Shasta Cascade – Page 3 – California Fall Color

Eastern Sierra, Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade, Statewide

It’s GO Time!

As of Oct.11, 2023 it is GO time in the Eastern Sierra as well as Plumas County!

All week long photos have been pouring in from leaf peepers in these areas showing vibrant displays of fall color. Plan your trip now for your chance to discover what fall is all about in the Golden State.

Things are changing quickly in the mountains, reports color spotter Betsy Forsyth. With areas that were mostly green last week now being in full-blown fall color mode, all locations in Mono County and the majority of locations in Inyo County are at peak or approaching peak colors!

In Plumas County, Jeff Titcomb reported, ”We’re getting there pretty quickly.”

Michael Beatley added on October 10, “Quincy today, although cloudy, was bursting with fall colors, 70-90%. Behind the historic courthouse on Jackson Street, the trees are full of fall color. In the next few days Quincy and American Valley and the surrounding area will be glorious.”

INYO COUNTY – as of 10/11/23

Southern Inyo County

Lots of yellows on the cottonwoods in the valleys and aspen in the high country.

Lone Pine (3,727′) – (10-50%)
Alabama Hills (4,534′) – (10-50%)
Whitney Portal (8,375′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
Mt Whitney Trail (8,360′ to 14,505”) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
Independence (3,930′) -(10-50%)
Onion Valley (9,600′) – (10-50%)
Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – 50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
Big Pine (3,989′) – (10-50%)

Bishop Creek Canyon

Bishop Creek Canyon is beautiful right now, and may not last for long! The leaves are changing VERY QUICKLY. From last week to this week, so many of the trees have gone from green with a little yellow hue to lots of yellows and some oranges. There are still some green groves of aspen, but lots of yellows and oranges up there, and many leaves already on the ground.

South Fork, Bishop Creek

South Lake (9,768′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
Weir Pond (9,650′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
Willow Campground (9,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. These groves are peaking and absolutely beautiful.
Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. There are some beautiful yellow trees here surrounded by green groves.
Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. Closer to 75% for sure There are still green groves, but most of the aspen are peaking now.
Four Jeffries (8,000′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! This area changed so much in the past week!

Middle Fork, Bishop Creek

Lake Sabrina (9,150′) –Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. The upper part of the canyon above Cardinal Village is past peak, and at peak down near Cardinal Village. There are still some green groves in the lower area, but it is uncertain how quickly those will change.
Intake II (8,000′) – Peak/Past Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! Lots of orange and yellow, and leaves on the ground at this point.
Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.

Bishop

Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%) Closer to 50%. Many of the trees in town have some yellows, especially in the upper sections of the trees. There are some trees that have quite a bit of color to them.
Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Owens Valley (4,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. Yellows in the upper parts of the cottonwoods throughout the Owens Valley. Some trees are almost completely yellow. It’s really beautiful.

Northern Inyo County

Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,087′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
Round Valley (4,692′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. It’s really beautiful throughout the Owens Valley. There is a fair amount of yellows in the upper parts of the cottonwoods.
Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) There are more yellows throughout the canyon. This is a spectacular canyon when you catch the colors and the light right!
Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. Closer to 50%. At the top of the canyon, there are some yellows in the Aspen, and everything else is getting some yellows as well.

MONO COUNTY

100% FULL PEAK: Last call for Sagehen Summit, Upper Rock Creek Road, and Lobdell Lake Road. These locations have been brilliant for the past 5-7 days and we are unsure how long they will hold on. GO NOW or you’ll miss your opportunity at these locations.

75-100%: The high mountain passes of Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass and Monitor Pass were all at full peak on October 10 with orange and yellow leaves from top to bottom. Upper Summers Meadows Road was the most spectacular we have ever seen it this morning – this is a MUST stop for this weekend. Conway Summit had sections of beautiful peaking orange aspens with yellows and greens mixed in and should be perfect for the next 7-10 days.

50-75%: Virtually every other location in Mono County is approaching peak color with varying degrees of progress. Along the June Lake Loop you’ll find a lot of green with pockets of over-achieving golden trees. Convict Lake has a great section of yellow leaves on the back side of the lake with green foliage still located in other spots. The banks of the West Walker River were about 50% with the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz being the only fully green sections left in Mono County.

Past peak: Virginia Lakes was the only place on our list that is officially past peak. The leaves were stripped of their color about 3 miles up the road. Sagehen Summit, Upper Rock Creek and Lobdell Lake road will probably make this list by next week’s report.

BONUS: We usually don’t report on this area but we had to include it in this week’s report. Take a drive up Little Walker River Road for an intense spectrum of color. For those willing to hike on foot, take Molybdenite Canyon Trail (located at the end of Obsidian Campground on Little Walker River Road) for huge valleys full of peaking aspen. (Trust us on this one!)

