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Good Morning, Quincy

Courthouse square, Quincy (10/13/20) Michael Beatley

Sunlight had just peeked over the northern Sierra and was brushing downtown Quincy with a glow when Michael Beatley set out from Meadow Valley to photograph fall color.

Beatley had Quincy to himself. You usually do at dawn on an October morn. Appropriately, fall color has awakened across Plumas County.

Plumas County courthouse (10/13/20) Michael beatley

The bigleaf maple and sycamore that stand around courthouse square were airbrushed yellow and chestnut by the morning light. Peak has arrived in one of America’s loveliest hometowns, and it’s a welcomed guest that will stay for at least a week, perhaps two.

The northern Sierra’s azure skies reassure that no wildfires burn nearby, none to spoil picturesque orange-red Indian rhubarb being reflected in the black waters of Spanish Creek. The days are autumn-perfect again with crisply cold nights that have the friendly people of Quincy stacking wood for winter and pressing cider.

Michael left this placid scene to drive three miles north to the edge of American Valley to Spanish Creek at Oakland Camp.  Oakland Camp is owned by the city of Oakland as a summer camp for children.

The pool it contains is edged with Indian Rhubarb (Darmera), now approaching Near Peak. Black oak, California buckeye, bigleaf maple and riparian grasses give it a parklike appearance with trails to hills overlooking Quincy.

From Main street Quincy, take Quincy Jct Road past the high school ’til it ends then turn left onto Chandler road. Cross the single-lane bridge  over Spanish Creek, turn right and drive to the camp.  Then, bear right thru the camp onto the USDA Forest Service road that runs alongside the creek.  

Jeff Luke Titcomb traveled from Greenville to the Genesee Valley, part way to Antelope Lake.

His route began by stocking a picnic lunch at the Genesee Store, which offers food on weekends; all other days, Young’s Market in Taylorsville.

Jeff said the drive has lots of golden aspen, yellow bigleaf maple and rosy dogwood, which are nearing peak. Scattered black oak are dressing early for Halloween in their orange and black.

A little rain cleared the air, but also discouraged fall color outings. Now cold nights are intensifying the color and attracting color spotters.

  • Quincy (3,342′) – Patchy to Near Peak (10-75%) Go Now!
  • Oakland Camp, Spanish Creek (4,300′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Genesee Valley (3,701′) – Patchy to Near Peak (10-75%) Go Now!