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Owens Valley Still Crackling

Cottonwood, Owens Valley (11/10/17) Walt Gabler

Rabbitbrush, Owens Valley (11/10/17) Walt Gabler

The Owens Valley, from Bishop south, continues to carry crackling bright orange and yellow color, with cottonwood and rabbitbrush still at peak.

Mendocino County color spotter Walt Gabler passed through the Owens Valley on a trip down US 395 to the Imperial Valley.

He recommends the route as more scenic and satisfying than I-5 or CA-99, despite the added time, when driving to southeastern California.

Color spotter Clayton Peoples adds his endorsement of Walt’s report, stating he was traveling the eastside and “took a quick detour to the Alabama Hills (Whitney Portal Road just west of Lone Pine) and was not disappointed.”

The trees are still peaking along Lone Pine Creek, which weaves its way through the Alabama Hills. He sent his photo of his favorite cottonwood, “one that stands as a lone sentinel above the boulders near the painted rock.” Presently, it is “bursting with yellow.”

Cottonwood, Alabama Hills, Inyo County (11/10/17) Clayton Peoples

A bonus of visiting the Alabama Hills right now, Clayton writes, “is that one can include the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada–including the tallest, Mt. Whitney–in fall foliage photos.”

Owens Valley – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

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Last Call: Mono County

Lower Rock Creek (10/22/17) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

West Walker River (10/22/17) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

If you’re in Mono County on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, you will find nice pockets of color along Lower Rock Creek Rd.,beside the West Walker River and along US 395 in Walker, Coleville and Topaz.

A few stubborn splashes of fall color are also hanging on near Silver and Grant Lakes on the June Lake Loop.

Otherwise, Mono County is mostly Past Peak.

As such, this will likely be our last report from Mono County until next autumn.

Sincere thanks are expressed to Alicia Vennos, Jeff Simpson and Josh Wray of Mono County and Mammoth Lakes Tourism for the reports and photographs they provided this autumn.  Here’s Jeff’s final report:

 

  • Lower Rock Creek Road (7,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

    Walker/Coleville (10/22/17) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

  • Walker Canyon (5,200′)- Peak (75-100%) – The banks of the West Walker River are still lined with gold. There are heavy shadows here in the morning and afternoon for long exposure photography. Go mid-morning for the best backlit leaves. GO NOW!
  • Towns of Walker & Coleville – Peak (75-100%) – This is the prime location for this week. The big cottonwoods around town are looking beautiful and displaying wonderful color. GO NOW!

Lower Rock Creek Trail (10/22/17) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

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Creekside Inn, Bishop

Remington bronze cowboys welcome guests to the Creekside Inn

Bishop Creek runs through the middle of Creekside Inn

When traveling US 395, there is no more “Eastern Sierra” accommodation than the Creekside Inn, in Bishop on Main Street (US 395) nextdoor to Erick Schat’s Bakkery.

The inn is so stylistic a reflection of the Eastern Sierra that Bishop Creek actually winds through the middle of it, with planted aspen, pine and alder along a landscaped corridor of conversation decks, gas-fed fire pits, umbrellaed tables and a large swim/spa area.

The inn’s recent floor-to-ceiling remodeling of its guest rooms and public areas has been styled to reflect a grand western lodge with natural stone, fabric and wood, a large wood-burning fireplace in the lobby  lounge, oversized leather furniture, even a welcome by bronze cowboys sculpted by western artist Fredric Remington.

Creekside Inn knows who they serve… people of discriminating taste, there to experience the Eastern Sierra in style, affordably. The inn even has a fish-cleaning room for fish caught nearby and will open a new breakfast restaurant (The Whistling Trout) to replace its buffet at the beginning of trout season, with table service and hearty servings of French toast, sausage, house-made granola with Greek yogurt, for its active guests.

Spa and pool at the Creekside Inn in downtown Bishop

For photographers, there are large desks, free WiFi and Internet to make it easier to upload images to the cloud, as well as Simmons Felicity pillow-top mattresses, top-of-the-line linens and other comforting amenities to make getting up to catch the early light a bit easier.

I stayed there recently on a scouting trip to the Eastern Sierra. Presently, fall color is now past peak up all the canyons on the Eastside. Though, the Creekside Inn is such a temptation, I want to go back.

