North Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Steve Arita
North Lake was beyond gorgeous this past weekend. Saturday was epic and Sunday was still good, though haze came in, diminishing the brightness of the scene.
Quaking Aspen, North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/4/20) Steve Arita
North Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/4/20) Steve Arita
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Steve Arita
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/4/20) Steve Arita
North Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Steve Arita
Steve Arita was there and noted that the trees along North Lake Rd. were particularly good, full of unbelievable color, deep reds and yellows. It appears the leaves are holding, but at peak they will begin falling momentarily. So, go immediately.
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Steve Arita
With the exception of two pictures, Steve shot all on a Sony A7R4 using a 12-24 mm, F2.8 lens. He noted that the new lens was fun, sharp and produced very nice sunbursts.
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9,225′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
North Lake (Bishop Creek Canyon) is being reported as having the best fall color, EVER.
Color spotter Clayton Peoples has been visiting North Lake before it became known as one of the most magical fall color destinations in North America, and reports he’s never seen it better.
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
He wrote, “This year the color is truly remarkable, and it’s at Peak NOW!”
Road to Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
Trail near start of North Lake Rd, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
Road to Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
For the lead photograph in this article, Clayton hiked along a trail on the ridge to the north of the lake’s east end. He says the tricky part is finding the trail, but once there, the trail is easy and friendly.
North Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
More dazzling evidence that North Lake is beyond beautiful was provided by Gary Young who got there today.
North Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake Rd,Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/3/20) Gary Young
Cherry red Quaking Aspen, Rock Creek Canyon, Mono County (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
Among his huge finds, Clayton Peoples came upon this cherry red aspen up Rock Creek Canyon in Mono County, which we declared would be peaking. It was.
Clayton said he’s never seen an aspen quite so red. We agree. It is gorgeous.
McGee Creek Canyon, Mono County (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
McGee Creek Canyon, Mono County (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
If you are considering delaying your trip until next weekend, you’ll miss it. There will be good color for the coming week, but nothing as stunning as what’s being seen right now in Bishop Creek Canyon, Rock Creek Canyon, and at Lobdell Lake Rd.
When you see “GO NOW!” published on this site, drop everything you’re doing, reschedule your motel reservation to tonight, postpone the wedding to another season, change jobs, sell your house, tell the kids college isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, pack your camera, extra batteries, memory cards and a change of underwear, and head to wherever it’s peaking. That day. That hour. That moment.
We mean it, and presently there’s no time like the present to see North Lake at peak. Take it from Clayton who has been visiting North Lake in Bishop Creek Canyon since long before it became a popular fall color spot. He says that, right now, it’s the BEST he’s ever seen it.
Now, let’s get back down to earth or at least down to 10,300′ in elevation. That’s at Upper Rock Creek which is peaking. The below photos tell its story best.
Rock Creek, Mono County (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
Rock Creek, Mono County (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
Rock Creek, Mono County (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
Peak occurred at Virginia Lakes last week, but wouldn’t you know, Virginia Lakes decided to have a rolling peak with another round of emerging peak color. Clayton was there to catch the sunrise lighting up mountain peaks and reflecting the dawn and fall color on the still waters of Little Virginia Lake.
Ah, to be there tomorrow when the same magical scene starts the day.
Virginia Lakes, Mono County (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
Little Virginia Lake, Mono County (10/3/20) Clayton Peoples
Virginia Lakes, Mono County (9,819′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
McGee Creek Canyon, Mono County (8,600′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Upper Rock Creek, Mono County (10,300′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon, Inyo County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Upper Bishop Creek Canyon is peaking and the color in these photographs speaks for itself. Go now.
Bishop resident Gary Young captured these images of layered fall color with green, lime, yellow, orange and red dazzling the eye. Haze from the Creek fire mildly diminishes what would otherwise be an unforgettable scene. Do not wait for the air to clear. The color will not get better. GO NOW!
