, ,

Lovely, Rain or Shine

Red maple, Big Bear Lake (10/13/18) Kathleen DiGregorio

Liquidambar, Big Bear Lake (10/13/18) Kathleen DiGregorio

North Lake, Big Bear Lake (10/13/18) Kathleen DiGregorio

Aspen, Big Bear Lake (10/13/18) Kathleen DiGregorio

Kathleen DiGregorio says Big Bear Lake is lovely, rain or shine.

A rainy Saturday drive took DiGregorio to Blue Jay (First Report), Big Bear Lake and Snow Summit, where she found color mixed, estimating two to three weeks more color, depending on weather.

We’re not as optimistic, rating Big Bear native color as now Near Peak to Peak. It should be noted that several of the species Kathleen photographed were exotics, which have a different fall color clock.

To get away from it all, Kathleen found solitude by using the AllTrails app, reporting that an aspen grove near the rangers’ station at North Shore is lovely. 

  • Big Bear Lake (6,752′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

 

, ,

California’s Crater Lake

Crater Lake Campground, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jason Paine

Crater Lake Campground, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jason Paine

Crater Lake Campground, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jason Paine

Crater Lake Campground, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jason Paine

Crater Lake Campground, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jason Paine

Crater Lake Campground, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jason Paine

California has a Crater Lake, too.

It’s not as big, as deep or as blue as Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park, but unlike the national park, hardly anyone is ever there.

It’s Crater Lake Campground in Lassen National Forest near Susanville.

The campground has 17 sites that rent for $10 each.

Groves of peaking aspen ring the lake, as shown in these shots in this First Report on Crater Lake submitted by Jason Paine.

Best of all, by camping there in autumn, you can say you visited Crater Lake and had it all to yourself. 

  • Crater Lake Campground (6,929′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

, ,

Puttin’ on the Dog

Dog Valley (10/8/18) Clayton Peoples

Dog Valley is puttin’ on the dog.

Dog Valley (10/8/18) Clayton Peoples

Dog Valley (10/8/18) Clayton Peoples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Color spotter Clayton Peoples was in search of an old crystal mine in the eastern Sierra foothills (near Reno) where people can pick up crystals – as many as they can carry in a five gallon bucket (in a week) – and happened to pack along his camera.

Just asking, but how many times have any of us gone out, thinking we wouldn’t need to bring along a camera, only to find glorious color!? I sure have.
Clayton didn’t make that mistake. He recalled there were aspen along Dog Valley Rd and when he got there, they were, “sporting various shades of yellow. With numerous pines (it is in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest), the forest has “a nice contrast between the yellow aspen and the dark green pines.” Ka-ching!
“Granted,” he advises, “this area is not as vibrant as many fall color hotspots elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada, but it does offer pleasant scenery and numerous stands of aspen,” and, he had his camera with him. Another First Report for Clayton Peoples.
A word of caution: Dog Valley Rd is a dirt road. So, a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. For directions, CLICK HERE
  • Dog Valley (6,700′) – Patchy (10-50)
, ,

Mulholland Miracle

California sycamore, Mulholland Highway, Santa Monica Mountains (10/6/18) Peter Asco

California sycamore, Mulholland Highway, Santa Monica Mountains (10/6/18) Peter Asco

California sycamore, Mulholland Highway, Santa Monica Mountains (10/6/18) Peter Asco

“Following the black walnut’s fall wake up call, come the majestic sycamore … showcasing colors rarely seen in So Cal native flora,” Peter Asco reported.

As Peter scouted Mulholland Highway, in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, on a “perfect, partially cloudy day” this past weekend, he “came upon a scenery alien to our landscape, a grove of imposing 100 foot high sycamore.”

They were, “… no longer displaying their usual drab mud-brown seasonal shift, but dressed instead in orange, yellow, green, and red, definitely a miracle!”

“The native California sycamore (Platanus racemosais a true beauty at maturity.

Along the coast the gnarled, twisted, flaking trunks of ancient California sycamore are often distorted into Seussian shapes. I like to think they were what inspired Southern California’s Dr. Seuss to draw trees that way. Certainly, they are one of the most sculpturally fascinating trees in a state full of them.

Not all California sycamore bend and twist in this way, though all are beautiful and Peter scores a First Report for his photographs of Near Peak California sycamore along the Mulholland Highway.

Will miracles never cease. 

Mulholland Highway, Santa Monica Mountains NRA, Malibu – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

, ,

Path Less Traveled to Jonesville

Cowboy’s Shack, Humboldt Rd., Plumas County (10/5/18) Robert Kermen

Butte Creek, Humboldt Rd., Plumas County (10/5/18) Robert Kermen

Bracken Fern, Humboldt Rd., Plumas County (10/5/18) Robert Kermen

Butte Creek, Humboldt Rd., Plumas County (10/5/18) Robert Kermen

Indian Rhubarb, Butte Creek, Plumas County (10/5/18) Robert Kermen

When you take the path less traveled, you’re sure to pass the unexpected.