Editor’s note: CaliforniaFallColor.com has added Booking.com. On it, Creekside Inn is rated a 9.2, as one of the best in the Eastern Sierra. We plan more lodging reviews in the future (Destinations) and encourage readers to visit Booking.com on this site to plan their stays wherever fall color is peaking.

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Bishop Creek in Bronze

Bishop Creek Canyon (10/23/17) Mark Harding

Bishop Creek Canyon (10/23/17) Mark Harding

It seems so appropriate to close out today’s postings with a couple of parting shots from Bishop Creek, and even more that they are bronze toned.

As, Bishop Creek is definitely Past Peak from top to bottom. The real action in Inyo County has moved to lower elevations: Pine Creek, Round Valley, Bishop, Buckley Ponds, Rawson Ponds, Big Pine and south.

Mark Harding could resist a last look at Bishop Creek today, which we now share.

Bishop Creek Canyon – Past Peak – You Missed It.

Bishop (4,150′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

 

Bishop (10/23/17) Mark Harding

Bishop (10/23/17) Mark Harding

Bishop (10/23/17) Mark Harding

Bishop (10/23/17) Mark Harding

Bishop (10/23/17) Mark Harding

Bishop (10/23/17) Mark Harding

Bishop (10/23/17) Mark Harding

 

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Peak Moves to Northern Mono County

Topaz Lake (10/21/17) Jeff Hemming

Peak has moved up US 395 to Bridgeport, the Antelope Valley, Topaz Lake and the West Carson River.

Color spotter Jeff Hemming found little pockets of it around Bridgeport on Saturday, beside Little Walker Rd., lining Topaz Lake and beside CA-4 along the West Carson River.

US 395, North Mono County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

 

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California’s Best Show of Peaking Cottonwood

Round Valley (10/21/17) Michael Morris

Black cottonwood and Frémont cottonwood growing across the Round Valley northwest of Bishop are now peaking, reports Michael Morris.

Lee Foster and I visited this area a month ago and reported then that it would be spectacular at peak. Morris’ photographs confirm that prediction. This, quite likely, is the best show of peaking cottonwood in California.

If you’re in Bishop this week, we recommend that you set aside a little time to drive Pine Creek Rd. from Round Valley up into Pine Creek Canyon to see a mind-boggling ribbon of orange and gold cottonwood at peak beside Pine Creek.

Big Pine, US 395 (10/22/17) Michael Morris

Big Pine, south of Bishop is also at peak with cottonwood brightening the northern Owens Valley.

The show should continue to improve over this and next week in Big Pine, Bishop, at Buckley Ponds, in Round Valley and up Pine Creek Canyon.

In southern Inyo County, color spotter Mark Harding found Whitney Portal to be Past Peak with color now down to the campground, six miles west of Lone Pine.

Round Valley (4,692′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

Big Pine (3,989′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

Whitney Portal – Past Peak – You Missed It.

Whitney Portal Rd., Campground (10/22/17) Mark Harding

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Silver Lake Silver Moment

Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/20/17) Shreenivasan Manievannan

In the Sierra, some of the best times to take a photograph are during or immediately following a storm.

Ansel Adams taught us this with his iconic image of Yosemite Valley, taken from Tunnel View, following a clearing winter storm.

Silver Lake, on the June Lake Loop, similarly delivers many magical moments.  Here’s one taken on Friday as a storm cleared.

Silver Lake, June Lake Loop – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

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Bishop Creek – You Missed It.

Sabrina Lake (10/12/17) Jeff Hemming

Bishop Creek Canyon is now almost entirely Past Peak.

Aspendell, Bishop Creek Canyon (10/14/17) Adam Weist

Whenever we report that an area is Past Peak, there’ll surely be someone who will send a photograph showing we’re wrong. Yes, there is still great color to be seen up Bishop Creek. However, for the most part it has blown. Tomorrow’s predicted wind event (gusting to 30 mph over ridges) will almost certainly strip what little remains.

The featured photograph (above) was taken by Jeff Hemming a week ago (Oct. 12) at Sabrina Lake (Bishop Creek Canyon). It shows Near Peak color at an area that has peaked in September in years past. Such is this autumn. It has been topsy turvy, cattywampus, totally out of sync.

