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Groves Surrounding Wylder Hope Valley Resort, CA-88/89 (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
• Woodford’s Canyon (7,000′), CA-88/89 – Patchy (10-50%) to Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!