Frémont cottonwood, Big Bear Lake (10/6/19) Trent Vierra
Big Bear Lake is experiencing perfect fall weather with warm, sunny days and very crisp cold nights, causing its trees to shift from Just Starting to Patchy, Trent Vierra reports.
“Many of the decorative trees in town, namely aspen and maple, are brilliant shades of gold (aspen) and red (maple). The native cottonwood is starting to yellow up in some spots and the black oak and willows are taking on a nice lime-green hue. I would expect peak to happen in about two to three weeks.”
Frémont cottonwood, Big Bear Lake (10/6/19) Trent Vierra
Bracken fern, Big Bear Lake (9/25/19) Mark Hanning-Lee
On the advice of an innkeeper, color spotter Mark Hanning-Lee drove from Big Bear (San Bernardino Mountains), up Aspen Glen Rd. and continued on Mill Creek Rd. for another two miles to find the forest floor carpeted with golden bracken fern and a lone willow that was positively irridescent.
Red maple, Pine Knot Rd, Big Bear Lake (9/25/19) Mark Hanning-Lee
Willow, Big Bear Lake (9/25/19) Mark Hanning-Lee
Big Bear is still in the early stages of showing Fall Color, though this photographs show that even the red maples along Pine Knot Rd in the village near Starbuck’s have decided to dress for autumn.
Hmmm, I wonder if Mark sipped a Maple-Pecan Latte while enjoying the color?
California sycamore, Valyermo (11/22/18) Trent Vierra
Thanksgiving Day took Trent Vierra to the Antelope Valley (Palmdale/Lancaster – First Report) to celebrate with family, by way of Wrightwood and Valyermo.
As he descended on CA-2 through Wrightwood (5,935′), Valyermo (3,711′), Palmdale (2,657′) and Lancaster (2,359′), the fall color kept getting better.
Black oak, Wrightwood (11/22/18) Trent Vierra
Willows, Wrightwood (11/22/18) Trent Vierra
Black oak were Past Peak in Wrightwood with only willow and cottonwood left showing orange and gold color.
CA-2, California Sycamore, Valyermo (11/22/18) Trent Vierra
California Sycamore, Valyermo (11/22/18) Trent Vierra
California Sycamore (11/22/18) Trent Vierra
California Sycamore, Valyermo (11/18/22) Trent Vierra
However, the California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) that Trent saw throughout Valyermo were in a word, Sensational.
Their gnarled and bleached trunks were sculpted into Seussian shapes with their crowns carrying “great copper orange color that served as a great contrast to the crystal blue skies that rain the previous night had created,” Trent described.
He continued that in his home area of Palmdale/Lancaster, “almost all the decorative deciduous trees were at peak color, so the Antelope Valley … is definitely at peak.”
Wrightwood (5,935′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT.
Valyermo (3,711′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
White pelicans, Lake Hemet (11/18/18) Alena Nicholas
White pelicans, Lake Hemet (11/18/18) Alena Nicholas
White pelicans, Lake Hemet (11/18/18) Alena Nicholas
Sometimes you don’t need fall color to find Peak.
Alena Nicholas found it Sunday at Lake Hemet in the San Jacinto Mountains, south of Idyllwild.
“Great cloud formations and active wildlife made up for “peak color,” she wrote. “As usual, there where plenty of guests fishing and camping at Lake Hemet,” and, as seen in these photos, several of them flew in for the weekend. (click to enlarge photos)
Bald eagle, Lake Hemet (11/18/18) Alena Nicholas
Bald eagle, Lake Hemet (11/18/18) Alena Nicholas
Bald eagle, Lake Hemet (11/18/18) Alena Nicholas
A photogenic flock of visiting white pelicans and resident pair of bald eagles have become local celebrities.
Lake Hemet’s human visitors rent 12′ motorboats, 22′ pontoon boats and kayaks at the marina or launch their own craft, to get closer to the birds. The pontoon boats are the most stable platform for capturing wildlife photography and the have the room to allow use of a tripod, which improves image sharpness.
The best way to approach is slowly and not closer than the point at which the birds notice or indicate concern about your presence. Otherwise, you’ll interrupt their natural behaviors and they will fly to another less-busy location. Too much of that and they’ll find another lake.
These wild birds perceive humans as a threat. So, a telephoto lens is needed to get closeup photographs.
Lake Hemet (11/18/18) Alena Nicholas
Dramatic cloud formations made colorful reflections on the lake. Along the shore, spots of Past Peak color could be seen. Nicholas estimates the remaining color should last through the Thanksgiving Day weekend, providing one more location to celebrate Orange Friday (the day following Thanksgiving Day to photograph fall color).
Idlyllwild (5,413′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT.
