Rock Creek Rd., Mono County (10/21/18) Tor Lacy
Big Meadow Campground, Rock Creek Rd., Mono County (10/21/18) Tor Lacy
Numerous color spotters took our advice and headed to the Eastern Sierra this past weekend.
Tor Lacy and his wife got “out of Long Beach” to camp at Big Meadow along Rock Creek Rd. surrounded by quaking aspen full of Peak color. 
Lundy Lake, Mono County (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
Conway Summit, Mono County (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
Lundy Lake, Mono County (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
Lundy Lake, Mono County (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
Lundy Lake, Mono County (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
June Lake, Mono County (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
June Lake, Mono County (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
Lower Yosemite Fall, Yosemite National Park (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
Merced River, Yosemite National Park (10/21/18) Clayton Peoples
There are two types of color spotters: one Stays at a location and works it, the other Drives to many locations, seeing fall color across a broad area.
There’s something to be said for both approaches.
The Stay approach allows time for hiking, relaxing, taking in the color and being at a select spot longer providing for better opportunities to see and photograph it at its best.
The Drive approach provides the experience of enjoying driving along boulevards of fall color, of seeing many places, of appreciating the variety of color to be seen and exploring the forests and towns where fall color is best.
This past weekend, color spotter Clayton Peoples drove a large Sierra loop to the Eastern Sierra and back to the Western Sierra, demonstrating the advantages of the Drive approach.
He reports, “Conway Summit is still just patchy. There’s lots of green among the aspen groves, but there are some stands that are turning. A good zoom lens is best at the moment, which allows one to focus in on groves that are turning and/or mixed.
“Lundy Canyon is at peak. The groves around Lundy Lake are in full color, as are the groves along the dirt road to the trailhead and beside the Lundy Canyon Trail. It is mostly brilliant yellow with a bit of light orange mixed in. Definitely worth a trip!
“The June Lake Loop has reached peak color. Aspen along the Loop and surrounding its pristine lakes have all turned and range from vivid golden yellow to orange. Good color will likely last here another week or so … I recommend that folks “GO NOW” before the best is in the past.
“Yosemite National Park is patchy. The few aspen groves at higher elevations are at full peak, but trees at lower elevations are just beginning to turn. That said, some of the black oak along the Merced River are already sporting bright yellow leaves, and brush ranges from green to yellow to red, so progress toward “near peak” status is not far away,” Clayton reported.
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
So what if:
Don’t get tunnel vision (unless it’s what you see, above).
All that matters is that fall color surrounding Mammoth Lakes in Mono County is peaking and that’s EPIC!
Cancel all plans and GO NOW! Here’s why:
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Gull Lake, June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Gull Lake, June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Beaver Ponds, Lundy Canyon (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Beaver Ponds, Lundy Canyon (10/18/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
Lower Rock Creek Trail (10/13/18) Gigi de Jong
Lower Rock Creek Trail (10/13/18) Gigi de Jong
Lower Rock Creek Trail (10/13/18) Gigi de Jong
Lower Rock Creek Trail (10/13/18) Gigi de Jong
“Mount up and ride,” encourages Bishop Area color spotter Gigi de Jong who describes the Lower Rock Creek Trail (at the top of Round Valley, north of Bishop – First Report) as the gold standard for mountain biking in the Eastern Sierra.
“This trail earns ‘gold’ for its superior ride, and fall is its ‘golden season’ due to mild days and the trail’s splendid color,” she explains.
Aspen near the top of the trail are just beginning to yellow. Parts of the trail appear luminous. Gigi writes, “The last rays of the setting sun drop like liquid gold through the canopy, leaving traces of iridescent color on the ripples of Rock Creek. Willow and birch stand out in hues of deep gold and burnt orange.”
Bishop Creek Canyon is now done peaking. Though the lowest sections of the canyon remain at peak, none of them compare to the spectacular scenes witnessed for the past three weeks, higher up. Now, the show in Inyo County is dropping to the lower canyons and valleys.
Bishop Country Club (10/15/18) Gigi de Jong
In the Owens Valley, a surprising place to be wowed by autumn is the Bishop Country Club (First Report) where, Gigi continues, “where the luscious green of the fairways meets the lustrous yellow of the trees. Soon the beautiful grounds of the country club will blend with the last colors of summer in a riotous collision with autumn. Then,” she exudes, “if we’re lucky, a blanket of white will soften everything into the monochromatic colors of winter. Get ready for the most beautiful round of golf, ah … apologies, gold – anywhere!”
Owens Valley (10/15/18) Gigi de Jong
Owens Valley (10/15/18) Gigi de Jong
Other Owen’s Valley developing areas include Buckley Ponds, Rawson Ponds and canals where landmark cottonwoods grow along their edges, adorned with yellow crowns.
“They are majestic and tower over the valley’s lowland landscape,” Gigi adds, “Also, abandoned grain silos rise like ghosts from a forgotten era, standing sentinel over fields of pure sunshine. California grasses mixed with still-blossoming yellow rabbitbrush and cottonwoods cloaked in gold are filled with the sounds of migrating songbirds and bees.”
Owens Valley (10/15/18) Gigi de Jong
Owens Valley/Round Valley/Pine Creek
Chocolate Lakes Trail, Inyo County (10/13/18) Kirsten Liske
Bishop Creek Canyon
S. Fork Bishop Creek
M. Fork Bishop Creek
N. Fork Bishop Creek
Conway Summit, US 395 (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Convict Lake (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
California Fall Color has refrained from declaring a peak of the week this autumn, though if there is a week to do it, this is it.