Now that the closure of most of Inyo National Forest has been lifted, all areas of Bishop Creek Canyon and its resorts and campgrounds are open.
M. Fork Bishop Creek (10/1/20) Gary Young
M. Fork Bishop Creek (10/1/20) Gary Young
M. Fork Bishop Creek (10/1/20) Gary Young
South Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/20) Gary Young
South Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/20) Gary Young
South Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/20) Gary Young
South Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/20) Gary Young
South Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/20) Gary Young
South Lake Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/20) Gary Young
Middle Fork, Bishop Creek (CA-168)
Upper Sabrina Lake (9,500′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Lake Sabrina (9, 150′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Groves Above Cardinal Village – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
Aspendell (8,400′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Intake II (8,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Just Starting
North Fork, Bishop Creek
North Lake (9,225′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
North Lake Rd (9,000′) – Near Peak (50-75% Go Now!
South Fork, Bishop Creek
South Lake (9,768′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Weir Pond (9,650′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Parchers Camp (9,260′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Willows Campground (9,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
Table Mountain Group Camp (8,900′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
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Red leaves have been added to locations throughout the Eastern Sierra (click map at right)
A partial reopening of Inyo NF will occur tomorrow. This reopens all prime fall color viewing areas in Inyo and Mono County within the national forest including Bishop Creek Canyon, as seen this week.
Pond below Lake Sabrina, M. Fork Bishop Creek (9/27/20) Gary Young
M Fork Bishop Creek (9/27/20) Gary Young
M Fork Bishop Creek (9/27/20) Gary Young
The Inyo NF press release stated, “Wildernesses in the Inyo Mountains and the White Mountains, front country dispersed areas throughout the forest, developed sites, resorts, and recreation resident cabins” will reopen as well as the following prime fall color viewing areas:
Mono County
Lundy Canyon
Lee Vining Canyon
June Lake Loop
Sagehen Summit
Mammoth Lakes Basin
Laurel Canyon
Convict Lake
McGee Creek
Rock Creek Canyon
All backcountry trails and lakes
Inyo County
Lower Rock Creek Rd.
Pine Creek Canyon
Bishop Creek Canyon
Onion Valley
Whitney Portal
All backcountry trails and lakes
The following developed recreation campgrounds will re-open: Lower Lee Vining, Hartley Springs, Glass Creek, Big Springs, Oh Ridge, Twin Lakes, Silver Lake, New Shady Rest, Convict, French Camp, Four Jeffrey, Sabrina, Bitterbrush, Upper Sage, Lone Pine and Whitney Portal.” the release continued.
Cardinal Meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum, Green Creek Rd., Mono County (9/30/20) Jennifer Miyara
Fall color is about the little things, not just the big ones. Like the Cardinal Meadowhawk that Jennifer Miyara photographed during her visit along Green Creek Rd.
Mormon Cricket, Anabrus simplex, Green Creek Rd, Mono County (9/30/20) Jennifer Miyara
Or, the Mormon Cricket she found guarding Green Creek Rd.
Though fall color is still Patchy, it’s the little things that adds color to an early Autumn walk.
Green Creek, Mono County (9/30/20) Jennifer Miyara
Green Creek, Mono County (9/30/20) Jennifer Miyara
Green Creek., Mono County (7,500′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Lobdell Lake Rd (9/28/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
If you’re seeking to target California’s best fall color this week, focus on Lobdell Road in northern Mono County (US 395) as your bullseye. It is both our Peak of the Week and Driving Tour of the Week.
Lobdell Lake Rd. is a dirt road. As such, a sport-utility vehicle (SUV), an AWD passenger car like a Subaru, or pickup truck is recommended. Only if you attempt to drive up to the summit might a high-clearance 4WD be required. Here’s what Buzzards on the Road experienced in 2018.
