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America The Beautiful

Cook’s Meadow, Yosemite Valley (10/29/21) Elliot McGucken

Yosemite locals are often asked, “Do you ever get tired of the beauty?” I would answer when living in the Valley for nearly a decade, “When you stop looking up, you’ve been here too long.”

I never tired of looking up.

Tunnel View, Yosemite Valley (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Yosemite Valley is the most beautiful 2.12 square miles on Earth. Everything about it is perfection.

Elliot McGucken and Steve Arita visited this weekend and each said three words, “Peak, GO NOW!”

Their words may remain good for another day or two, but not much longer. Beyond that, you’ll miss the “at peak” visceral context expressed within America the Beautiful.

Steve noted that the bomb cyclone has “definitely brought back to life the famous waterfalls at Yosemite…the water was just thundering across the valley floor…and not obviously just the waterfalls, but the Merced river and all areas throughout the valley there was water, that combined with the gorgeous fall colors at peak…just made for a beautiful place to be.”

He recommends these locations for the best fall color:

Upper Yosemite Fall (10/30/21) Steve Arita

1. The parking area near Yosemite Falls “was simply gorgeous, very bright and intense, more than I’ve seen in past years, so definitely a place folks may want to take time to see.” A forest of black oak extends from the base of Yosemite Falls, east to the Yosemite School and can frame the falls beautifully with orange and black.

2. Autumn color throughout the valley is beautiful and at peak.
3. Steve anticipated the Merced River approaching Happy Isles would be perfect, but this was one area that most trees were still green. Above Happy Isles, the river runs fast in the spring, as was the case yesterday. This area will be beautiful and perfect for picture taking in a week or two. Everything else is pretty much at peak.

Black oak, Upper Yosemite Fall (10/30/21) Steve Arita

 

 

 

4. The trail to Mirror Lake along the river is at peak all the way to the lake, with the river running fast and high.  The lake (more correctly called a lagoon) was high. One of the few disappointments park visitors have in visiting Mirror Lake is that the mirror, which used to reflect Half Dome, is no longer seen. It was manmade. The marsh would be dredged by park settlers to create the mirror reflection, and since this was not a natural process, the National Park Service stopped the practice and the lake has succeeded to meadow. Steve got to experience “Mirror Meadow” as a lake, and one whose trail is now peppered with bright fall color.

Gates of the Valley (10/29/21) Elliot McGucken

Dogwood, Yosemite Valley (10/30/21) Steve Arita

What is remarkable about Steve and Elliot’s images is that Pacific dogwood, bigleaf maple, Frémont cottonwood, willow and black oak – Yosemite Valley’s best autumn color – are at peak concurrently. Often, dogwood and bigleaf maple have peaked by now, leaving November to the cottonwood, willow and oak.
The black oak will continue at peak in Yosemite Valley just about to Thanksgiving day. However, all we can say at this point is … GO NOW!

Bigleaf maple, Southside Drive, Yosemite Valley (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Cook’s Meadow (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Merced River (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Sentinel Meadow (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Merced River (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Three Brothers, Merced River (10/30/21) Steve Arita

El Capitan, Merced River (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Happy Isles, Merced River (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Mist Trail (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Meadow Loop Trail (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Dogwood, Yosemite Valley (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Gates of the Valley (10/30/21) Steve Arita

Gates of the Valley (10/29/21) Elliot McGucken

El Capitan, Merced River (10/29/21) Elliot McGucken

Black oak, Cook’s Meadow (10/29/21) Elliot McGucken

Cook’s Meadow (10/29/21) Elliot McGucken

 

Cook’s Meadow (10/29/21) Elliot McGucken

  • Yosemite Valley (4,000′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!

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What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Mammoth Mountain Opening Day (10/29/21) Courtesy Mammoth Mountain

Nothing. Mammoth Mountain opened for the 21/22 ski season yesterday.

OK, so what’s wrong with this picture?

Lower Rock Creek Trail (10/30/21) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

Again, nothing.

Today, just below where skiers and riders were enjoying Mammoth Mountain, hikers were enjoying full fall color along trails in the Town of Mammoth Lakes and nearby at Lower Rock Creek.

That’s one of the joys of outdoor California. We can ski in the morning and hike a fall color trail in the afternoon. Only at Mammoth Lakes in Mono County!