Today, Sabrina Lake is officially Past Peak, though no doubt peak color can be seen today where it was green a week ago. As seen in Suvadeep Ghosh Dastidar’s images, South Lake Rd. still has pockets of late-turning fall color, though most color spotters would classify the canyon, overall, as Past Peak.

That’s the story of this autumn… of stands of aspen changing in staggered displays according to their internal genetic clock.

So, what remains to be seen in Inyo County?

South Inyo County is at Peak or Near Peak at Big Pine Creek, the Whitney Fish Hatchery and Alabama Hills. Spectacular Peak color was seen this past week on the trail to Whitney Portal. Likely, spots of that color remain, though the big ribbon of color (search Whitney Portal to see it), is gone.

Near Peak to Peak this week will be Pine Creek Rd. and the Round Valley, north of Bishop, with an impressive, long and scenic band of lush Frémont and black cottonwood, likely California’s best groves. Eastern Sierra color spotters have ignored Pine Creek, perhaps because it has cottonwood, not aspen. They shouldn’t, as the trees are backed by a breathtaking range of peaks at the western end of the canyon. This could be a great drone shot, which we’d love to post (YouTube).

The Round Valley (north of Bishop) also has towering cottonwood, some near weathered old cabins… well worth a detour.

Eastern Sierra

Southern Inyo County

  • Whitney Portal (8,374’) – Peak to Past Peak  – You Almost Missed It.
  • Onion Valley (9,600’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Big Pine Creek (7,660’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Whitney Fish Hatchery (4,000’) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
  • Alabama Hills (4,534’) –Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

Northern Inyo County

Mountain Glen, S. Fork Bishop Creek (10/16/17) Suvadeep Ghosh Dastidar

South Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon

  • Weir Pond (9,650’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Parchers Resort (9,260’) -Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Willow Campground (9,000’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Surveyors Meadow (8,975’) -Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Table Mountain Group Camp (8,900’) –Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Mountain Glen -Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Mist Falls and Groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350’) -Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Four Jeffrey (8,000’) – Peak (75-100%)  GO NOW!

 

S. Fork Bishop Creek (10/16/17) Suvadeep Ghosh Dastidar

Sabrina Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon

  • Lake Sabrina (9,150’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Sabrina Campground (9,000’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Groves above Cardinal Village (8,550’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Aspendell (8,400’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Intake II (8,000’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Big Trees Campground (7,800’) – Near Peak (50-75%)    GO NOW!

 

Willows, Campground,
S. Fork Bishop Creek (10/16/17) Suvadeep Ghosh Dastidar

North Lake

  • North Lake Road (9,000’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • North Lake (9,255’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Upper North Lake Road (9,255’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.

Pine Creek/Round Valley

  • Pine Creek Pack Station (7,441′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
  • Pine Creek Road (7,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%)  GO NOW!
  • Round Valley (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%)  GO NOW!
  • Lower Rock Creek Road (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%)  GO NOW!

Owens Valley/Bishop

  • Owens Valley (4,100′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
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Mono County: Last Call for Peak Color

June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Josh Wray | Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Grant Lake, June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Grant Lake, June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Parker Lake, Past Peak (10/18/17) Josh Wray | Visit Mammoth

June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Josh Wray | Visit Mammoth

June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Josh Wray | Visit Mammoth

June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Josh Wray | Visit Mammoth

June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Josh Wray | Visit Mammoth

McGee Creek Canyon (10/18/17) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

Lower Rock Creek Rd. (10/18/17) Alicia Vennos | Mono County Tourism

Alger Creek, June Lake Loop (10/15/17) Laura Shane

Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/15/17) Laura Shane

If you don’t plan to visit Mono County within a week, you’re likely to have missed the last big display of fall color in the Eastern Sierra.

That’s because, with the exception of June Lake, all other large stands of aspen are just about done. In particular, Lower Rock Creek Rd., McGee Creek Rd., Convict Lake, Conway Summit, Lundy Canyon, Summers Meadow Rd., Twin Lakes/Bridgeport and Lower Lee Vining Canyon are nearly past peak, though still beautiful… for the moment.

With high winds “predicted to hit the Eastern Sierra over the next few days,” there is a good chance that a lot of the aspen still carrying leaves will drop their deepest color. Though, a residue of color will remain hanging from branches through the end of October.

