Surrounded by Color
What do US Forest Service rangers do in autumn? They surround themselves with fall color.
That’s what color spotter Ashlyn Hollgarth reports from the Mt Shasta ranger station where an exotic, eastern sugar maple is coloring up beside the station.
Just Starting (0-10%) – Mt. Shasta
Shasta Cascade – Fire and Ice (Hike of the Week)
This past week, a dusting of snow atop Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park closed the park road, but that was short lived, as many of these early dustups tend to be in California.
Park Guide Shanda Ochs sends the above photo of firey red knotweed, photographed of the meadow on the trail northeast of Cliff Lake in the national park on Sept. 12. She reported, “In the past, this color typically holds for quite some time before leaves fall off. I don’t know if this will be the case this year.”
Shanda notes, “It appears that the aspen lost leaves early due to the lack of water. There was a very short period that they were in full color, but lost the leaves quickly. I don’t think we will see the fall color that is typical year after year, based on the lack of water.”
The bright color have encouraged CaliforniaFallColor.com to name the Cliff Lake trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park as our first Hike of the Week in 2015.
At Manzanita Lake, the willows beside the lake have turned chartreuse and orange-yellow, though among the alder there is no “stand out color yet, and we may not see that either because of the lack of water.” Shanda notes, “But we still have time there. ”
In Plumas County, color spotters Lisa May and Jeff Titcomb reports that bigleaf maple “are just barely getting into color change, but again dry weather is causing browning and falling leaves before they have the chance to change color.” Jeff predicts there will be weeks more of color in the beautiful Indian Valley. About 25% of the dogwood have begun to color their trademark rose to red tones.
Patchy (10-50%) – Lassen Volcanic National Park – Drought has shortened the show among some aspen that have begun to turn, though most of the forest has not and should turn on schedule. Lassen Volcanic NP is one location where looking down is recommended to see fall color juxtaposed to dramatic grand landscapes in the distance, as seen in Shanda’s photographs.
Patchy (10-50%) – Round Valley, Plumas County – About a quarter of the bigleaf maple at the Round Valley Reservoir near Greenville have begun to turn. Some of the big leaves are drying quickly, once they turn. Similarly, dogwood are showing their rosy blush.
A Long Way To Go Along CA-99
Driving Highway 99 – the agricultural spine of California’s Central Valley – is a long way to go, though its distance isn’t what we’re referring to in this post. What we mean is that it’ll be a while until the orchards and vineyards beside the highway are showing color.
Yesterday, we drove north, passing through Folsom, Granite Bay, Rocklin, Marysville, Yuba City and Chico to Vina and saw almost no color change along the route, with the exception of the golden highlights fringing the tops of Cottonwood at Mormon Island Wetland and cresting towering sycamore and cottonwood at Bidwell Park in Chico.
In Vina, I spoke with Phil Sunseri of New Clairvaux Vineyard who said their harvest is nearly complete, though crush continues. Phil says this was an unusually early harvest. The quality of the grapes is exceptional.
A favorite autumn outing is this route with stops in Chico at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. for lunch, visiting art galleries in Chico, enjoying fall color along Esplanade Blvd in downtown Chico (see file photo) and continuing to the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina to see what progress is occurring on reconstruction of its 800-year old Chapter House and to taste the wines of New Clairvaux. That trip did not disappoint, yesterday, though the fall color hasn’t yet developed.
Just Starting (0-10%) – CA-99 – This route will not peak for a month. Otherwise, it’s a long way to go for very little, right now.
Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento
Color spotters Debi Wages and Denae Gomez report that sycamore and maple at southern Monterey County and northern San Luis Obispo County Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento are beginning to show color and the ground is littered with oak acorns. These Central Coast destinations are not expected to near peak until late October.
In late October, oaks and willows along the banks of the Salinas River (US101) show lovely yellow and orange up to King City. If driving north or south, US101 (El Camino Real) is a better bet for fall color than I-5 or CA-99, though the vineyards, orchards and fields in the Central Valley can be beautiful.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento – Now at the lower end of this scale, the oaks at Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento will develop slowly, nearing peak in mid to late October.
Idaho Glows
OK, so Idaho is far afield from California. Though, CaliforniaFallColor.com has, on occasion, reported about other beautiful places to see fall color. Hailey, Idaho is one of those places
Carol Waller, a color spotter and buddy from Hailey, sends these shots taken in her neighborhood.
Snow, Rain and Wind Set Bishop Creek Back a Week
Plenty of color is showing at elevations above 8,500′ in the Eastern Sierra’s Bishop Creek Canyon, though a dusting of snow, light rain and wind early this week, set the show back a week, reports color spotter Jared Smith. The light storm knocked aspen leaves that had already turned from their branches, though “thankfully most of the color has yet to peak,” says Jared, and there’s “some great stuff to look forward to.”
