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Last Call at Convict

Convict Lake (10/28/22) Angie Plaisted

California Fall Color rated Convict Lake as PEAK to Past Peak this week, but that didn’t stop Mammoth Lakes spotter Angie Plaisted from heading there on Friday to see for herself.

Her camera phone images confirm the rating, but also that visiting a location transitioning toward Past Peak, still has its rewards.

Convict Lake remains a “Go Now” recommendation for this weekend, though hurry, as snow arrives on Tuesday.

Convict Lake (10/28/22) Angie Plaisted
  • Convict Lake (7,850′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
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Mono – Winding Down

Coleville, US 395 (10/25/22) Amanda Carlson

The intense and beautiful display of Eastern Sierra autumn color that first peaked in  Mono County is now winding down, but is not done, yet.

A few locations still offer brilliant displays, but they will be short lived. The coming week will likely be the last chance to capture High Sierra gold in 2022.

The combination of last weekend’s storm and a sudden drop in temperatures, pushed many locations past peak.

Mono County’s Jeff Simpson reports, “Anything over the 7,200′ elevation level will have to wait until next year. This includes Monitor Pass, Sonora Pass, Lobdell Lake Road, Bodie Hills, Virginia Lakes, Conway Summit, Summers Meadows, Tioga Pass, Sagehen Summit, Mammoth Lakes Basin, McGee Creek, and Rock Creek Road.” 

Those aspen unscathed by the storm, still carry tawny and titian leaves, though most have a mix of leaves that vary from vibrant peak, to bare, to those that took the brunt of the cold snap and are now dressed in drab brown.

Mono County spotters are predicting a week at most before all remaining aspen are denuded. Hold outs remain: Twin Lakes, Bridgeport, Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Canyon, June Lake Loop, Crowley Lake and Convict Lake. Of them, Twin Lakes has the best color.

While aspen are declining, cottonwood are improving. There is fall brilliance to be appreciated along the banks of the West Walker River (US 395) and in the Antelope Valley of northern Mono County. The Walker River Canyon should be perfection through the weekend.

To its north, a gorgeous boulevard of Black cottonwood lines 395 through the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz. These are just now nearing peak and should remain good for two weeks. 

June Lake Loop (10/24/22) Patrick Griley

Rock Creek Canyon

  • Lower Rock Creek Road (7,500′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

Crowley Lake/McGee Creek, Convict Lake

  • Crowley Community (6,949′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – A mixed bag of peak aspen, past peak stands and some areas with muted brown leaves follows the recent storm.
  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Convict Lake (7,850′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – It’s a mix of peak, past peak and muted brown leaves.

Mammoth Lakes

  • Mammoth Lakes (7,881′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

June Lake Loop

  • June Lake Loop (7,654′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – Last week, the June Lake Loop was peak of the week, now it’s mostly gone.

Lee Vining / Lundy

  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. 
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.

Bridgeport / Virginia Lakes / Dunderberg / Summers

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Surprisingly great color is still to be found around both lakes. Visit before 11 a.m. for the best lighting.
  • Conway Summit (8,143) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

Lobdell / Sonora Pass/ Walker / Coleville / Topaz 

  • Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Molybdenite Creek Trail (7,865′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak to PEAK (50-100%) GO NOW! – It’s golden along the West Walker River, but still greenish in the Antelope Valley. The towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz will peak in the coming week.
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Reminiscence

Peak has passed in the Eastern Sierra and is approaching to the west. Ken Robesky sends this video reminiscence of what was seen a week ago as he traveled both sides in a search for fall color.

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Up The Creek

Intake II, M Fork Bishop Creek (10/25/22) Betsy Forsyth

As far as fall color goes, well, Bishop Creek is now up the creek.

Bishop color spotter Betsy Forsyth reports Bishop Creek Canyon as being largely past peak, though spots of bright color are still found at lower elevations.

As seen in the above image of Intake II in the lower Middle Fork of Bishop Creek, peak color remains along shore, though many stripped trees are seen in the distance. That’s typical of what fall color remains in Bishop Creek Canyon.