Video courtesy of Buzzards on the Road (10/10/18)
The route begins on US 395, a short distance southeast of Sonora Junction. Take Burcham Flat Rd. from US 395 north to Lobdell Lake Rd. From there, it winds, dipping down beside the south fork of Cottonwood Creek and through lush groves of aspen as it climbs into the Sweetwater Mountains of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. At times, the aspen line the road in one of the prettiest fall color boulevards in California.
This weekend and coming week it will be at Peak and fabulous. Considering that there are few alternatives as good and that – therefore – it’s likely to be a busy road, please drive courteously, cautiously and take time to enjoy the scenery.
Good places to fuel up and refresh are Bridgeport from the south and Walker from the north (US 395). A favorite stop is the Walker Burger for one of the best roadside hamburgers in California (not gourmet, but satisfying).
Elsewhere in Mono County, Jeff Simpson reports the colors are looking fantastic at upper elevations of Mono County. Unlike last year, the leaves are bright, vibrant and colorful across all elevations and locations.
For a Hike of the Week, head out on the Green Creek Trail or Molybdenite Creek Trail for colors you won’t be able to see from a car. This completes the first CaliforniaFallColor.com Triple Crown: Peak of the Week, Driving Tour of the Week and Hike of the Week for Mono County!
Sonora Pass just edged into the Near Peak designation and will be best by the end of the weekend or early next week.
WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Patchy (10-50% – Still around 50% for most areas and especially at the summit. Some good yellows and peaking trees on the east side but still a good week away from peak color.
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Just Starting (0-10%) – Still just getting started with a few yellow and lime-green leaves.
Sonora Pass (9/28/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
SONORA PASS / LOBDELL LAKE
Sonora Pass (9,623′) Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – Just barely made the list, as some groves are just starting to turn along the road south of the summit and as low as Leavitt Meadows Pack Station. Just approaching peak color and would be best over the weekend or early next week.
Lobdell Lake Rd (9,274′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – This drive is both Peak of the Week and Driving Tour of the Week. It should be spectacular this weekend. Some areas are still green while others are past peak but this is the week for the most coverage of peak colors. Go now before slamming your palm against your forehead and muttering, “Why didn’t I listen?”
Virginia Lakes (9/28/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Little Virginia Lake (9/28/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Virginia Lakes Rd (9/28/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES
Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%) – Just getting started, mostly green trees with some yellow leaves along the Twin Lakes Road. Nice color is seen up the Robinson Creek Trail at the end of Twin Lakes Rd.
Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Peak to Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW or you’ll have missed it! – Golden yellows, oranges and reds are being seen along the road below Virginia Lakes Resort. Some areas are past peak at the parking lot of Upper Virginia Lakes.
Dunderberg Meadows Road – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Take Dunderberg Meadows Road toward Green Creek for full groves of peak color.
Conway Summit (8,143) – Just Starting (0-10%) One good patch of yellow trees way up on the hill but mostly green/lime green everywhere else.
Summers Meadow (7,200′) Just Starting (0-10%) – Just starting in the highest of elevations.
LEE VINING
Tioga Pass (9,943′) – RESERVATION REQUIRED TO TRAVEL TIOGA RD.
Inyo National Forest along with six other national forests, will remain closed through Oct. 8, the USDA Forest Service announced today.
The decision was “based on the continued hot and dry conditions that remain in the forecast for the upcoming week, continued active fires throughout the state and continued firefighting resource limitations.”
This means that fall color viewing is not permitted on federal lands and roads within the Inyo National Forest, from Conway Summit south to Kennedy Meadows. All Inyo NF lands, trails and roads are closed to the public.
The only locations that one can legally photograph or view fall color are: on private property, inside a vehicle on a state highway or county road or standing within the right of way of a state highway or county road within the national forest. However, that is not advised as wandering onto NF land could put you in jeopardy.
This means that until further notice, the following prime, Eastern Sierra, fall color viewing areas may not be visited, except when on private property, a state highway or county road or their right of way:
Mono County
Lundy Canyon
Lee Vining Canyon
June Lake Loop
Sagehen Summit
Mammoth Lakes Basin
Reds Meadow/Devil’s Postpile NM
Laurel Canyon
Convict Lake
McGee Creek
Rock Creek Canyon
All backcountry trails and lakes
Inyo County
Lower Rock Creek Rd.