Below 8,500′, the show is just starting with lots of deep green, some lime and a few small patches of yellow. Jared says it will still be a week to two before the lower elevations are approaching peak.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Weir Pond (9650ft) – The road is still open all the way to Weir Pond and the color is looking quite good on the hillside above the pond. The aspen surrounding the pond are still lime green so things will likely look much more impressive next week.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Sabrina Campground (9000ft) – The aspen along the road are still brilliant yellow, orange and a touch of red, but some of the trees in were stripped of their color by the wind. The campground itself is still mostly green with just a few hints of yellow.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Parchers Resort (9260ft) – Quite a bit of yellow is blanketing the hillsides around the resort, but some of the scrub aspen here was stripped by the wind. Plenty of green still around and we’re looking forward to more change before the next report.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Willow Campground (9000ft) – The canyon walls above the campground are looking pretty impressive but the lower lying aspen within the campground have only touches of color and lime green hues. The granite wall across from the beaver pond just below the campground has some gorgeous color.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft) – Some color is showing above the campground and a few aspen along the stream have started to turn but we’ve still got a ways to go.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft) – This area is probably the furthest along but hasn’t changed much since Sunday…in fact its actually displaying a bit less color thanks to the wind. It will be interesting to see how the cooler weather will affect the transformation.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Lake Sabrina (9150ft) – Some great color on the east side of the lake with some color starting to develop near the back of the lake as well. I’m predicting some very nice color here by next weekend if not before.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – North Lake (9255ft) – Some gorgeous yellow, orange and red is showing along the road as you approach North Lake. Not much going on around the lake itself though. Look for this area to go off next week.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Stiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8600ft) – Some yellow along the stream but mostly green hues dominating at present.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft) – One yellow tree and the rest is all green. This tends to pop later in the season, probably around the first week of October if I had to guess.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Aspendell (8400ft) – Very few signs of color here right now.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Groves above Cardinal Village (8550ft) – There is a lot of color still above Cardinal Village but some of the aspen are unfortunately naked already from the wind. Tons of green still around so we’ve got plenty of color yet to develop in this area.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Four Jeffries (8000ft) – Nothing but a few yellow branches showing right now.
Patchy – (10 – 50%) – Intake II (8000ft) – The aspen surrounding the lake are still hosting their summer shade of green although the scrub aspen growing up the mountainside are showing some yellow….at least the ones who still have their leaves are.
Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Big Trees Campground (7800ft) – Nothing but green here right now.
Mono County Begins to Pop
Mono County color spotter Alicia Vennos reports that color is developing quickly. She forecasts that near peak will happen next week at highest elevations and peak will descend for the following month. Here’s her report.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Rock Creek Road/Hilton Creek Road – Colors towards the top of Rock Creek Road are starting to really go off! The lower elevations are still lime green to yellow in patches, but the higher end of Rock Creek Road and the trail to Hilton Creek are moving towards peak fairly quickly. Make plans within the next 10 days AT THE MOST to see this area in all its brilliance. Pie in the Sky Café – a must stop for color spotters – will be open with their famously delicious homemade pies through October 12 (Columbus Day long weekend) this year. The Rock Creek Pack Station has kept a few horses in the stable for anyone wishing to see the colors by horseback in the next week or so. Please contact asap to reserve.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Virginia Lakes/Green Creek Road/Bridgeport – Many aspen groves just off US 395 near Bridgeport, are turning golden, orange and red… but many are still completely green. Some have shed their leaves (likely the result of black leaf spot, as reported earlier). This wide range seems to follow the same pattern each year which means there should be color to see at one section or another within the next two and even three weeks. Conway Summit is still lime green for the most part, but sections of Virginia Lakes Road are golden, as are some of the groves along Green Creek Road, which is well-maintained and graded. Summer’s Meadow is also still at the lime green stages. DUCKS UNLIMITED DINNER: October 17.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Lundy Canyon – The popular waterfall viewpoint is still lime green and only slightly yellow, as are the aspens that line the Lundy Canyon Road and surround the west side of Lundy Lake. However some aspens along the dirt road extension to the beaver ponds are yellow. We still estimate there to be about two weeks before the color is really spectacular.