Elsewhere in Inyo County, peak continues with reports of beautiful color at Big Pine Canyon and developing in Pine Creek Canyon and at Lower Rock Creek.

Big Pine Creek (10/20/22) Marianne Berttell Vaughn

Scenes like the following of North Lake, captured on Oct. 19, are long gone.

North Lake, N Fork Bishop Creek (10/19/22) Shawn Reeder

Peak is now found in the lower canyons, Pine Creek, Lower Rock Creek and Big Pine which earns the distinction of being named “Drive of the Week.”

Moving toward peak are Bishop and the Owens Valley. They are still patchy but very close to Near Peak.

Line Street, Bishop Fork Bishop Creek (10/25/22) Betsy Forsyth

Southern Inyo County

  • Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Big Pine (3,989′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Bishop Creek Canyon

Bishop Creek Canyon is past peak. There are a few colors still lingering around in the lower South and Middle Forks, so still pretty, but past peak. The best colors are at Aspendell.

South Fork, Bishop Creek

  • Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Four Jeffries (8,000′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.

Middle Fork, Bishop Creek

  • Aspendell (8,400′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Intake II (8,000′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

Bishop

Bishop has yellows scattered throughout. There are still LOTS of green trees, so the colors are still to come.  

  • Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Owens Valley (4,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) Closer to 50%

Northern Inyo County

Both Lower Rock Creek Rd. and Lower Pine Creek Station are at Peak up canyon and Near Peak lower in the canyons. Round Valley has numerous trees crested with yellow and gold.

  • Lower Rock Creek Rd ((7,087′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%) Closer to 50% 
  • Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Rush to Rush Creek

Rush Creek, June Lakes (10/21/22) Bill McFall

With peak occurring at June Lakes, color spotter Bill McFall is urging we rush to Rush Creek. Lee Vining Canyon is also peaking.

Rush Creek runs out of Angew Lake toward Silver Lake, west of the town of June Lakes, just beyond the Double Eagle Resort and Spa. The creek’s long, meandering course straightens out beside CA 158 for a short stretch before twisting again toward Silver Lake. 

Poole Power Plant Rd, Lee Vining Canyon (10/22/22) Bill McFall
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June is Busting Out!

June Lakes Mountain Bike Trail (10/19/22) Patrick Griley

Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson could hardly contain his excitement, when he reported today that the June Lake Loop is now peaking. He called it, in a moment of understandable hyperbole, “The moment most of you have been waiting for.”

He continued, “Throw a rock in any direction (in Mono County) and you’re likely to hit a grove of peaking aspen,” noting that this year’s display “is vibrant and has stuck around for longer than any other in recent memory.” Agreed on all counts.

June Lake (10/19/22) Jeff Simpson

The June Lake Loop is one of the most anticipated peaks in California because of its jaw-dropping combination of deeply golden and orange aspen, ringing blue lakes, and at the base of towering mountains.

Until now, California’s autumn show benefitted from a warm start that gradually cooled resulting in an everlasting display. However, there’s cause for concern in the Eastern Sierra and Jeff voiced it, reporting, “A storm is forecast to enter … this weekend.” 20 to 30 mph winds are predicted.

Aspen, Little Walker Lake (10/15/22) Donna Mercer

The storm is forecast to arrive late Friday. One to two inches of snow might fall on mountain passes (Tioga, Sonora and Monitor), which could close temporarily.

He cautioned Mono County color spotters to bring jackets if visiting this weekend. What this means for fall color there is that the highest elevations are likely to be past peak by next week. That means this is probably the last weekend to see peak at Conway Summit, Sonora Pass, Monitor Pass and on Lobdell Lake Rd.

However, the show will continue at Convict Lake, June Lakes and Lundy Lake Rd, which, while peaking, have enough freshly turned leaves to survive a pelting. Further, as the storm clears, stunning autumn color sunset photographs will be possible on Sunday, particularly at Twin Lakes, near Bridgeport.

So, if ever there was a time to GO NOW, this is it!

