Yosemite National Park is open and colorful again. Black oak in Yosemite Valley are approaching peak. A color spotter posted a photo of a particularly beautiful landmark tree in Ahwahnee Meadow that is putting on a show of orange and black, with Half Dome rising above in the distance.
GO NOW! 50-75% – Yosemite Valley – Approaching peak among the black oak, which should continue to show color for a week or two, conditions permitting.
Jeff Titcomb provides these videos of the brilliant color to be seen near Greenville on the way to the Round Valley (Plumas County).
[embedplusvideo height=”400″ width=”600″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1a5Ojv3″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/lR5WMCjPRYs?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=lR5WMCjPRYs&width=600&height=400&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=” id=”ep5369″ /]
[embedplusvideo height=”400″ width=”600″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1a5MVbX” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/JXHdYgV5uO4?fs=1&hd=1″ vars=”ytid=JXHdYgV5uO4&width=600&height=400&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=1&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=” id=”ep3978″ /]
Aspen, Mammoth Lakes Basin (10/22/13) Susan Morning
Edina Ingram reports, “the weather in Mammoth Lakes remains gorgeous. With daytime temperatures in the mid 60s: crisp air, bright blue skies and a forest of yellow, now is a perfect time for sightseeing, hiking or mountain biking.” The Mammoth Lakes area is in full peak at lower elevations and past peak at higher elevations.
Aspen, Mammoth Lakes (10/22/13) Susan Morning
GO NOW! 75-100% – Mammoth Lakes (7,500′) – Fall color is peaking at Mammoth Creek, and Convict Lake, just south of Mammoth. The trail around Convict Lake, ten minutes south of Mammoth Lakes, remains beautiful. The aspen grove at the backside is fully vibrant. In Mammoth Lakes Basin, hike the trail ascending from the Twin Lakes parking lot to spots of great color.
Past Peak – Above 8,000 feet – Fall color is just past peak. This includes upper regions of the Lakes Basin in Mammoth Lakes and the Devils Postpile National Monument (closes Oct. 31).
Lake Tahoe, East Shore (10/21/13) DK
DK from Glenbrook on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe pitches us these shots of the east shore still glowing at Lake Tahoe.
Glenbrook, Lake Tahoe (10/21/13) DK
Tahoe City (10/19/13) Linnea Wahamaki
Donner Summit (10/18/13) Linnea Wahamaki
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Lake Tahoe – Cottonwood and aspen are still dressed in gold along the shore of the lake, though each day more leaves flutter to the forest floor. Linnea Wahamaki sends these snaps of Tahoe City and Donner Summit.
June Lake (10/12/13) Alicia Vennos
Mono County has come into magnificence with reports from color spotter Alicia Vennos of areas of this Eastern Sierra County that we haven’t seen previously. This is most definitely the weekend to head to the East Side. Now that the federal shutdown has ended, Yosemite National Park has reopened (Tioga Pass remained open throughout the shutdown). So, this is likely the last, best weekend to head across the Sierra through Yosemite (Hwy 120 – The Tioga Road).
McGee Creek Canyon (10/16/13) Ethan James
McGee Creek Canyon (10/16/13) Ethan James
GO NOW! 75 – 100% – McGee Creek Canyon – Alicia reports that “There is a real mix of color right now at McGee — some trees are past peak, some are perfect, and others are still tiptoeing towards lime green and yellow. The campground area is the richest in color, right now, but the hiking trail has some gorgeous gold and orange, too.
Convict Lake (10/16/13) Convict Lake Resort
Silver Lake (10/12/13) Alicia Vennos
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Convict Lake – The entire canyon is at peak. There are lots of spectacular colors to be seen on the ride to the lake, including intense yellow, brilliant orange and, recently, traces of burnt Sienna. This is about the last weekend to see full color at Convict Lake, as large sections along the upper creek above the lake are dropping their leaves. If you’re going, take advantage of these deals and offers:
Double Eagle Resort & Spa, June Lake Loop (10/13/13) Ralph Lockhart
June Lake (10/14/13) Rachel Jackson
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – June Lake – 100% – Alicia reports that “It is pretty much perfection right now around everyone’s favorite “loop”, a.k.a. Hwy. 158″ We’ll add, that if you can get away, this is the prime weekend to see the June Lake Loop in all its glory. We’ll probably be reporting past week, next week. Ralph Lockhart at the Double Eagle Resort and Spa reports the entire north end of the June Lake Loop is “Exploding, right now.”
Therese LaChance Ely paints fall color at Parker Lake (10/12/13) Alicia Vennos
Parker Lake (10/12/13) Alicia Vennos
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Parker Lake – 100% – This small, but majestic lake, attracts many young families, a few anglers, photographers and – this past weekend – even award-winning artist, Therese LaChance Ely, well-known for her “Sierra-scapes.”
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Lundy Lake – We’re amazed that Lundy has been so spectacular for so long. This could be the last weekend to see it at peak. Alicia describes it as “at peak and glorious, especially along Lundy Lake Road.” The popular hiking trail at the end of the dirt road, past Lundy Lake Resort, is past peak with just a few bright trees left.