North Sacramento Valley color spotter Robert Kermen did just that, on a return trip from Nevada to the Sacramento Valley, choosing a route he’d taken rarely, thereby scoring a First Report for the route.

Kermen drove the historic Humboldt Wagon Road, west from Lake Almanor. It winds past Humboldt Peak, eventually crossing into Butte County above Jonesville. In Plumas County, it’s county road 307.

The route was envisioned as a toll road across the Sierra in the mid 1860s. Hotels were built at stage stops and one of California’s richest pioneers (John Bidwell) lost a fortune developing it, when the idea was surpassed by the Big Four’s (Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, Collis Potter Huntington and Charles Crocker’s) Central Pacific Railroad which reached the Gold Country by 1867.

Today, the mostly forgotten route passes quiet, “surprisingly large”  meadows foraged by cattle that are grazing on autumn’s last grasses and awaiting their late autumn drive down to the Sacramento Valley.

Cowboys on horseback used to drive cattle down the Humboldt Road. Today, the cattle drive is done by truck and all that remains of that era are the cattle and an overgrown rancher’s shack that stands as a weathered remembrance of those days (40° 8’37.33″N, 121°14’54.38″W).

After crossing Humbug Summit, the road drops into Jonesville by way of Scott’s John Rd. Peaking bracken fern line the route along with Patchy aspen and alder carrying various shades of green, lime, yellow and gold.

Along the banks of Butte Creek, Indian Rhubard (Darmera) are still Patchy, their large, orange-red umbrella-shaped leaves brighten the shoreline.

Kermen recalled his family’s Jonesville cabin where as a youth he fished Butte, Colby and Jones Creeks, returning home with strings of big German brown trout.

Jonesville is having a sort of revival. The last existing stage stop along the Humboldt Rd., the Jonesville Hotel, is in the process of being restored and preserved as described HERE by the Chico News & Review.

On his drive back along memory lane, Robert Kermen found unexpected beauty along a path less traveled. 

Humboldt Road (Plumas 307) – Patchy (10-50%)

 

, ,

Coldstream Valley A First

Coldstream Valley, Truckee (9/30/18) Robert Kermen

Steps from Donner Memorial Park in Truckee is the trailhead to Coldstream Valley.

The hike is mellow after a short climb up the glacial moraine of the glacier that once filled the valley. In spring, the valley is decorated with wildflowers and in autumn, scattered fall color. The entire loop is 6 mi.

Robert Kermen was exploring Truckee and the Martis Valley when he scored a first report for Coldstream Valley. He found spots of bright yellow along Cold Creek and near the valley’s  ponds.

Robert continued east on I-80 into the Martis Valley, exiting at Hirschdale road to find anglers surrounded by yellow reflections in the Truckee River. 

Coldstream Valley, Truckee (5,817′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

, ,

Shine On Harvest Moon

Harvest Moon, Lassen Peak (9/23/18) Chico Hiking Association

Mountain Maples and Oceanspray (9/24/18) Chico Hiking Association

Mountain Maples (9/24/18) Chico Hiking Association

Indian Rhubarb, Deer Creek, CA-32 (9/24/18) Chico Hiking Association

On its explorations yesterday, the Chico Hiking Association captured the harvest moon (the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox) rising over Lassen National Park.

A harvest moon is called such, because it puts out a lot of bright light in early evening, that has traditionally aided farmers with bringing in the harvest, the Old Farmer’s Almanac tells us.

Harvest moons also have the shortest difference in the time that they rise each day. Whereas in other months of the year, moons rise about 50 minutes apart on each successive day. Near the autumnal equinox, a harvest moon rises both near sunset and 30 minutes later than the previous day.

That is a yearly minimum difference which explains why it can appear that there are multiple full moons in a row. If you happened to photograph this year’s harvest moons, send images to editor@californiafallcolor.com. We’d love to share them.

On its weekend explorations, CHA visited Elam Campground in Lassen National Forest (50 mi. east of Chico) where sunlight, not a harvest moon, illuminated the gold and orange foliage of Mountain Maple, Acer glabrum, and Oceanspray, Holodiscus discolor, formidable shrubs ( 5 to 20′ tall) that grow along rocky slopes.

Indian Rhubarb, Darmera, are approaching Near Peak beside CA-32 along Deer Creek.

Elsewhere in the Shasta Cascade Region, color spotter Jeff Titcomb sent the following snaps of a variety of native and exotic foliage exhibiting early peak color, including: California wild grape, firethorn (pyracantha), Pacific dogwood, bigleaf maple, and chokecherry. 

Elam Campground (4,380′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

California Wild Grape , Quincy (9/22/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Firethorn, pyracantha, Quincy (9/22/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Pacific dogwood, Quincy (9/22/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Bigleaf Maple. Greenville (9/22/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Bigleaf maple, Greenville (9/22/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Chokecherry, Greenville (9/22/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Chokecherry (9/22/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb

 

, ,

Autumn Opens at Tahoe Donner & Truckee

Aspen, Mountain Mule Ear, Tahoe Donner (9/22/18) Herb Hwang

Tahoe Donner (9/23/18) Herb Hwang

Tahoe Donner (9/23/18) Herb Hwang

Truckee color spotter Herb Hwang was out and about on the first day of autumn and scored a First Report for Tahoe Donner.