Along US 395 in Mono County (Eastern Sierra), fall color will be peaking for the next week and a half at: Crowley Lake, McGee Creek, Convict Lake, the June Lake Loop, Lundy Canyon, Conway Summit, Summers Meadow, Twin Lakes Bridgeport and Monitor Pass.
Green areas remain in some of these areas, but the vast majority of locations are showing brilliant yellow and orange.
Lundy Canyon (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Crowley Lake (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Near Peak areas include Lee Vining Canyon, the West Walker River and the big cottonwood trees in the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz. Beautiful color can be seen now and in a week, it’ll be spectacular.
Now, the bad news. YOU MISSED IT in Mono County at: Sagehen Summit, Lobdell lake Road and the upper sections of Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass and Virginia Lakes and Rock Creek Rd. There’s a little at lower elevations and in scattered groves, but generally it has fallen.
June Lake Loop (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Here’s the blow by blow:
Walker/Coleville/Topaz
Green Creek Rd., Mono County (10/12/18) Kirsten Liske
Bridgeport/Virginia Lakes
Green Creek Rd., Mono County (10/12/18) Kirsten Liske
Lee Vining
Benton & 120 East
June Lake Loop
Mammoth Lakes
McGee Creek (10/14/18) Benjamin Vu
Crowley Lake/McGee Creek/Convict Lake
Rock Creek Canyon
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Lundy Canyon (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Convict Lake (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Rock Creek Rd. (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Rock Creek Rd. (10/12/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Log Cabin Rd., Mono County (10/13/18) Gene Miller
Tioga Pass (CA-120E), Yosemite National Park (10/13/18) Gene Miller
June Lake Camp, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
On a whim, this past weekend, color spotter Gene Miller crossed the Sierra Nevada to the East Side and found “over the top” color.
Log Cabin Rd., Mono County (10/13/18) Gene Miller
Log Cabin Rd., Mono County (10/13/18) Gene Miller
Sherwin Creek Campground, Mono County (10/14/18) Gene Miller
Sherwin Creek Campground, Mono County (10/14/18) Gene Miller
Spent aspen, June Lake Loop (10/13/18) Gene Miller
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
June Lake (10/14/18) Gene Miller
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
On Sunday, he was impressed by color along the June Lake Loop and at Silver Lake, but realized areas like Sherwin Creek Campground at Mammoth Lakes were Past Peak and loosing leaves.
Mallard ducks, Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono Lake Tourism
A mating pair of Mallard Ducks enjoyed a rest from their southbound migration Saturday at Silver Lake on the June Lake Loop where fall color is Near Peak. Now, isn’t that just ducky?
McGee Creek Canyon (10/14/18) Rodney Chai
Lundy Canyon (10/14/18) Rodney Chai
McGee Creek Canyon (10/14/18) Rodney Chai
Rodney Chai, a meteorologist from Monterey, led a group of hikers to Lundy Canyon and McGee Creek as recommended here, last week, and they “found gold (and then some)!”
Reporting that they were collectively “speechless by the vibrant display of yellow and apricot.”
Should you hike Lundy Canyon, you’ll find the first mile to have a lot of green (20-30%), though Chai estimates it will “be excellent viewing for the upcoming weekend.”
His group found the most intense color at about “mile 2, where a forest of quaking aspens reside.” Above that, the trail was past peak with a lot of leaves that had fallen.
McGee Creek, he continued, “was simply splendid from start to finish with a golden sea of aspen and apricot. The range of yellow and apricot, as well as the ability to see up the canyon made this his favorite hike.
North Lake, (10/7/18) Jerry Sy
Sabrina Approach (10/7/18) Jerry Sy
As The Mamas & The Papas sang, “All the leaves are brown” above 8,500′ in Bishop Creek Canyon, “though the skies aren’t gray.”
This autumn, weather conditions were never better for viewing color in the Eastern Sierra. That resulted in a vibrant, long-lasting display.
However, if you delayed visiting South Lake, Lake Sabrina or North Lake, YOU MISSED IT and will have to do some California Dreamin’ to imagine them at Peak again.
That does not mean that you missed seeing peak fall color everywhere in California. It will continue to descend to lower elevations, well into December.
There’s also a lot of Peak color yet to be seen in Inyo County. Presently, Bishop Creek Canyon is peaking between 8,000 and 8,500′. That means you’ll see Peak aspen at the Mist Falls (8,350′), Aspendell (8,400′) and Four Jeffreys (8,000′) this week. Thereafter, Pine Creek Canyon (northwest of Bishop) and the Owens Valley will peak.
Though, the fall color captured by Jerry Sy in these pictures more than a week ago, can now only be imagined by “getting down on your knees and pretending to pray.”
Markleeville, Alpine County (10/7/18) Jerry Sy
Sonora Pass, Mono County (10/7/18) Jerry Sy
Aspendell (10/7/18) Jerry Sy
June Lake (10/13/18) Bruce Wendler
June Lake Loop (10/13/18) Todd Backman
Grant Lake, June Lake Loop (10/13/18) Todd Backman
It’s time to scream, “GO NOW to June Lake,” as June is busting out all over.
Cell phone snaps sent from Bruce Wendler and Todd Backman show Patchy to Near Peak conditions along the June Lake Loop.
Wendler assessed some stands as Peaking, while others were solidly Near Peak.