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Lee Vining Canyon – 10-50%. Colors are just starting to ramp up in the Lee Vining Canyon area but we are a couple of weeks away from peak in that area. The Log Cabin Road, however, tends to go off more quickly — plan for the next week to 10 days.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – June Lake Loop – The Loop is usually one of the last places to turn and will be showing off her colors in approximately two weeks, all things being equal! WRITERS/POETS: You are invited to join in on a workshop called “Inspired by Nature: A Writer’s Retreat” on September 25, 26, 27. Contact 310-450-9606 for full details. May the magic of autumn in June Lake inspire equally brilliant writing! CRAFT BEER ENTHUSIASTS: On October 10th, June Lake Brewing is hosting the 3rd Annual June Lake Autumn Beer Festival at Gull Lake Park.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Convict Lake – The gorgeous aspens at the west end of the lake are still green. It’s still early for any significant color in the canyon. There is only a scattering of yellow as you drive up to Convict Lake. Around the lake the leaves have just started their change over to their fall colors. Plan to visit within the next 2 or 3 weeks. Convict Lake’s fall fishing derby, “Ambush at the Lake,” continues through Nov. 15. with $6,000 in resort prizes. A $2,000 Cash Bonus Weekend runs on Oct. 30 – Nov. 1. Fall Lodging Specials starting at $379+tax (Sunday thru Thursday – 2 Nights for 2 Persons). Includes $100 Restaurant Credit & Full Day Motor Boat Rental.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – McGee Creek Canyon – McGee Creek has some gold and yellow aspens happening now! Visit within the next week to 10 days. McGee Creek Pack Station is open for fall color rides into the back country through September.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Walker/Coleville – The underbrush and willows are golden or gone now but the aspens are turning lime-green with some yellow patches, particularly along the West Walker River. Up in the higher elevations, up by Golden Gate Mine and Mill Canyon Road, color is starting to erupt. Plan to come within the next few weeks! BIRDING & HIKING THE VALLEY event is this weekend — Still time to sign up. Please call (530) 208-6078 to join in on a weekend of birding, hiking and learning about the amazing geology of the Walker/Coleville/Topaz area. And the annual Deer Hunter Barbecue is coming up on October 3 in Walker — deep pit barbecue with delicious (and secret) Antelope Valley Lions Club sauce, with all the fixings and homemade desserts! Call (530) 208-6078 for more info. Also — the Leavitt Meadows Pack Station is open through mid-October for fall color horseback rides in the Sonora Pass area.
These hashtags lead to fall color reports #SierraFallColors, #Autumn, #FallColor.
Off-Road to Laurel Lakes
Mammoth Lakes color spotter Josh Wray drove his 4 x 4 into the High Sierra to score a report from Laurel Canyon, and what a find!
CaliforniaFallColor reported about Laurel Canyon a few years ago, but we were early and missed the show. So, we’ll give Josh color spotter creds as the first to post a complete report with photos from the Laurel Lakes Road that travels up into the canyon.
As seen in his beautiful photographs, the area is dazzling. Josh advises, however, that the road is driveable only by a 4WD vehicle with high clearance, making it impossible for an average vehicle to drive. He drove off-road with friends and “stumbled upon the beautiful colors that are filling mountainsides and valleys.”
He writes that bright “orange and yellow are flowing down from higher elevations and meeting up with the lush dark green pine and aspen of the valley floor. It really is incredible right now… and we expect to see the colors become even more glorious in the next week or two.”
Note that many of the aspen are lush and deeply green, while others have turned or are in the transition of turning.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Laurel Canyon – Deep green pines offer contrast to multicolored aspen with orange-yellow willows and bright yellow rabbitbrush accenting the scene. The contrast of red rocks, firey skies and blazing color will only get better in the coming weeks. Getting off road to scenes like this is why you visit Mammoth Lakes.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Twin Lakes – Bright green is starting to turn yellow surrounding Twin Lakes in Mammoth Lakes.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Lake George – Orange is now present, which was a fast transition from last week’s developing color. Josh recommends driving to the Mammoth Lakes Basin up Old Mammoth Road until it connects with Hwy 203. Changing aspen are visible starting at Snowcreek Golf Course all they way to the Lakes Basin.
Fall Wildlife Festivals Add Color
Autumn is festival season with many events occurring just as leaves are turning color. Wildlife migrations and mating seasons are often celebrated.
A major migration of humpback, blue and killer whales and dolphins continues to December in Monterey Bay, where large gatherings of humpback whales put on spectacular shows corralling schools of anchovies, then rising together to feed on them. Whale watching trips take spectators out near the feeding families of whales. CLICK HERE for a general listing of available trips.
In September and early October, it’s rutting season for California’s Tule and Roosevelt Elk, seen at Pt. Reyes National Seashore in Sonoma County and Redwood National and State Parks in Humboldt County. The Elk Meadow Cabins at Orick are a prime location to base and watch the elk rut. Find more at redwoodparklodge.com.