PLUMAS COUNTY

In Eastern Plumas County, Mark Kidder gave us a peek into the Lakes Basin area. Hikers can explore the 3.7 Jamison Creek Trail. The trailhead can be found several miles up County Road A-14 towards Johnsville and takes you past Jamison Falls, Grass Lake, and on to Rock Lake and Jamison Lake–all, which are ideal for backpacking if you don’t mind the chilly nights. There are beautiful aspen scattered along this trail.

Lakes Basin Recreation Area

From Graeagle, head west on Highway 70 towards Quincy where the colors haven’t peaked, there are some beautiful spots and many pet-friendly backcountry roads. Right before Quincy, take a drive down La Porte Road to see many colorful maples with evergreens in the background, and then head back into Quincy where the dogwoods are turning bright red and maples are looking good. The best drive for those right now is the Big Creek Road towards Bucks Lake.

Big Creek Road to Bucks Lake

From Quincy, head north on Highway 89 towards Indian Valley. The drive along Indian Creek is still nice but the Dixie Fire did do some damage to that area. As you near the turn off to Taylorsville, the hawthorns are turning a vibrant red. Keep going another few miles and you’ll begin to ascend up the road to Antelope Lake (road currently only open on weekends due to construction). Antelope Lake is showing one of the best displays of quaking aspens right now, which were captured by Jeff Titcomb, another avid leaf peeper.

Above Kings Creek Falls

One of our leaf peepers in Chester, Betty Bishop, said that the colors are just starting to turn on the North Fork of the Feather River that runs right through the town. A few miles outside of Chester turn off on Highway 32 and drive along Deer Creek for some lovely scenery. And the aspen are still golden in Lassen Volcanic National Park and in other spots around Lake Almanor along with some very cool waterfalls, like the one on the Kings Creek Falls trail.

October 12, 2023/by Lara Kaylor

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

NorCal Colors

We received great reports from Plumas and Siskiyou counties over the weekend from color spotters Jeff Titcomb, Phil Reedy and Ruth Hartman.

Phil reported that in his tenth year of visiting the area along Highway 88 between the famous cabin on down to the Desolation Hotel (formerly Sorenson’s Resort), it is changing like clockwork.

“The aspens behind the cabin seem to peak right about October 8 every year,” he says. “The same is true along Red Lake Creek just across the highway. As usual, the aspens on the mountainside above the cabin are still green and will catch up in a week or two.”

“On to the east many of the aspens are at peak as well, although there are plenty yet to turn across the pasture just east of Blue Lakes Road. Continuing on east between Picketts Junction (highways 88 and 89) and Desolation Hotel, the trees are definitely at peak right now, so don’t wait on that area [he had recommended visiting this past weekend so definitely GO NOW]. Heading toward Tahoe along highway 89, those trees are still green as is normal,” Reedy explains.

The trees above the valley always turn well after those in the valley floor.

Titcomb shared that the trees at the Plumas County Airport are just getting started with the tree on the east changing faster than the tree right next to it on the west. He also sent photos from Taylorsville, Genesee, Quincy and Graeagle all of which are showing some beautiful yellows and even a few reds.

Hartman reported that fall color can be found in and around Etna and driving down Highway 3.

“If people take a drive north or south from Etna to Weaverville they will see lots of fall color right now” she says. “The dogwoods are very muted right now and will probably stay that way as Etna will not hit 32 degrees until Nov 30 and Trinity Center will not have a 32 until sometime in December. The colder the weather the more vibrant the colors!”

October 9, 2023/by Lara Kaylor

Eastern Sierra, Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

Wild Weekend

So far, this fall is a wild one. Not only are areas changing at different rates and times, but a blast of cold weather this past weekend made for extremely interesting photo compositions. Many believe that the huge winter we had and the extra water content may be the reason behind this phenomenon.

Color spotters from the Eastern Sierra to Eastern Shasta County and Meadow Valley are seeing rapid color changes.

In the Eastern Sierra, color spotter Angie Plaisted even got to enjoy the beautiful contrast of fresh snow against the fall colors as a storm rolled through the region on Saturday and Sunday. This was after finding exceptional color at Parker Lake on Friday.

I, myself, was traveling from the Eastside to the West and back again this weekend and went from being in awe of the fall colors really starting to show in June Lake and even on Hwy 120 into Yosemite on Friday to being in shock at the snowfall through Yosemite on Sunday (check our Instagram page for a short video).

Peter Robbins in Eastern Shasta County sent in the following.

“Although it seems too early to expect much between 3000 and 6000 feet, I DID notice a few exotics starting to turn on my way from Redding out east on Highway 44 through Shingletown to my cabin near Lassen Park. So I decided to take a couple hours and document what is to be seen this weekend.”