Lower Rock Creek Trail (10/30/21) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

Lower Rock Creek Trail (10/30/21) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

Snowcreek, Mammoth Lakes (10/30/21) Angie Plaisted

Mammoth Lakes (10/30/21) Angie Plaisted

Mammoth Mountain (10/30/21) Angie Plaisted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Lower Rock Creek Trail ((7,087′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!

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It Hasta Be Shasta

Mt. Shasta (10/28/21) Philip Reedy
Once fresh snow caps Mt. Shasta, if fall color can still be seen, it hasta be Shasta.
That’s the old advertising catchphrase of Shasta Beverages, which began as a mineral spring water company in 1889 on the slopes of Mt Shasta. People have been traveling to Mt. Shasta for more than a century for health, recreation and inspiration.
Box Canyon, Upper Sacramento River (10/28/21) Philip Reedy

Those motivations led the Reedys to explore the Mt Shasta area. Phil noted, as also reported by Michael Beatley, that last Sunday’s heavy rain flattened the Indian Rhubarb, eliminating their multicolored leaves from streamside scenes. “The only survivors I found were in the box canyon on the Upper Sac just below Lake Siskiyou dam.”

Disappointed at the loss of the rhubarb, he was still encouraged by the great color to be found just south of Mt. Shasta. It’s peak surrounding the Town of Mt. Shasta and Reedy exhorts, “So, it’s definitely time to go.”
Mt Shasta, south of McCloud (10/28/21) Philip Reedy

He recommends the following locations:

  • South of McCloud along Squaw Valley Road.
  • Down by Fridays Fly Fishing Ranch, pastures are filled with multi-colored bushes topped by snow-capped Mt Shasta.
  • The Siskiyou Lake Trail near the Mt. Shasta Resort.
  • Castle Lake Road just north of Lake Siskiyou.
Lower McCloud River (10/29/21) Philip Reedy

As for Lake McCloud, it is still too early.  Reedy notes that the rains pumped a lot of mud into the lake making river below the dam resemble chocolate milk, explaining why the river’s usual crowd of fly fishers were conspicuously absent.

Following the Mt. Shasta area, the Reedys headed down CA-89 toward Lake Britton and Burney Falls.  Last year the lake was surrounded by gorgeous oaks, reminding Phil of New England.  However, fog blanketed the lake on Phil’s visit. He could see that oaks there are peaking, but he didn’t wait for the fog to clear.
Lower McCloud Falls (10/28/21) Philip Reedy

Beyond Britton and Burney, they traveled south toward Manzanita Lake. As reported here, Manzanita Lake is now past peak and Lassen Volcanic NP is both closed in preparation for winter and resulting from the devastating Dixie Fire which burned the Summit Lake, Butte Lake, Warner Valley, and Juniper Lake areas of the park.

During the fire, park staff was so busy dealing with the fire that, understandably, they stopped reporting the normal changes occurring in the national park.

Lassen Volcanic is a popular location for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. With more snow and rain predicted this week, frequent park visitors are looking forward to that season of snowshoeing and backcountry skiing and hoping to forget what passed.

Fly fishermen, Box Canyon Trail, Upper Sacramento River (10/28/21) Philip Reedy
Castella, Upper Sacramento River (10/28/21) Philip Reedy
Lower McCloud Falls (10/28/21) Philip Reedy
  • McCloud Falls (2,400′) – Near Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.
  • Castella, Upper Sacramento River (1,900′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • Box Canyon Trail, Upper Sacramento River – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • Sims Flat Bridge (1,600′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!

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Appropriately Named

US 395, Coleville (10/29/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

In the late 1800s, a ranch along the California/Nevada line was named for the color of its quaking aspen.

Presently, it’s the black cottonwood in the town of Topaz, at Topaz Lake and throughout the Antelope Valley that deserve the description, as they are exuding the yellow-orange-brown color of the area’s namesake gemstone at every turn.

Topaz Lake (10/29/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Topaz marks the end of the line when driving north on US 395 before you reach Nevada. It’s the northern end of Mono County and it’s the figurative end of autumn in the Eastern Sierra.

Antelope Valley (10/29/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Antelope Valley (10/29/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Antelope Valley (10/29/21) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson found, however, that autumn has not yet ended there. Lush topaz color is still carried by landmark cottonwood throughout the area and that it will likely last right into November whose birthstone just happens to be … Topaz.

  • Topaz, Coleville, Antelope Valley (5,033′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!

 

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Jurassic Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (10/29/21) Max Forster

Redwoods were the dominant tree during the Jurassic period, 180 to 135 million years ago. So, taking a walk through any of the Redwood National and State Parks in northwest California is truly to visit Jurassic Park. All that’s missing are dinosaurs.

Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (10/29/21) Max Forster

North Coast color spotter Max Forster reports that Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, north of Orick, “is at peak for bigleaf maple, vine maple and approaching peak for cascara, alder and most other deciduous understory shrubs and plants.”

Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (10/29/21) Max Forster

Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (10/29/21) Max Forster

He recommends  hiking the Karl Knapp Trail (formerly Prairie Creek Trail) or the Foothill Trail to best see what the park offers.

 

Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (10/29/21) Max Forster

  • Redwoods National & State Parks (1,000′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!

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A Child’s Perspective

Liliana Beatley, Thompson Lake, Plumas County (10/29/21) Michael Beatley

A grandparent is blessed when one’s grandchild shows interest in the interests of the grandparent. As one, I know the feeling. It’s an intense feeling of love and bonding.

Liliana’s First Field Trip (10/29/21) Michael Beatley

So, when Michael Beatley’s granddaughter, Liliana, asked if he might teach her how to take photographs, he did what grandparents do best. He passed on what he knew and loved to someone he knew and loved more deeply.

They packed up cameras and headed from Meadow Valley, near Quincy, to Thompson Lake. It was early afternoon and the aspen were reflecting in the lake. “A perfectly beautiful day,” he reminisced. On the drive back toward Meadow Valley on Big Creek Rd, the road was lined with dogwood, black oak and bigleaf maple, all dazzling in their autumn dress.

The sunlight was hotter in the afternoon than a schooled photographer would prefer, but after all this was Liliana’s first day in school … photography school. There’ll be time for more technical lessons later. This was all about fundamentals.

Michael had spent “some pre-shoot time going over the SL3 Canon she would use.” He talked about composition and other basics, but also encouraged her to shoot whatever she thought would make a great photo. After the initial instruction, she was on her own with no direction as to what to shoot.

There were, of course, blurred shots due to her quickness with the shutter, but many were quite well-focused, he boasted. (click to enlarge)

When they got back and I’d encouraged him to send hers along, as well, he said, “All of her shots were her own, and I was surprised at what she shot. I never saw the mushroom, the backlit, faded Indian rhubarb. The Dogwood shots were all her own … for me it was a special day.”

Michael, I’m sure it was for Liliana, as well.

  • Thompson Lake, Plumas County – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • Big Creek, Plumas County – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • Meadow Valley, Plumas County – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!

 

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Come On Man, It’s Manzanita!

Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/24/21) Shanda Ochs

If President Biden were asked for his favorite place to see fall color, we’d like to think he’d say, “Come on man, it’s Manzanita!”

Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/24/21) Shanda Ochs

On that point, we’d have no quibble with the President. Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park is always beautiful.

This past Sunday evening, I pestered perennial Lassen Volcanic color spotter Shanda Ochs to send photos of her beautiful corner of California. I figured it was past ripe for picking. She didn’t disappoint.

Lassen Volcanic NP has been at peak for a little while. Shanda and the park staff had, however, been dealing with Dixie Fire aftermath recovery. As, it burned about two-thirds of the national park’s 106,452 acres and destroyed the historic Mount Harkness Lookout in the Juniper Lake Area. So, scouting fall color wasn’t top of mind.

Black cottonwood, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/24/21) Shanda Ochs

Fortunately, the fire side-stepped many of the park’s most beautiful areas, including Manzanita Lake. There, towering black cottonwood are at peak, as are the willow surrounding the lake. Shanda described the scene as “stunningly beautiful.”

  • Manzanita Lake (5,900′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.
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Los Padres Returns

Fire recovery, Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF (10/25/21) Parrish Todd

Los Padres National Forest delighted the senses with beautiful color, last autumn. Though, fans of the forest worried how it would recover from wildfires. Parrish Todd sends proof it is doing just fine.

Frémont cottonwood, Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF (10/25/21) Parrish Todd

She visited Rose Valley Falls Campground in the Topatopa Mountains within the forest’s Sespe Wilderness and found a gorgeous texture of vermillion, yellow, moss green and tan shrubs, grasses and ground covers populating the hills.

Los Padres National Forest has a long autumn. Presently, the color varies from Near Peak to Peak, though color will continue well into December.

Curiously, Parrish happened upon a Chinese pistache growing in the Sespe Wilderness. This is an exotic tree whose home area is Asia. So, for one to be growing in a wilderness area means it had to have been planted there at some time. Though they have lovely color, it’s probably not a tree that should remain in a natural area.

  • Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF (3,450′) – Near Peak (50 – 75%) Go Now.

Chinese pistache, Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest (10/25/21) Parrish Todd

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The Amazing Race

The people who compete in the television reality show The Amazing Race have nothing on Philip Reedy, or many other color spotters who contribute to CaliforniaFallColor.com.

Sierraville (10/27/21) Philip Reedy

Today, Reedy drove from Davis to Truckee, then north to Satley and back west on 49 through Sierra City, Downieville and down, back into the Sacramento Valley … just to see what was peaking.

Tomorrow, his race continues north to the Shasta Cascade, where other avid color spotters will be going, as that’s where fall color prizes can now be found.

Bigleaf Maple, Lavezolla Creek (10/27/21) Philip Reedy

On his whirlwind loop of the northern Golden Chain Highway, he stopped at Cottonwood Creek, just south of Sierraville where patches of snow mix with fall color.

Satley (10/27/21) Philip Reedy

Phil suggests going for shots where fall color and snowfall combine – scenes you get only soon after an early storm like we got on Sunday and Monday. Frozen images like his say a lot about the change of seasons and the fragility of nature.

He advises that between Bassetts Station and Sierra City, there’s good color along the North Fork of the Yuba River and up the mountainsides beside it.

Lavezzola Creek (10/27/21) Philip Reedy

At Lavezzola Creek, Reedy was disappointed to find little sign of Indian Rhubarb by the river. River flows jumped from 200 cubic feet a second to over 8,000 cfs on Sunday night, washing away remaining rhubarb (a nugget to store for future reference). Phil had been planning to take fly fishing shots with peak orange-red rhubarb surrounding the angler, but “it was not to be this year.”

So, Phil is heading north to the Shasta Cascade in his amazing race to find other Indian rhubard which might have avoided being swept away. The race continues and the prize is a rhubarb.

  • CA-49, Sierraville to Downieville (4,957’) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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Shasta Cascade is Where It’s At

American Valley, Plumas County (10/27/21) Michael Beatley

California’s best peak color is being found across the Shasta Cascade in the northeast corner of California.

From Plumas County (this past week’s peak, drive and hike of the week), through Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity counties, peak is everywhere.

In the American Valley surrounding the Plumas County seat of Quincy, peak orange, red and gold tumble down the hillsides and light up the town like molten precious metals.

(click to enlarge photo)

  • Quincy, Plumas County (10/27/21) Michael Beatley
  • American Valley, Plumas County (10/27/21) Michael Beatley
  • Quincy, Plumas County (10/27/21) Michael Beatley
  • Quincy, Plumas County (10/27/21) Michael Beatley
  • Quincy, Plumas County (10/27/21) Michael Beatley
  • Quincy, Plumas County (10/27/21) Michael Beatley

This past week’s rain only intensified the color. To quote Jeri Rangel, a long-time color spotter from Trinity County, “It’s 100% … now would be the time to go. There is a lot of color this year!”

  • Dogwood, Hwy 3, Trinity County (10/27/21) Jeri Rangel
  • Dogwood, Hwy 3, Trinity County (10/27/21) Jeri Rangel
  • Dogwood, Hwy 3, Trinity County (10/27/21) Jeri Rangel
  • Trinity River, Hwy 3, Trinity County (10/27/21) Jeri Rangel
  • Bigleaf maple, Coffee Creek, Trinity County (10/23/21) Jeri Rangel
  • Hwy 3, Trinity County (10/23/21) Jeri Rangel
Trinity River, Trinity County (10/23/21) Jeri Rangel

That’s great news for a region that suffered through suffocating smoke and haze from late summer fires. Now, it’s crystal clear up north.

 

Viola (10/25/21) Peter Robbins

From Redding, CA-44 travels west through Shingletown to Lassen Volcanic National Park. The entire route is at or Near Peak and “just lovely right now,” reports Peter Robbins who found ponds ringed with color in Viola.

Shingletown, CA-44 (10/23/21) Peter Robbins

Along the way, volcanic explosions of dazzling color are seen. One of our favorites is Manzanita Lake just inside the National Park with its mirror-like reflection of Lassen Peak.

Right now and for another week beyond, the Shasta Cascade is where it’s at.

  • Quincy (3,342’) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park (7,300’) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • Shingletown (3,491’) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • Redding (564’) – Near Peak (50 – 75%), Go Now.
  • Coffee Creek (3,068’) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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