Little Walker Lake (10/14/13) Alicia Vennos
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Little Walker Lake – Little Walker is a beautiful, lesser-known lake in dramatic Bloody Canyon, just north of the June Lake Loop. Directions: At the north end of Hwy. 158, take Parker Lake Road and then the first right, following the signs. The trail starts high with a lovely view down to the lake.
Color spotter Jared Smith of Parchers Resort reports that a solid week of sub-zero temperatures finished what was left of fall color up Bishop Creek Canyon. Inyo County’s show now moves down in elevation to the Owens Valley. Here’s Jared’s last report of autumn, 2013:
Overall Conditions above 8500ft Past Peak
A solid week of frigid weather did in most of the color that was left. The color arrived a little early this year and while it was beautiful for a while, it’s mostly gone now. Hopefully next fall lasts a bit longer.
Overall Conditions below 8500ft Past Peak
Still some color lower in the canyon, especially near Bishop Creek Lodge and Big Trees Campground, however much of the brilliant yellow is more of an auburn after the cold temps of the last week. It’s safe to say that the best color has come and gone, even in the lower reaches of the canyon.
Parchers Resort closes for the season Sunday 10-20-13 and with most of the fall color gone, this will be our last report of the season. We would like to thank everyone who followed our reports and all of those who provided positive feedback. We look forward to 2014 and another batch of fall color reports. Feel free to email us to join the fall color list any time and we’ll make sure you get the latest greatest reports as soon as we start them next year.
We are indebted to color spotters Jared Smith and Krisdina Karady for supplying such detailed and colorful reports. Because of their reports, California Fall Color is left with memories of beautiful color on an early, but long-lasting show up Bishop Creek.
Parcher’s Camp (9/26/13) Krisdina Karady
Silver Lake (10/13/13) Rachel Jackson
Here’s a selection of nice photos taken this past weekend in Mono County by Rachel Jackson.
June Lake Loop (10/13/13) Rachel Jackson
Silver Lake (10/13/13) Rachel Jackson
Mammoth Creek, Sunday Evening (10/13/13) Susan Morning
Color spotter Edina Ingram reports that the Mammoth Lakes area is closer to full peak in lower elevations. Jaganath Achari seconds her assessment and reports, after visiting Mammoth and June Lakes this past weekend that, “it was busting in colors all over the place.”
He added, “You really have no idea how many times I refresh your home page every day this season… Now eagerly waiting for your Napa/Sonoma and Shasta Cascade reports!” OK, Jag, you’ve challenged us. We’ll put out a report on the wine country this week. From photos we’ve seen, some Sonoma County vineyards – it’s always spotty there- are 50%.
Getting back to Mammoth/June, here’s the latest:
Convict Lake (10/12/13) Jaganath Achari
Gull Lake (10/13/13) Jaganath Achari
Aspen, Lundy Canyon (10/12/13) Jaganath Achari
Conway Summit (10/12/13) Jaganath Achari
GO NOW! – 50-75% – 7,500′ Elevation and Below – Mammoth Creek and areas off Sherwin Creek Road in Mammoth Lakes are approaching or at full peak.
GO NOW! – 75-100% – 8,000′ Elevation and Above – Similar to what’s happened at Rock Creek and Bishop Creek, areas above 8,000′ are beginning to die off with trees showing half their leaves. You’ll find color leading up to these elevations, though increasingly less color the higher up you go.
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – June Lake – Full Peak.
GO NOW! – 50 – 75% – Conway Summit – Broad swaths of yellow aspen are turning orange, as Conway Summit continues to lag behind nearby canyons (Lundy, Virginia Creek, Twin Lakes).
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Twin Lakes, Bridgeport – This canyon tucked at the southwest end of the Bridgeport basin is often overlooked by leaf peepers and photogs, though it shouldn’t be. Jaganath Achari didn’t miss visiting it on his trip to the East Side this past weekend and provides this panorama of the lakes, fringed with gold and backed by impressive Sierra peaks. It’s worth a diversion, when traveling US 395 through Bridgeport… famous for its rustic cabins and fishing.
Sierra Fall Creek Cabin, US 395, South of Mammoth Lakes (10/11/13) Susan Taylor
Photographer Susan Taylor was hiking south of Mammoth Lakes, off US 395, when she happened upon this cabin among golden aspen by a creek. A talented artist, Susan made the most of the moment, proving again that “seren” is the best kind of “dipity.” CLICK HERE to see more of her work.
Lundy Canyon, Mono County (10/12/13) Steve Wolfe
Color spotter Steve Wolfe sends this gorgeous shot of full color in Lundy Canyon in the Eastern Sierra (Mono County). Apologies to Steve and all other photographers who emailed photos but didn’t see them posted. I have finally figured out why those emails were getting lost and had 8,000 email messages fill our inbox, this morning! Regrettably, we’ll only be able to post the most recent shots.
75 – 100% – Lundy Canyon – Full Peak