“First stop was a couple of maples planted in or near Shingletown. My travels then took me about 5 miles or so beyond the north entrance to Lassen park, first to a lovely little impromptu campsite along lost creek, just off 44, and on to a lovely little stand of aspen in the Twin Bridges area about a mile off 44 on forest service roads. In my humble opinion, these guys had no business looking so nice so early at only 5,000 feet. But who am I to argue? Then on my way back to my cabin, I could not help but notice a few aspen saplings arising out of a pile of lava rock.”

Last but definitely not least, we heard from color spotter Michael Beatley out of the Plumas County area.

“Today I shot this photo of Spanish Peak (above) from Meadow Valley, which is just 6 miles west of Quincy. Cottonwoods, aspens and Big leaf maples are showing their color from 70-80%. At just under 3800 feet Meadow Valley is rich in California’s gold mining history. Black Bart robbed a stage coach here at Tollgate. Spanish Peak is a sacred Maidu mountain and the PCT crosses the summit. The road through Meadow Valley to Oroville was a main route for the early gold miners.”

Beatley agreed that the colors are arriving early in his area.

“Yes. It is unusual. I went to Thompson Lake above Bucks Lake and the Aspens had a faint yellow beginning. The Mountain Ash was full red, but at 5420’ not much color. In Meadow Valley at 3800’ nice color in the cottonwoods, maples and aspens. Quincy is early also. Living here for 40 years, October 15 has always been the peak time. We still had snow late May, 205” of rain, way way above normal. Bucks Lake had snow at the end of June. Not sure if this had any effect.”

So it seems we are going from 0 to 100 very quickly this season. If you haven’t already, start making your plans to visit your favorite colors spots!

October 2, 2023/2 Comments/by Lara Kaylor

Fall Color Report, First Report, Shasta Cascade

Waking Up in Plumas County

We were excited to hear from color spotter Michael Beatley out of Quincy/Meaadow Valley in Plumas County, where the “fall color is just starting to awaken,” he says.

Beatley traveled to Bucks Lake this week via Big Creek Road just out of Meadow Valley. Alongside of Big Creek Road, is Big Creek and Beatley explains that t is lined by Darmera, or Indian Rhubarb, as well as Bigleaf maples, Dogwoods, and Alder.

The Darmera is also known as the umbrella plant due to its large leaves. It displays a variety of beautiful color in the fall. As of Thursday, when Beatley was in the area, very little color was showing but that can quickly change.

September 23, 2023/by Lara Kaylor

Fall Color Report, San Francisco Bay Area, Shasta Cascade

One Last Look

Northern California was still lovely last week. However, after today’s lashing of wind, rain and lightening, much of it is gone.

Ryan Boyd sent this last look at what he saw a week ago along the Lower Sacramento River and in the Livermore Valley.

Livermore Valley (495′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Lower Sacramento River (433′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

Palo Cedro (11/25/22) Ryan Boyd

Anderson River Park (11/25/22) Ryan Boyd

Palo Cedro (11/25/22) Ryan Boyd

Pleasanton (11/23/22) Ryan Boyd

Livermore (11/23/22) Ryan Boyd

December 4, 2022/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

Faithful to the End

A few spotters are faithful to the end. They return to places that common belief would say were Past Peak. Philip Reedy is among the faithful.

Yesterday, Reedy traveled north beyond Redding to join Scott Embrey for a day of fishing and photography on the Upper Sacramento River. Had he asked, I woulda discouraged optimism, thinking it was unlikely he’d find much fall color.

As it was, Phil found “mountainsides… full of oak trees in full yellow, orange and red splendor,” with nice color along the river.

At Simms Flat, “a lot of trees had lost their leaves,” though “there were still many that looked great.” At Conant, it was a mix of “bare trees and some still bright with color.”

In the Box Canyon, Reedy and Embrey strode upon a beautiful blanket of yellow and orange leaves, though winter’s approach was evident. A fair bit of snow still lay on the ground from the previous storm and Mt Shasta was again capped majestically in white.

However faithful Phil was in anticipating he’d be photographing fall color, he admitted he got there at the very end. Phil estimates the mountainside oaks will remain dressed in copper, citrus and clementine for perhaps another week, but not much longer.

Nevertheless, if you’re heading to Redding for the Thanksgiving week, pretty glimpses of fall color will be possible along the Upper Sacramento River, a short distance beyond Castella, Conant and Dunsmuir … if you keep the faith, like Phil did.

Simms Flat, Upper Sacramento River (11/17/22) Philip Reedy

Simms Campground View, Upper Sacramento River (11/17/22) Philip Reedy

Simms Footbridge View, Upper Sacramento River (11/17/22) Philip Reedy

Cantara Loop Trail, Upper Sacramento River (11/17/22) Philip Reedy

Freight Train, Upper Sacramento River (11/17/22) Philip Reedy

Box Canyon, Upper Sacramento River (11/17/22) Philip Reedy

Cantara Loop, Upper Sacramento River (11/17/22) Philip Reedy

Box Canyon, Upper Sacramento River (11/17/22) Philip Reedy

Conant, Upper Sacramento River (11/17/22) Philip Reedy

Simms Flat (1,664′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
Conant (1,836′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
Cantara Loop, Box Canyon (2,800′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.