Pine Creek Canyon
Bishop Creek Canyon
Onion Valley
Whitney Portal
All backcountry trails and lakes
The USDA Forest Service may cite anyone photographing or viewing fall color in one of these closed areas. Fines of up to $5,000 may apply.
Closed National Forests are in Southern California and the southern Sierra Nevada. They include:
Angeles NF
Cleveland NF
Los Padres NF
San Bernardino NF
Inyo NF
Sequoia NF
Sierra NF
Until this status changes, the California Fall Color Map will show only dark green “CLOSED” leaves for areas inside all closed national forests and parks.
With Inyo National Forest closed, new attention is being given to other Eastern Sierra forests and wilderness areas.
That allowed Lance Pifer to score a First Report for the Robinson Creek Trail in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (northern Mono County), which he hiked this past weekend.
The Robinson Creek Trailhead starts at Arnett’s Mono Village at the terminus of Twin Lakes Rd near Bridgeport. It then gains 1,000 feet over its 7.8-mile, roundtrip length. National Geographic describes the trail as one of the most popular in the Bridgeport area, with beautiful subalpine views.
The USDA Forest Service notes that the Hoover Wilderness through which the trail passes, has “relatively little timber throughout much of its steep terrain that ranges from around 7,000 feet to more than 12,000 feet. Its few forested areas are composed of scattered groves of hemlock, pine, aspen, and cottonwood.”
Robinson Creek Trail (9/25/20) Lance Pifer
Robinson Creek Trail (9/26/20) Lance Pifer
Robinson Creek Trail (9/25/20) Lance Pifer
Robinson Creek Trail (9/26/20) Lance Pifer
Robinson Creek Trail (9/26/20) Lance Pifer
Blue Lake Outlet (9/27/20) Lance Pifer
The paucity of timber did not deter Pifer from sending back photographs of a lovely trail through Patchy aspen and glimpses of gold along the Robinson Creek Trail. At Blue lake outlet, a lush grove of Just Starting quakers hinted at the beauty still to come, the kind now being seen at Virginia Creek where it is peaking.
Robinson Creek Trail (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Virginia Creek Trail (9,819′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Surveyor’s Meadow, S. Fork Rd., Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27//20) Bruce Wendler
The nearest we can figure about what’s open or closed in the Eastern Sierra is that the USDA Forest Service, despite its declarations, seems to have a “look, don’t touch” approach to visiting Inyo National Forest.
Today, we received numerous reports and photos from color spotters who drove through Bishop Creek Canyon and along the June Lake Loop to view Near Peak to Patchy fall color, this past weekend. They reported that campgrounds, trails and parking lots are closed, with several barricaded. At least one spotter spoke to a USDA FS ranger who said the maximum fine for entering a closed area is $5,000.
The problem arises in that CA-168 and CA-158, as state highways, remain open to vehicular traffic even though signs on US 395 warn that Inyo National Forest is closed. The contradiction gives the impression that it’s OK to stop to see fall color along these highways, when it is not.
For example, the photo of Surveyor’s Meadow (above) was taken beside S. Lake Road where – according to the photographer – no restrictions were noticed, enforced or evident. Yet, the photographer took the photo inside Inyo NF and therefore could have been fined, even though he thought he was doing the correct thing by not entering one of the closed areas. He believed that only the barricaded areas were closed and that the highway was not part of the forest.
If the USDA FS is sincere about closing Inyo NF to hiking, camping, driving and fishing, as stated by them, then roads leading to prime fall color viewing areas should be clearly signed, informing motorists that stopping to look at fall color is not permitted.
Surveyor’s Meadow, S. Fork, Bishop Creek Canyon (8,975′) – INYO NF CLOSED