Mammoth Lakes (10/19/22) Patrick Griley
Parker Lake Rd (10/19/22) Patrick Griley

Rock Creek Canyon

  • Middle Rock Creek Road (8,500′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go Now, you almost missed it.
  • Lower Rock Creek Road (7,500′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – The best color is found around Tom’s Plaxe and US 395

Crowley Lake/Mcgee Creek, Convict Lake

  • Crowley Community (6,949′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – The community of Crowley is dressed in its autumn best. Great color is seen everywhere.
  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – There is a mix of color in McGee Creek Canyon, with Peak at the campground near US 395 and a blend of Peak and Past Peak groves all the way to the top.
  • Convict Lake (7,850′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – This is the week to visit Convict Lake. There’s beautiful color all around the lake.

Mammoth Lakes

  • Mammoth Lakes (7,881′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – The Town is gorgeous, with lots of color along Snow Creek.
  • Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

June Lake Loop

  • June Lake Loop (7,654′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – June is busting out all over! The June Lake Loop is one of the most appreciated fall color peaks in California. It’s now prime. It will remain good for two weeks, but go now, as colder weather is arriving and anything can happen to spoil the beauty. June Lake is declared PEAK OF THE WEEK and DRIVE OF THE WEEK.

Lee Vining / Lundy

  • Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Brilliant colors are appearing in the canyon, presently. There are peaking aspen everywhere to be seen.
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!  –

Bridgeport / Virginia Lakes / Dunderberg / Summers

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – This should be a fabulous location for dramatic sky photography, as the weekend storm clears.
  • Bodie Hills (9,419′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Conway Summit (8,143) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – A lot of Conway Summit is past peak, but there’s still so much deep orange color that it’s a stunner. Only a few days remain at this location.
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′) PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! –  Summers Meadow is incredible from top to bottom. Go Now, as this is the last weekend of peak at this location. It should be past peak by Wednesday of next week.

Lobdell / Sonora Pass/ Walker / Coleville / Topaz 

  • Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.   – Only a few groves remain from what was two weeks of spectacular peak.
  • Molybdenite Creek Trail (7,865′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.
  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.  – Last call.
  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – Last call.
  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.– As predicted, the Antelope Valley is nearing peak.. The best colors are found along the West Walker River, north of Sonora Junction. Cottonwood leaves in Walker and Coleville will easily survive the coming weekend storm and should be peaking the first week of November. This is a beautiful boulevard of native color.
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Bishop Creek and Beyond

S Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth

“Layered” is a term one color spotter used to describe groves that peak in succession at a given elevation. The same term can be used to describe what’s happening in Bishop Creek Canyon. Though a given location is mostly past peak, some groves which had remained green are now peaking, creating an odd situation where beautiful peak color appears in a forest that is mostly bare branches.

This is happening above Parchers, at Table Mountain and the Mist Falls, at the Groves above Cardinal Village and Sabrina Approach. Once you get up[ to Lake Sabrina, only remnants of past peak can be seen, and it’s gone at North Lake.

Peak in the Bishop Creek Canyon is now found mostly between 8,000′ and 8,500′ presently, and it will soon be down to 7,500′. The best fall color is found in the lower South Fork, up to Mountain Glen Campground. In the Middle Fork, Intake II remains good, though Aspendell is where it’s best.

Temperatures are dropping this weekend, and the colder temps will speed the color process, so do not delay a last look at Bishop Creek Canyon. This is typical for Bishop Creek Canyon. In fact, one could argue this was the best early fall in years. The only negative was that it was warm which didn’t generate many reds.

Lake Sabrina, M Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth

Elsewhere in Inyo County, Onion Valley (west of Independence) is now past peak. North of Bishop, Lower Rock Creek – an exceptional mountain biking trail – is Near Peak.

Pine Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth

Pine Creek Canyon (also north of Bishop) is approaching peak. This is one of the most beautiful canyons in the Eastern Sierra. It features the most impressive stand of Black cottonwood in the state and possibly anywhere in North America.