November 18, 2022/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

Heart-stopping View

When it comes to fall color spotting, the objective is to find heart-stopping views without your heart actually stopping.

Philip Reedy had that dilemma yesterday when he visited Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park. He’d hoped to capture fly fishing photographs in the snow with a glimpse of fall color along shore. But he reasoned, “I was sorely tempted to put on my waders and wade out past the slush on the lake, but common sense prevailed. Given that it was getting toward sunset and I was the only person at the lake, it seemed prudent to stay ashore.”

He did, however find “vestiges of color … along with freshly snowcapped peaks in the background.” Heart-stopping, without the heart actually stopping.

Manzanita Lake (5,900′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, You almost missed it.

November 11, 2022/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

A Passion for Lassen

Shanda Ochs has a passion for Lassen Volcanic National Park. As it is, I do too.

Lassen Volcanic is a truly fascinating place. Because it is the southernmost peak in the Cascades, it attracts different animals and plants than are found on Dyer Mountain, the northernmost peak in the Sierra Nevada, a few miles to its southeast.

Lassen Peak is now past peak, as is most of Lassen Volcanic. Though Shanda found Near Peak color along the Manzanita Lake trail, on Thursday.

She wrote, “It was late afternoon, so there were some long shadows. The plants are primarily Pacific willow, mountain alder (many alder are still fully green), and black cottonwood. The cottonwood were peaking, as were the willow.

Willow and Mountain ash, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs

Mountain ash, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs

Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs

Black cottonwood, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs

At an elevation of 5,900′, Manzanita lake is lower than most of the other fall color locations in the national park and, thus the last to peak in Lassen Volcanic.

The Manzanita Lake Trail is a loop of only 1.8 miles but full of entertaining vistas. Reflected in the lake’s mirror surface from the west end is Lassen Peak, southernmost of the Cascades. To its north, the scraggly Chaos Crags lava dome volcanoes loom.

Moving across the lake in a slow-motion ballet are coot, mallards and Canada geese. A lone Great Blue heron can be found standing sentinel near shore, while an osprey surveys the surface from his eyrie for signs of rising “bows.”

No bald eagle was seen on Shanda’s walk, though a convocation of them will gather near Lava Beds National Monument to overwinter, and the park’s American eagles may have already flown there, or south, for the party.

The Manzanita Lake Trail is such a wonderful walk, that California Fall Color has designated it as next week’s Hike of the Week. If traveling to Lassen Volcanic, lodging is now found in Redding (CA-44).

Manzanita Lake (5,900′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.

October 28, 2022/by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

Yét Atwam Creek

As Philip Reedy and John, his fishing buddy, drove north along the Upper Sacramento River, Friday morning, they were disappointed to see that almost no color could yet be seen along its banks.

Phil wrote, “This is usually a perfect time for color along the Upper Sac from Castle Crags up to the town of Mt Shasta.” Though, he found “just one patch of Indian Rhubarb in the box canyon below Lake Siskiyou showing some red and orange.” Phil and John were “feeling pretty disappointed and not at all optimistic” about their second destination, south of the town of McCloud.

Yét Atwam Creek had recently been renamed in a national effort to purge some 650 geographical features across the country from the derogatory term ‘squaw’ which had been used widely in naming mountains, streams, valleys, with little care for the fact that it was insulting to native people.

After seeing the disappointing color along the Upper Sac, Phil and John anticipated that Yét Atwam Creek would have even less, since the creek is 200 feet lower. “However, as we drove south from McCloud, we were encouraged to see patches of color. After we turned on to FS Road 39-N21 for the last three miles to the creek, the colors steadily improved.”

Along the road, trees flanked pastures with lemony, golden and grassy-green-colored leaves. In the distance a peek is seen of Mt Shasta’s peak. By the time they reached the creek, they realized that Indian rhubarb (Darmera) had already peaked and “were well on their way to brown.”

Odd. No color along the Upper Sac, past peak along this creek. Phil regretted not having planned his trip a week earlier, but then past experience led him to estimate he’d be there at peak. As seen in these photos, some green Darmera remain to peak beside the creeks, so getting there now is an absolute directive, if you want to see any of them at their bold best.

As for the Upper Sacramento River, it’s one to two weeks from peaking.

Upper Sacramento River Box Canyon (10/21/22) Phiip Reedy

Cabin Creek (10/21/22) Phiip Reedy

Indian Rhubarb, Yét Atwam Creek (10/21/22) Phiip Reedy