Herb found Peak mountain mule ear at Peak, though the overall impression of the Tahoe Donner area was of Patchy quaking aspen displaying a mix of lime, yellow and orange.

He returned on Sunday to find even more color developing.

Then, Clayton Peoples drove CA-267 over Brockway Summit at North Tahoe and “much to my surprise” found Near Peak  aspen surrounding the old shack. That is very early peak color for this area.

He continued, “Although there is still a bit of lime green, most of the aspen trees have already turned yellow/gold (with a few orange leaves mixed in). Conditions are great there at the moment. Given that the leaves there often fall quickly once they’ve reached peak, I’d recommend that people “GO NOW!,” so they don’t miss out.”

Shack in the Aspen, Hwy 267 (9/23/18) Clayton Peoples

With all this early color, I have to ask, “What’s happening along the I-80 corridor?”  

Tahoe Donner (6,700′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Hwy 267, Brockway Summit (7,201′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

Shack in the Aspen, Hwy 267 (9/23/18) Clayton Peoples

,

Sunflower Flat Trail A First Report For Plumas County

Dwarf Bilberry, Green Island Lake, Sunflower Flat Trail (9/21/18) Chico Hiking Association

Dwarf Bilberry, Green Island Lake, Sunflower Flat Trail (9/21/18) Chico Hiking Association

Aspen, Saucer Lake, Sunflower Flat Trail (9/21/18) Chico Hiking Association

Crimson dwarf bilberry, lime quaking aspen and golden grasses are to be enjoyed along  the Sunflower Flat Trail in Jonesville Canyon (Plumas County), the Chico Hiking Association reports.

The Sunflower Flat Trail passes winds through woods past Saucer Lake and Green Island Lake and is a short hike. 

Sunflower Flat Trail, Plumas County – Just Starting (0-10%)

Jonesville-Canyon Trail Map

, , ,

Mono County Posts California’s First “Go Now!”

Rock Creek Lake (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism

Lobdell Lake Rd. (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism

Sagehen Summit (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism

Rock Creek Lake (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism

Rock Creek Lake (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism

Jeff Simpson of Mono County Tourism is exclaiming, “What a difference a week makes!”

He has the enviable job of touring his Eastern Sierra county each week during autumn to report on the state of fall color and was thrilled to declare the first Near Peak color for California forests.

While fall color has been developing gradually elsewhere and some Peak and Near Peak color has been reported for grasses and shrubs, Mono County’s Sagehen Summit and Rock Creek Lake are the first forest areas suddenly Near Peak and predicted to fully peak within a week.

Jeff attributes the emerging peak color to colder night temperatures in the Eastern Sierra.

The perimeter of Rock Creek Lake is splashed with lime, yellow, orange and red Quaking Aspen. Follow trails around the lake and toward Hilton Creek  and the Little Lakes Valley to be immersed in it.

The lower sections of Rock Creek Canyon remain Just Starting, though Jeff says a few yellow trees are found around the East Fork Campground area.

Last autumn, Sagehen Summit was a big “wow” and it appears the show has returned to Sagehen with a gradient colors to be seen, from red atop the summit, to deep orange down slope, to deep green at the base of the road.

Jeff admits that Sagehen is “still a little ripe,” but forsees  improvement over this weekend.

Simpson scores a First Report (the first report posted on this site about any given location) by recommending continuing to drive Sagehen Meadows Road to “Johnny Meadows for additional groves of aspens and fall color viewing.”

Still developing are Monitor Pass, Sonora Pass, Lobdell Lake Road, Virginia Lakes and Tioga Pass. Jeff writes that “Each of these areas have great sections of color but are still too patchy for a full endorsement.” 

Rock Creek Lake (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From north to south along US 395 in Mono Çounty, here’s what you’ll see.

Walker/Coleville/Topaz

  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) Patchy (10-50%)
  • Lobdell Lake Road (8,600′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Burcham Flat Rd. is now open to through traffic only, with no stopping in the Boot Fire burn area.
  • Walker Canyon (5,200′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Towns of Walker & Coleville- Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – 10-50% Patchy

Bridgeport/Virginia Lakes

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Patchy (10-50%)  – Approaching Near Peak.
  • Conway Summit (8,143)- Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′)- Just Starting (0-10%)

Lee Vining

  • Tioga Pass (9,943′) Patchy (10-50%)
  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

Benton & 120 East

  • Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – Peak color at the top with vibrant reds with yellows and greens abundant at the lower levels around the road.

June Lake Loop

  • June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Parker Lake (8,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

Mammoth Lakes

  • Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

Crowley Lake/McGee Creek/Convict Lake

  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Convict Lake (7850′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

Rock Creek Canyon

  • Rock Creek Road (9,600’) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – Full peak color around the lake and in the trail heads of Hilton Creek and Little Lakes Valley. Patchy below Rock Creek Lodge and green below East Fork Campground.