For those who don’t plan to travel to Mono County this week, pockets of bright autumn color will continue to develop along the West Walker River, the June Lake Loop and in Walker, Coleville and Topaz into early November.

Here’s Mono County’s report (north to south on US 395):

Walker Canyon (5,200′)- Peak (75-100%)  – The banks of the West Walker River are lined with gold. Take Little Walker River Road to Obsidian Campground for additional leafy delight. GO NOW!

Towns of Walker & Coleville – Near Peak (50-75%) – The big cottonwoods along US 395 are coming along nicely and should be perfect even after this weekend’s storm. Head up to Topaz Lake for spectacular lake shots. GO NOW!

Twin Lakes/Bridgeport (7,000′) –  Peak (75-100%) – There’s still great color along Upper and Lower Twin lakes and down Robinson Creek into the campgrounds. GO NOW!

Summers Meadow (7,200′) -Peak to Past Peak  – Most of this spectacular valley is past peak but you can still find sections of wonderful color. (You Almost Missed It.)

Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.

Conway Summit (8,143′)- Peak to Past Peak  – Only a few groves were still carrying lots of leaves at Conway Summit this morning. It still has some great photo ops, but won’t last long. (You Almost Missed It.)

Lundy Lake Rd. (10/18/17) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism

Tioga Pass & Lee Vining Canyon (9,943′) – Peak to Past Peak – The upper elevations of Tioga Pass are now Past Peak but lower Lee Vining Canyon all the way down to Mono Lake are ripe with color. (You Almost Missed It.)

Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′)- Peak to Past Peak – Lundy Canyon Trail is now past peak, plus the leaves at the Beaver Ponds were barely hanging on, but there is still wonderful color along the road and at the campground. (You Almost Missed It.)

Parker Lake (8,000′) – You Missed It. – A grove of brilliant aspen at the far end of the lake provides one of the few spots of color.

June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Peak (75-100%) – Jeff Simpson toured the June Lake Loop this morning and it’s simply spectacular with peaking color all around the loop. Go now before the storm hits. Mammoth Lakes’ Josh Wray agrees, saying the June Lake Loop, “is the brightest I’ve ever seen it, particularly at Silver Lake, and in between Grant Lake and Silver Lake. GO NOW!

McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) –Peak to Past Peak – McGee Creek Canyon is now Past Peak but there is terrific color along the road and at the pack station. (You Almost Missed It.)

Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Peak (75-100%) – Full peak from Tom’s Place to McGee Creek along US 395. GO NOW!

June Lake Loop (10/18/17) Josh Wray | Visit Mammoth

Convict Lake (7850′) – Peak to Past Peak – Patchy sections of peaking aspen ring the lake. (You Almost Missed It.)

Rock Creek Road (9,600’) – Peak to Past Peak – Peak color can be seen along lower Rock Creek Rd to Tom’s Place. The upper sections of the road are all now past peak. (You Almost Missed It.)

Lower Rock Creek Road – Peak (75-100%) – Clusters of towering cottonwood, crested with gold flank Lower Rock Creek Rd. from Tom’s Place to the Round Valley. GO NOW!

Parker Lake, (10/18/17) Josh Wray | Visit Mammoth

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Lee Vining Starting to Go

Lee Vining Canyon (10/17/17) Roger Gonzales

Lee Vining Canyon (10/17/17) Roger Gonzales

Roger Gonzales was in Lee Vining Canyon (east side of Yosemite National Park) yesterday, reporting that it is starting to go.

As evidence, golden chips of aspen leaves littered the canyon floor.

While Roger classified the canyon  as Past Peak, there was so much orange color in some of the groves, they’re definitely at Peak though about to fall.

Whether an area is at Peak or Past Peak is one of those in-the-eye-of-the-beholder questions.

A rule of thumb is that as long as a grove has substantial color left in it, the stand is at Peak. Though, it can be classified as from Peak to Past Peak (You almost missed it.).

 

 

 

Lee Vining Canyon (10/17/17) Roger Gonzales

Lee Vining Canyon (10/17/17) Roger Gonzales

However, once most of the leaves have dropped (even though some remain) and – most importantly – if the stand has lost its photogenic interest, then it is Past Peak and You Missed It.

Lee Vining Canyon – Peak to Past Peak (You Almost Missed It.)

 

 

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