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Eastern Sierra Weekend

North Lake, N Fork Bishop Creek (10/2/21) Gary Young
  • Mist Falls, S Fork Bishop Creek (10/2/21) Gary Young
  • North Lake, N Fork Bishop Creek (10/2/21) Gary Young

This is a good time to visit the Eastern Sierra. Peak is happening at the Virginia Lakes, Lobdell Lake Road and Sagehen Summit in Mono County and at South Lake, North Lake and Lake Sabrina in Inyo County.

High above the June Lakes Loop (9/29/21) John Ehrenfeld

Napa Valley color spotter John Ehrenfeld worried about timing his trip, though when we report it’s approaching Past Peak, then’s the time to go, as John did, for Peak is moments away from happening.

  • Virginia Lake (9/29/21) John Ehrenfeld
  • Virginia Lake (9/29/21) John Ehrenfeld
  • Sunrise, North Lake, N Fork Bishop Creek (9/30/21) John Ehrenfeld
  • South Lake, S. Fork Bishop Creek (9/30/21) John Ehrenfeld
  • South Lake, S. Fork Bishop Creek (9/30/21) John Ehrenfeld
Monitor Pass, CA-89 (9/29/21) Woody Elliott
Monitor Pass, CA-89 (9/29/21) Woody Elliott

Woody Elliott got the same idea and crossed Monitor Pass to find it gloriously painted in Patchy color. He continued on to Upper Virginia Lake to revel in its Peak color.

  • Upper Virginia Lake (9/29/21) Woody Elliott
  • Upper Virginia Lake (9/29/21) Woody Elliott

At Sotcher Lake in Madera County near Mammoth Lakes, Angie Plaisted got a First Report for her camera phone snaps of kayaking on a blue lake ringed with yellow willows.

  • Sotcher Lake (9/25/21) Angie Plaisted
  • Sotcher Lake (9/25/21) Angie Plaisted
  • Sotcher Lake (9/25/21) Angie Plaisted
  • Sotcher Lake (9/25/21) Angie Plaisted
  • Sotcher Lake (9/25/21) Angie Plaisted
  • Willow, Sotcher Lake (9/25/21) Angie Plaisted

Don Vilfer headed to Lobdell Lake Rd., as we’d recommended, and found peak color along the length of the road. We estimate the color along Lobdell Lake Rd. will last another week, but now’s the time to go. Delay any longer and you’ll miss it.

Lobdell Lake Rd. (9/30/21) Don Vilfer

And, Mark Hanning-Lee found the color along the Rock Creek Rd. as advertised.

  • North Lake Rd. N Fork Bishop Creek (9/24/21) Mark Hanning-Lee
  • Lake Sabrina, M Fork Bishop Creek (9/24/21) Mark Hanning-Lee
  • Lake Sabrina, M Fork Bishop Creek (9/24/21) Mark Hanning-Lee
  • Upper Rock Creek Rd. (9/26/21) Mark Hanning-Lee
  • Monitor Pass, CA-89 (8,314′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)
  • Lobdell Lake Rd (8,600′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW! (AWD/4WD Recommended)
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • June Lakes Loop (7,654′) – Just Starting (however, peak color is being seen on slopes high above the lakes)
  • Sagehen Summit (8139′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • Sotcher Lake (7,651′), Madera County – Patchy (10 – 50%)
  • Upper Rock Creek Rd. (10,800′) – Near Peak (50 – 75%) Go Now!
  • South Lake, S. Fork Bishop Creek – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • Lake Sabrina, M. Fork Bishop Creek – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • North Lake, N. Fork Bishop Creek – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
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