At peak (two weeks), its trees will form a ribbon of gold bending beside the creek to the foot of a sawtooth range that soars above the canyon.

Driving into Pine Creek Canyon for the first time is one of those, “OMG, I can’t believe I just found this” experiences. As breathtaking as this scene is, few color spotters ever submit photographs from Pine Creek (7,400′), possibly because the June Lake Loop (7,654′) has just peaked.

Aspen at Pine Creek Pack Station at the top of the valley are now Near Peak, the Black Cottonwood in the valley are still Patchy, but in a week to two, they will be stunning.

Black cottonwood, Round Valley (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth

The Round Valley – passed through on the drive to Pine Creek Canyon – is still Patchy, though its tall cottonwood are gilded in the morning light.

Southern Inyo County

  • Onion Valley (9,600′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Big Pine (3,989′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Bishop Creek Canyon

South Fork, Bishop Creek

  • South Lake (9,768′) – Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Weir Pond (9,650′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Willow Campground (9,000′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Four Jeffries (8,000′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

Middle Fork, Bishop Creek

  • Lake Sabrina (9,150′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) — Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Aspendell (8,400′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Intake II (8,000′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.

North Fork, Bishop Creek

  • North Lake (9,225′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • North Lake Rd (9,000′) – Past Peak, You Missed it. 

Bishop

  • Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Owens Valley (4,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Northern Inyo County

  • Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,087′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%) 
  • Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Pine Creek Pack Station (7,400′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
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A Long and Winding Road

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, the long and winding road that is US 395 is leading us back again to June and Convict Lakes.

Color spotters Tim Zahala and Bethany Anderson were there this week and share these images that will never disappear.

Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/16/22) Tim Zalaha
Convict Lake (10/15/22) Bethany Anderson
  • June Lake (7,654′) – Near Peak to PEAK (50-100%) GO NOW!
  • Convict Lake (7,850′) – Near Peak to PEAK (50-100%) GO NOW!
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Rookie Spotters

Lundy Creek Trail, Lundy Canyon, Mono County (10/17/22) Clayton Peoples

What would it be like to take people, who had never seen fall color, to a peaking forest?

Clayton Peoples had that experience this week, when relatives from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia visiting “their daughter, who is a graduate student in California” also paid a visit to Clayton and his wife in Reno.
 
As is often the case when hosting visitors, Clayton asked what they’d like to see. Because Malaysia is tropical, they had never seen fall color and were excited about the chance to see seasonal change.
 
So, Clayton took Monday off and drove south with them on US 395 to Mono County’s fall color “hotspots” of  Twin Lakes (Bridgeport), Conway Summit, Lundy Canyon, June Lake Loop, and McGee Creek.
 
Clayton said, “I chose those locations based on reports at the only fall color resource I really trust, California Fall Color.” The result was a wonder-filled outing with “oohs” and “ahhs” excitedly exclaimed and to watch visitors to our beautiful country “soak in the experience was amazing.”
Aspen, June Lake Loop, Mono County (10/17/22) Clayton Peoples
McGee Creek, Mono County (10/17/22) Clayton Peoples
  • Twin Lakes (Bridgeport) (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Conway Summit (8,143′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, You almost missed it.
  • Lundy Canyon (7,858′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – It’s there. Do not delay.
  • June Lake Loop (7,654′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – The best color is at Silver Lake, but good color is found throughout the Loop.
  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, You almost missed it.This is the last great weekend for McGee. Get there soon.
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Lundy Lovely, Conway Cowabunga!

Lundy Lake, showing lovely color as it now, is solidly Near Peak, but Conway Summit, well, Cowabunga!  Boy, does its color scream.

Southern California color spotter Gary Skipper went to the East Side this past weekend and the force was with him.

Figure Conway was at full peak when he visited. So, by now it has lost some of the luster, but Lundy should be magical through this weekend and the following week. Time to hike Lundy Canyon!

Waterfall, Lundy Canyon, Mono County (10/16/22) Gary Skipper
  • Conway Summit (8,143′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Lundy Canyon (7,858′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.