Lake Hemet (4,340′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
Black oak, Idyllwild (11/18/18) Alena Nicholas
Canada goose, Lake Hemet (11/18/18) Alena Nicholas
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-11-18 21:03:462018-11-19 11:59:37Peak on the Wing
An old red barn, Oak Glen (11/15/18) Alena Nicholas
At a mile high, Oak Glen in the San Bernardino Mountains is now past peak, though you couldn’t tell that from these photos submitted today by Southern California color spotter Alena Nicholas.
Unwilling to give up on autumn, Alena headed there today, returning with splashes of intense color to be seen along Oak Glen Rd. Firethorn, Pyracantha, hang heavy with their orange-red berries near the entrance to Parrish Ranch.
Pyracantha, Parrish Ranch, Oak Glen (11/15/18) Alena Nicholas
The 23 attractions along the route display a cornucopia of farm-fresh and farm-preserved apple butter, pears, apple pies, cider, blackberries, fudge, jellies and jams, cider-infused mini donuts and U-pick apples with a mix of hay rides, petting zoos and farm tours thrown in.
This weekend, the farms will be busy selling fruit pies and pastry for Thanksgiving dinners and entertaining visitors with homespun events.
Alena reports herds of deer are roaming Oak Glen orchards, feasting on unpicked apples that have fallen between the trees.
Oak Glen (5,200′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
Apple tree, Los Rios Orchard, Oak Glen Rd. (11/11/18) Ravi Ranganathan
Visiting orchards has become a late-autumn tradition, with Californians heading to Julian for apple dumplings, to Oak Glen for cider-infused mini donuts, to San Luis Obispo for hard cider, to Sebastopol for U-pick apples, to Kelseyville in Lake County for a Pear Belle Helene (pear ice cream sundae), and to Apple Hill in Camino for apple pies.
With so many calories ahead, Southern California color spotter Ravi Ranganathan recommends walking the Oak Glen Preserve Botanical Garden in Yucaipa, soon after the trail opens at 8 a.m. It’s got kid-friendly sections, as well as others that get your heart pumping and “beautiful fall colors along the trail.”
Of course, if that hike works up your appetite, head over to Snow Line Orchard for their delicious apple-cider-infused mini donuts and a glass of freshly pressed cider. Ravi recommends picnicking under an ancient chestnut tree beside an apple orchard.
Julian – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Oak Glen – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
San Luis Obispo – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Sebastopol – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Kelseyville – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Camino – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Chestnut and apple orchard, Snow Line Orchard, Oak Glen Rd (11/11/18) Ravi Ranganathan
Duck pond, Oak Glen (11/11/18) Ravi Ranganathan
Red maple and orchards, Oak Glen (11/11/18) Ravi Ranganathan
Sunset, Oak Glen, San Bernardino Mountains (11/3/18) Alena Nicholas
The color of harvest is many faceted.
At Oak Glen in the San Bernardino Mountains, it is as: garnet-red as an apple, carrot-colored as a pumpkin, sorrel-brown as a chestnut, flaxen as a dry stalk of corn and as dazzling as a California sunset.
Harvest and Autumn’s peak met this week at Oak Glen, where visitors gathered apples, corn, chestnuts and pumpkins for their holiday tables.
Southern California color spotter Alena Nicholas was there to share the color of harvest.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-11-04 16:29:252018-11-16 22:44:39The Color of Harvest
Saturday was special throughout California. It was particularly so for those lucky few camping at Lake Hemet in Southern California’s San Jacinto Mountains.
The Golden Hour seemed to be an all-day affair at Lake Hemet Campgrounds and nearby Idyllwild with the low angle of autumn light warming every scene from sunrise to sunset.
Bald eagles perched and white pelicans preened beside the lake. Anglers searched for fish the birds hadn’t caught. Campers lounged by their campsites enjoying a clement day or walked the autumn woods.
At day’s end, one of California’s most magical sunsets painted the western sky with intense purple, red, orange, pink, turquoise and gold.
Aspen Grove Trail, San Bernardino NF (10/21/18) John Dinsmore
The San Bernardino Mountains have another week of peak at most elevations, reports John Dinsmore who visited Green Valley Lake, Barton Flats, Aspen Grove Trail, Running Springs and Oak Glen this past weekend.
Aspen have fallen the most, while black oak and bigleaf maple and exotics continue to show strong color.
Best bet for the coming week are Lake Gregory and Oak Glen.
Green Valley Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/19/18) John Dinsmore
Green Valley Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/19/18) John Dinsmore
Running Springs San Bernardino Mountains (10/19/18) John Dinsmore
Green Valley Lake (7,200′) – Peak to Past Peak – YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
Big Bear (6,752′) -Peak to Past Peak – YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
Aspen Grove Trail – Peak to Past Peak – YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
Lake Arrowhead (5,174′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Grass Valley Lake (5,058′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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!
