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Fall Foliage Still An Eyeful in Plumas

Deer Creek Hwy 32 (10/27/23) Jake Edwards

Downtown Quincy is past its peak but still quite lovely especially if you like to shuffle through fallen leaves for that crunching, fall feeling, according to color spotters in Plumas County. The surrounding area is still covered with oaks that have turned beautiful shades of orange and yellow.

It’s an excellent time for mountain biking on the South Park trails maintained by Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. We still recommend the Cascades Trail for hiking, which is 5.1 miles from the Quincy airport to the road marked Old Highway. Turn right and follow the paved road 0.7 miles east past several homes. Then turn left onto a rough dirt road and go 0.4 miles to the parking area and trailhead.

Mountain Biking Mount Hough Trail (archive photo) Mason Werner

Mount Hough Trail

Driving north on Highway 89 from Quincy to Indian Valley (Taylorsville and Greenville), Michael Beatley, one of our favorite leaf peepers, stopped by Indian Falls to check out fall colors last weekend and wasn’t disappointed. He said Indian Creek is lined with colorful wild grape, willows, big leaf maples, and grasses. Still at 100% peak. 

Victor at Pine Aire Resort in the Feather River Canyon says around each bend in the road the oaks are lovely. He mentioned that the construction stops weren’t too bad—15 minutes or so. Now is definitely the time to explore the Feather River Canyon!

In the Northwest part of Plumas County, Chester is still very showy with golden cottonwoods along the North Fork of the Feather River near First Avenue. Although the cottonwoods behind Olsen Barn aren’t as colorful this year, it is still a nice place to stop and explore the barn and walk the loop trail. 

Leaf peeper Jake Edwards (@Scenescapery) reports that Deer Creek off of Hwy 32 is at peak.

Along Highway 32 plenty of colorful trees remain though they are getting close to peak, about 95%. A perfect place to stop for a picnic lunch is Dog Patch. The sights will not disappoint.

Remember that fall is more than beautifully colored landscapes. There are many varieties of apples in Quincy, Meadow Valley, and Indian Valley—some planted years ago by pioneers. When visiting these areas look to participate in the popular fall activity of apple juicing.
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Inching Away in Inyo

Fading color and fading light around Bishop (11/1/23) Betsy Forsyth

As expected colors are winding down in Inyo County as of Nov. 1.

According to color spotter Betsy Forsyth, “the colors in town and Round Valley are still great, but it feels like the end is in sight. I still have Bishop at 50-75%, mostly because while driving around, there are still lots of green trees. There are also lots of yellow/golden leaves. That said, the yellows aren’t quite as bright in many areas. Past peak.”

“Maybe it’s just the upcoming time change that has me feeling the end of the brightness.”

Bishop City Park (11/1/23) Betsy Forsyth

Southern Inyo County

  • Lone Pine (3,727′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Alabama Hills (4,534′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
  • Whitney Portal (8,375′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Mt Whitney Trail (8,360′ to 14,505”) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Independence (3,930′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
  • Onion Valley (9,600′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
  • Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Big Pine (3,989′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)

Bishop Creek Canyon

Bishop Creek Canyon is past peak. There are a few aspen groves with a little color, but mostly fall has fallen up here. 

South Fork, Bishop Creek

  • South Lake (9,768′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Weir Pond (9,650′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) –  Past peak, you 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′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Four Jeffries (8,000′) – Past peak, you missed it.

Middle Fork, Bishop Creek

  • 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.
  • Intake II (8,000′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Past peak, you missed it.

Bishop
Bishop and the Owens Valley are really beautiful right now. Some of the trees are past peak, yet others still have a fair amount of green, so the fall colors are not over!

  • Bishop (4,150′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. Bishop has a nice variety of trees in various stages of their fall colors. 
  • Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Owens Valley (4,000′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! Most of the trees in the Owens Valley have fall colors on parts or all of them. There are still some green trees, so the colors will continue for a bit, but the end is in sight. 

Northern Inyo County

  • Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,087′) – Past peak, you missed it.
  • Round Valley (4,692′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! It’s really beautiful throughout the Owens Valley. There are yellows in most of the cottonwoods and poplars. 
  • Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Past peak, you missed it
  • Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! The aspen at the top of the canyon are past peak, and the cottonwoods and other trees along the creek are peaking now. There are still some trees lower in the canyon that have some color to them. 
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Late Fall Color in Arcata

Cal Poly Humboldt Library (10/28/23) Michelle Pontoni

Color spotter Michelle Pontoni reported from Arcata this week with the following information:

We’ve had a sunny week in Arcata, but with rain approaching Wednesday night (Nov. 1) we are seeing the last of the blue sky for awhile. 

Go NOW! to catch some late color. 

We wandered through the Cal Poly Humboldt campus and found quite a bit of color on Oct. 28.

We took shelter from the sun (yes it sometimes warms up in Arcata) beneath a large maple showing all green leaves on the underside. When we looked up into the top story windows of the university library, we could see the reflection of the brilliant colors crowning the tree. 

Along Harpst Street some years these trees all change color at the same time but this year it is the north side of the street changing first. 

There are ferns everywhere on campus and today they are covered with the browns and golds of fall. 

Grab a look at the colors here before they are gone.

Along Harpst Street some years these trees all change color at the same time but this year it is the north side of the street changing first. (10/28/23) Michelle Pontoni
Harpst Street Arcata (10/28/23) Michelle Pontoni
There are ferns everywhere on campus and today they are covered with the browns and golds of fall. (10/28/23) Michelle Pontoni
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Mono County Says See You Next Year

Antelope Valley (10/27/23) Dakota Snider

Color spotter Angie Plaisted put it best this week.

