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Owens Valley Aglow in Inyo

Owens Valley (10/25/23) Betsy Forsyth

As expected, as of October 25, the fall colors in the high country of Inyo County are pretty much done. However, colors in the Owens Valley, including the Bishop area, are spectacular! To top it off, the incoming weather brought in amazing clouds this week making for some amazing images, according to color spotter Betsy Forsyth. Plan your visit to this special place in the next 7-10 days. 

Southern Inyo County

The Valley is ablaze with yellow!! Between the cottonwoods and the rabbit brush, it can feel like fields of gold. 

  • 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 pretty much past peak. There are a few aspen groves holding onto some green leaves, but for the most part it is lots of leafless trees. With a cold front moving into the area, the best colors will be at the lower elevations like the Owens Valley.

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′) –  Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • 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′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! Right above Four Jeffries there are still a couple of stands of aspen that are covered in beautiful yellow/orange leaves, but probably not for long. 

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′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! The top of the canyon is past peak, while the lower areas of Big Trees still has some yellows. 
Owens Valley (10/25/23) Betsy Forsyth
Bishop City Park (10/25/23) Betsy Forsyth

Bishop
Bishop and the Owens Valley are really beautiful right now. 

  • Bishop (4,150′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. Bishop has a nice variety of trees in various stages of their fall colors. City Park will be a great spot to visit in the coming week. 
  • 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, depending on what effect this coming cold front has on them. That said, the Owens Valley is REALLY BEAUTIFUL as of 10/25/23! 

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 the cottonwoods and poplars. The rabbit brush is still out there creating more yellows throughout the Valley. 
  • Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Past peak, you missed it
  • Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! This canyon still has lots of yellows throughout. 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 will be turning soon. 
Pine Creek (10/25/23) Betsy Forsyth
Pine Creek (10/25/23) Betsy Forsyth
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Grand Finale of Fall Brilliance in Mono

Mammoth Rock, Mammoth Lakes (10/23/23) Samantha Lindberg

It’s been “leaf, laugh, love” for those who made it to Mono County this past week, says color spotter Jeff Simpson. Incredible weather conditions over the weekend with some of the most vibrant leaves we’ve ever seen in our 12 of reporting made for a truly wonderful week of leaf peeping. 

All locations with the exception of Antelope Valley (the towns of Walker, Coleville, and Topaz) are at 100% and won’t last much longer. June Lake, Convict Lake, McGee Creek, Lower Lee Vining Creek, Twin Lakes Bridgeport, and the community of Crowley Lake have the best chance to make it through the weekend and into next week. Unsettled weather has moved into Mono County with wind and a chance of snow so we can’t guarantee how much longer the leaves will stick around.

The banks of the West Walker River and the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz are just approaching peak colors and are your best shot for peaking leaves after this weekend. Lower Rock Creek Trail near the town of Paradise should also be a great spot into next week.

This is your last call for fall in Mono County until next year! 

Walker, Coleville, Topaz will be the last hurrah of fall color in Mono County in the coming weeks (10/23/23) Jeff Simpson Mono County Tourism

WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) 75-100% GO NOW! – The West Walker River is at full peak with Walker, Coleville and Topaz reaching peak by the weekend.
Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) Past Peak

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES
Twin Lakes (7,000′) 100% GO NOW! – Last call for twin lakes! 
Bodie Hills (9,419′) Past Peak
Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Past Peak
Conway Summit (8,143) – Past Peak
Summers Meadow (7,200′) Past Peak

LEE VINING
Tioga Pass (9,943′) Past Peak
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) 100% GO NOW! The best color is located along lower Lee Vining Creek trail. 
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) 100% GO NOW! Past Peak in some areas. A few good groves still sticking around.

BENTON & 120 EAST 
Sagehen Summit (8,139’) Past Peak

JUNE LAKE LOOP
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) 100% GO NOW! Absolutely brilliant this past week with many locations still hanging on.

MAMMOTH LAKES 
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) Past Peak

CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) 100% GO NOW! Still some spots hanging on closer to US 395
Around Crowley community (6,781′) 100% GO NOW! Brilliant color this past weekend that should be sticking around.
Convict Lake (7850′) 100% GO NOW! breathtaking last night! last chance for this special spot!

ROCK CREEK CANYON
Rock Creek Road (9,600’) Past Peak but great color along lower Rock Creek Trail out of Paradise. 

Walker, Coleville, Topaz will be the last hurrah of fall color in Mono County in the coming weeks (10/23/23) Jeff Simpson Mono County Tourism
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Treats for the Eyes and Tastebuds in Plumas

Home nestled in color on Feather River Drive off Main Street, Chester (10/23/23) Jake Edwards

Color spotters in Plumas County are just getting into the meat of color season. We rounded up the following happenings from this week.

In Eastern Plumas County, there are still beautiful aspens in higher elevations, such as the hikers in the image below found along the Jamison Creek Trail.

