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Nevada City Nearly Gone

Nevada City (11/20/23) MIchelle English

I would say we are finally, certainly past peak, says Michelle English from Nevada City.

Just don’t tell the black oaks, most gum trees, and the Japanese maples, which are still showing some color, as well as this spectacular, hanging in there wall of Boston ivy!

Nevada City – Past Peak – You Missed It

Wall of Boston Ivy (11/20/23) Michelle English
Nevada City (11/20/23) MIchelle English
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Apple Hill is Astounding

Apple Hill (11/18/23) Vishal Mishra
It was a fall-filled weekend for Vishal Mishra and his wife, Seema, who took a long, rainy drive from the Bay Area to Apple Hill in El Dorado County.
 
We have been fortunate to get good rain over the last few days, Mishra said.
 
“It was pouring the entire day (November 18), but made for brighter colors! Absolutely vibrant in most parts of Apple Hill, Placerville and Camino. It surely seems to be peaking right now,” he said.
 
Cider and donuts rounded out the experience for a perfect combo of fall favorites.
 
Apple Hill, Camino (3,133′) – Full Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Apple Hill (11/18/23) Vishal Mishra
A rainy day at Apple Hill made for bright foliage (11/18/23) Vishal Mishra
Apple Hill (11/18/23) Vishal Mishra
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Sierra Foothills on Fire

Sunset, El Dorado Hills (11/19/23) John Poimiroo

In a year with satisfyingly few wildfires, it’s gratifying to report that the Sierra foothills are finally on fire with fall color.

From sunsets blazing across the horizon to oak woodlands glowing with orange embers, the foothills are putting on a colorful show.

Fremont Cottonwood, El Dorado Trail, Camino Heights (11/19/23) John Poimiroo
  • Miner’s Ravine, Roseville (168′) – Near Peak (50 – 75%) Go Now.
  • Folsom Lake State Recreation Area (220′) – Near Peak (50 – 75%) Go Now.
  • El Dorado Hills (768′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
  • El Dorado Trail, Placerville (1,867′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
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Lovin’ That Color County

Champion Mine Road in Nevada City (11/12/23) Tom Pitts
In and around Nevada City, colors are looking bright and beautiful according to Michelle English.
 
Bear Yuba Land Trust’s Cascade Canal Trail, on Banner Mountain in Nevada City was looking lovely on November 12 and again on November 14, 2023.
 
This is one of the area’s most popular trails, English says. You can make it a mellow stroll on level ground along the canal, or you can get those glutes working by heading off on a few side loops.
 
“It’s glorious and has a special woodpecker preserve area off of one of the loops,” she explains. “We saw a pair of Pileated woodpeckers pounding away at a large snag, which was worth the uphill on the return, for sure.”
 
Champion Mine Road in Nevada City is also part of the Bear-Yuba Land Trust’s Tribute Trail system, so you can have these fall views on amazing trail hikes and you even get to cross a super nifty suspension bridge over Deer Creek.
 
“Lovin’ our county right now!” English says.
Bear Yuba Land Trust's Cascade Canal Trail (11/14/23) Michelle English
A different kind of fall color (11/14/23) Michelle English
Hospital in Grass Valley (11/14/23) Michelle English
Hospital in Grass Valley (11/14/23) Michelle English
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Grass Valley = GO Right Now!

Grass Valley /Nevada City(11/10/23) Michelle English

Color spotter Michelle English exclaimed this weekend that Grass Valley and Nevada City are a GO RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND!

“While the few iconic huge trees are done, the area is definitely at peak right meow! It’s insane.”

“My brother and I have been leaf peepin’ like crazy lately! So much to see here in town – and all the native maples, dogwoods, and oaks going off along every local hiking and walking trail. Pretty certain I even saw either the county, or Nevada City listed as a top 10 western US fall destination recently. Definitely glorious currently!”

So get out there before it’s gone!

Grass Valley/Nevada City (11/10/23) Michelle English
Grass Valley/Nevada City (11/10/23) Michelle English
Grass Valley/Nevada City (11/10/23) Michelle English
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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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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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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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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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Ready to be Picked

Boa Vista Orchards, Apple Hill, Camino (10/16/23) John Poimiroo

A manly man carried a tiny pumpkin to the register at the Pumpkin Patch at Boa Vista Orchards. Regardless the size of the pumpkin, guys, it’s what you do for your wife and child when they’ve picked the perfect pumpkin.

It’s a ritual that plays out daily during autumn in the Sierra foothills. Each generation of dads (and moms) gets to carry the pumpkin to the register.

Autumn is about such earthly rituals and few places enact them quite as colorfully and tastefully than Camino’s Apple Hill.

There, irresistible apple donuts, apple pies, apple ciders, apple turnovers, apple sauce, apple strudel, and – of course – just-picked apples are on display until the Christmas Tree farms take over. 

Then, another ritual occurs … cutting the Christmas tree.

Goldbud Farms, Apple HIll, Camino (10/16/23) John Poimiroo
  • Apple Hill, Camino (3,133′) – Patchy (10-50%)