“It was a beautiful year for fall colors in the Eastern Sierra, but sadly it’s time to bid them farewell,” she said.

It’s true that colors have wrapped in Mono County, so make plans to visit this beautiful Eastern Sierra location in 2024!

Here are a few parting shots from the past week.

Antelope Valley (10/27/23) Dakota Snider
Mammoth Lakes (10/28/23) Angie Plaisted
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Nevada City – GO NOW!

Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) (10/29/23) Jim Adams

Color spotter Jim Adams took a walk around the downtown area of Nevada City on Oct. 29 and found colors peaking everywhere he turned. He estimated color changes were at 75% and recommended that you Go Now to this location.

To take the walk that Jim did, you can check out this fall color map from Nevada City Chamber of Commerce.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper) (10/29/23) Jim Adams
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Plumas Peaking Everywhere

Indian Falls (10/27/23) Michael Beatley

Color spotter Michael Beatley took a drive over the weekend to Indian Falls and Indian Creek on Hwy 89.

“The creek is lined with wild grape, willows, big leaf maples and grasses,” he described. “On the west edge of Quincy is the West Ranch with cottonwoods and old farm implements and black oaks. Plumas County is peaking everywhere.”

GO NOW!

Indian Creek (10/27/23) Michael Beatley
West Ranch Quincy (10/27/23) Michael Beatley
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Downieville Does Not Disappoint

Lavezzola Creek (10/2723) Philip Reedy
Color spotter Philip Reedy headed to Downieville on Oct. 27 with his buddy John to check out the colors in the area. The duo spent their time on the North Fork of the Yuba and Lavezzola Creek, all within three miles of town. 
 
“I’ve been reporting on that location every year since 2017,” Reedy explains. “On my first visit exactly six years ago to the day the colors were absolutely amazing. While they are really nice every year, I’ve never seen such a spectacular display again.  While not quite up to that level this year, the colors are still gorgeous and well worth the drive. As I noted in my Siskiyou report Friday, the Indian Rhubarb is lagging a bit this year, but there is still a lot that has turned a bright yellow.”
 
Phil and John began at their favorite spot just a couple of miles east of Downieville. The canyon is steep there, so by early afternoon the river is in shade which is perfect for photographing rushing water and color, according to Reedy.
 
“The big leaf maples are looking spectacular right now and will probably remain so for another week,” he says. “And with luck, the remaining green rhubarb will show their fall colors by then.”
 
The next stop was Lavezzola Creek, a few miles northeast of Downieville. This area is beautiful any time of the year, but especially in late October. In some parts of the creek a lot of the rhubarb has already turned bright yellow, while 50 yards downstream it is still completely green. So there should be more to come there as well, Reedy says.
North Fork of the Yuba (10/27/23) Philip Reedy
A rocky existence (10/27/23) Philip Reedy
North Fork of the Yuba (10/27/23) Philip Reedy
NF Yuba as photographed by Reedy in 2017
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Say Yes to Yosemite

Yosemite Valley Chapel (10/28/23) Jennifer Natale

Jennifer Natale reports that Yosemite Valley colors are looking good as of Oct. 28.

“I did the full loop around Mirror Lake,” Natale says, “which had some spectacular reds and yellows.” She also walked to the chapel and around other portions of the valley.

Natale also noted that the park is in the midst of prescribed burns so the air quality wasn’t the best near El Capitan.

Yosemite Valley (10/28/23) Jennifer Natale
Mirror Lake area (10/28/23) Jennifer Natale
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A Drive on Old Highway Road

Color spotter Jeff Titcomb took a drive on Old Highway Road on Oct. 25 and sent in the following images. By the look of it, we’d say things are in GO NOW condition!
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Stunning in Siskiyou

Mossbrae Falls (10/26/23) Philip Reedy
Color spotter Philip Reedy drove 500 miles this week to check out the Upper Sacramento River up to the headwaters at Lake Siskiyou, which is one of his favorite areas in the fall.
 
He was surprised to find that unlike most years at this time, a lot of trees had already lost their leaves, yet the Indian Rhubarb had just started to change. 
 
“Leaving at 5 am to catch the early morning light, my first stop was Sims Flat on the Upper Sacramento River. At an elevation of only 1,657 ft, the colors usually arrive here a week or two from now. Fortunately, there were enough already to justify some photos. For history buffs, the Sims bridge was built in 1933, the first major project of the newly created Civilian Conservation Corp.”
 
Next up for Reedy was the Castella Loop at 1,957 ft, in the shadow of Castle Crags State Park. In a normal year, Reedy says the rhubarb would be in full color right now, but like the rest of the river, most are still green. In contrast, he added, many of the trees were already bare, but enough remained to provide some nice color.
 
“The highlight of the day and by far the best color was the hike to Mossbrae Falls from Dunsmuir at 2,478 ft,” he says. “At the higher elevation, all of the trees are at peak right now, so this weekend would be the perfect time to go.”
The (Rail)road to Mossbrae Falls (10/26/23) Philip Reedy
Sims Bridge-1933 CCC Project (10/26/23) Philip Reedy
Upper Sacramento River-Box Canyon Indian Rhubarb (10/26/23) Philip Reedy
A few miles upstream, just below the Lake Siskiyou dam, is a beautiful box canyon. But once again, the rhubarb had just begun to turn while most of the trees had already dropped their leaves.  Fortunately for Reedy, his favorite patch of rhubarb had turned its usual bright red.
 
“My trip ended in the town of Mt. Shasta where there are many great views of the ever-present mountain,” Reedy says. “Unlike last fall, it isn’t covered in snow, but still beautiful when framed by vibrant fall colors.”
 
Our overall recommendation is to GO NOW to these beautiful locations!
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