On Sept. 26, the 21st annual Salmon Festival occurs at the Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville. This event includes salmon cooking demos and tastings, “non-stop entertainment,” tours of the hatchery where spawning salmons can be seen, kayak trips on the Feather River, a river cleanup event, a 3k color run, a dance, health fair and river cleanup. More is found online at salmonfestivaloroville.org.
November 13 – 15, the California Swan Festival occurs in Marysville with field trips and tours, presentations and workshops. More is found at caswanfestival.com.
In mid November, Monarch butterflies return to California’s Coast (Santa Cruz, Pacific Grove and Pismo Beach) from their year-long migration to Utah and Canada. Eucalyptus trees hang heavy with the brightly colored butterflies. CLICK HERE to see a report on the butterflies.
More about viewing California wildlife and attending wildlife festivals is found at cawatchablewildlife.org.
Bishop Creek Right On Schedule
Overall Conditions Above 8500ft Elevation
Patchy (10% – 50%)
Bishop Creek color spotter Jared Smith of the Parcher’s Resort reports there is “a LOT of color showing on the canyon walls, especially from Mt. Glen Campground on up to the end of the road (which is currently below South Lake due to some construction there). Especially colorful are the higher aspen above Willow Camp, Surveyor’s Meadow, the Tyee Lakes Trailhead and Parchers Resort.”
Most importantly, he states, “There is enough color already to make the trip worth it, but things should get even better over the next couple weeks, if the weather cooperates.”
Cooler weather is predicted to arrive this week, which Jared says, “could really get the color going. So, we’re looking forward some stunning views by next weekend.”
As reported yesterday, smoke from several wildfires across California are affecting areas with developing fall color. In the Eastern Sierra, the Rough Fire was dirtying the air, though, Jared reports, this “was much less of an issue this week due to a change in the wind direction.” Nevertheless, afternoon haze still diminishes fall color viewing. This is one autumn that could use some rain. Here’s Jared’s report:
Overall Conditions Between 7500ft & 8500ft Elevation
Just Starting (0% – 10%)
Noticeable lightening of the aspens is occurring in many of the lower reaches of the canyon, but very little color is showing.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Weir Pond (9650ft)
We were expecting to have walk-in-only access to Weir Pond during the construction at the South Lake parking lot but as of now, they’ve left it open for day use which is great news. Unfortunately a bunch of inconsiderate backpackers continue to park in what is clearly marked “day use only”. Hopefully we’ll see the tow truck up here often over the coming weeks to keep that lot available for photographers over the next couple weeks as the peak of fall color approaches
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Sabrina Campground (9000ft)
The aspen along the road adjacent to the campground are already starting to pop off big time. Along the stream and within the campground however there is far less color. This spot is worth visiting now, but will get better.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Parchers Resort (9260ft)
Brilliant yellows are developing on the canyon walls all around the resort, and even a few of the aspen on the resort grounds are beginning to turn.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Willow Campground (9000ft)
The canyon wall above the campground has quite a bit of yellow mixed in with bright lime green hues. The lower lying aspen along the stream and within the campground are mostly green still but the change from deep dark green to a lighter lime green has been obvious over the last week. The campground itself is closed for the season, but folks are welcome to walk into the camp to enjoy the color.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft)
Some color is showing above the campground and a few aspen along the stream have started to turn but we’ve still got a ways to go.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft)
This area is probably the furthest along and is nearing the 50% mark. There is still plenty of color yet to change around the meadow but this location has enough color to warrant a trip now. One of the smaller groves was really ahead of the game and is already losing some leaves – thankfully we’re only observing that in that one grove – everything else looks to be progressing normally.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Lake Sabrina (9150ft)
No pictures of Sabrina this week but there is patchy color occurring both at and below the lake.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – North Lake (9255ft)
Quite a bit of color showing at North Lake but the best is yet to come.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Stiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8600ft)
Quite a bit of yellow showing along the stream and on the eastern wall of the canyon. These are smaller scrub aspen but very pretty nonetheless.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft)
Mostly dark green holding on here, but this is no surprise as this location is one that usually pops later in the fall.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Aspendell (8400ft)
Very few signs of color here right now.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Groves above Cardinal Village (8550ft)
Jared wrote he was “really close to going higher with my rating here as there is a ton of yellow blanketing the canyon wall from Cardinal Pinnacle towards the old Cardinal Mine. However, the aspen around Cardinal Village Resort are still green as green can be – but I’d guess that we’ll have almost peak conditions here next week.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Four Jeffries (8000ft)
Nothing but a few yellow branches showing right now.
Patchy – (10 – 50%) – Intake II (8000ft)
The aspen surrounding the lake are still hosting their summer shade of green although the scrub aspen growing up the mountainside are showing some yellow.
Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Big Trees Campground (7800ft)
Nothing but green here right now.