The Quincy area, as mentioned earlier this week, is at 100% peak! Just about everywhere you look, the town is bursting with awesome autumn color.

The oaks are starting to turn along Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon and will continue to be showy for a few weeks. Highway 89 along Indian Creek is looking quite lovely despite burn scars from the Dixie Fire.

In Indian Valley and Genesee, maples and dogwood are still looking lovely and the oaks are starting to turn. Stop by the Genesee Store (open Friday-Sunday), nestled in the valley for a gourmet meal while you’re out leaf peeping.

Chester, on Hwy 36, is peaking with some amazing colors captured by Jake Edwards, Scenescapery. While you are there, make sure you take in some fall treats at the popular Cravings, or stop in to visit American Interiors in its historical building framed by fall foliage currently at peak.

Pond behind Chester High School (10/23/23) Jake Edwards
Bridge by Chester's historical library (10/23/23) Jake Edwards
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Updates From Route 50

Bridal Veil Falls along Route 50 (10/24/23) Rogersl Dunstan

While leaves along the American River at 3,500′ have peaked and fallen, and the aspens on Ice House Road are long past their prime, colors at Bridal Veil Falls along US Route 50 are still looking quite nice. This was demonstrated by a recent submission from color spotter Rogersl Dunstan.

American River (3,500′) : Peaking – GO NOW!

Bridal Veil Falls along Route 50 (10/24/23) Rogersl Dunstan
Ice House Road aspens past prime (10/22/23) Rogersl Dunstan
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Cold Weather Arrives in the Eastern Sierra

North Lake with icy water in the foreground (10/14/23) Gary Hromada

Color spotter, Gary Hromada caught the tail end of color in the high country in Inyo County during a recent fall color trip to the Eastern Sierra.

Hromada visited North Lake and caught a glimpse of the seasonal changes as freezing temperatures created layers of ice in the lake that made the fall colors even more stunning.

“I camped nearby and it was 20 degrees when I got up for the short drive to the lake,” he exclaimed.

Cold temperatures are continuing and a storm is rolling into the Eastern Sierra this week, bringing some color locations to an end while others are still hanging in there. See the full Inyo County report tomorrow, Oct. 26.

North Lake frontage road (10/14/23) Gary Hromada
North Lake's icy waters (10/14/23) Gary Hromada
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Exploring Plumas County

Indian Valley and Genesee (10/21/23) Jeff Titcomb

Color spotter Jeff Titcomb has been exploring many beautiful spots in Plumas County in the past week where the colors are going off. Put the following areas on your GO NOW list: Indian Valley, Genesee, Round Valley and Almanor.
Spotting a different type of fall color in Indian Valley and Genesee (10/21/23) Jeff Titcomb
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Quincy At Its Best

Quincy Methodist Church (10/23/23) Michael Beatley

The quaint town of Quincy is peaking and according to color spotter Michael Beatley, it is the very best show in many years and you don’t want to miss it.

An historic town with historic color this year, Quincy is “ablaze with color and so very close to peak,” says Beatley. 

“Maples, Sycamores surround the historic Plumas Superior courthouse,” he adds. “Jackson Street has many 19th century homes, lined with maples. Dame Shirley Park next to the courthouse downtown is beautiful, and named after a gold rush lady who wrote the Dame Shirley Letters while living at Rich Bar during the gold rush.”

You don’t want to miss Quincy this year, so GO NOW and enjoy!

Maples and Sycamores in Quincy (10/23/23) Michael Beatley
Dame Shirley Park (10/23/23) Michael Beatley
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88 is Great

Scott's Lake (10/21/23) Jennifer Natale

Color spotter Jennifer Natale took a drive last weekend on Hwy 88 over to Kirkwood. She stopped at the Hope Valley Red Barn, hiked Big Meadow to Scott’s Lake and then headed to South Tahoe.

She found some nice color along the Kirkwood overlooks and at Sugar Pine Point Park. There was also lots of color at Fallen Leaf Lake and Taylor Creek in South Lake Tahoe that was at or near peak.

Get to all of these areas soon as the color won’t be there for long.
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Tahoe’s Terrific

Agate Bay (10/23/23) John Poimiroo

We drove up to Tahoe for the day in order to check on bear damage at our family cabin and found a bright surprise.

Aspen, bigleaf maple, cottonwood and exotics were all aglow with color ringing the lake with a golden necklace.

  • Agate Bay, North Lake Tahoe (6,227′) – Peak (756 – 100%) GO NOW!
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Nearly Perfect in Nevada City

Nevada City was showing a gorgeous array of color over the weekend when color spotter Lucas Yan visited.

“I would say that the foliage is at 50% with many trees turning orange and red in the streets around downtown,” Yan says. “I expect more trees should be turning in the upcoming week so definitely a great time to go.”

After seeing Yan’s images, we couldn’t agree more.
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