Rabbitbrush, Grasses and Willows Color Up
Just because an area is reporting patchy color doesn’t mean it’s not yet beautiful, as these photos attest. We’ve often recommended looking to the ground for some of the best fall color. Color spotter Kimberly Kofala found this beautiful shot of grasses along the edge of Dunderberg Lake in Mono County, Joe Pollini, from Bishop provides his town’s first report, stating that the rabbitbrush are “fully blooming with brilliant yellow,” Alena Nichols and Nick Barnhart found beauty in the woods and along the hillsides, and John Brissenden of Sorenson’s Resort shot golden-orange willows rising above a short-lived snowfall.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Bishop – Rabbitbrush are brilliant yellow. Cottonwood are beginning to flush with yellow and lime. Isolated trees are turning faster.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – June Lake – Color spotters Alena Nichols and Nicholas Barnhart reinforce the theme of looking to the ground, with Alena’s photo of an Eastern Sierra deer camouflaged amidst the fall foliage and Nick’s shot of Silver Lake, with color seen painting the Sierra hillsides. Scenes like this are right next to the road throughout the Eastern Sierra.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Hope Valley – John Brissenden reports that the willows at the Sorenson’s Resort are coloring orange-golden, though aspen are a mix of green, lime and yellow.
Mammoth Lakes Basin Near Peak
Color spotters Susan Morning and Kevin Lennox sends these shots in and around Mammoth Lakes. Twin Lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin is glowing with color right now with brilliant red, orange, yellow and lime. Lara Kaylor of Mammoth Lakes Tourism says the color is showing nicely at the highest elevations and still developing below 8,000′. Warm days and cold nights are sugaring up the trees and creating intense color conditions.
GO NOW! Near Peak (50 – 75%) Twin Lakes, Mammoth Lakes Basin- Kevin Lennox got this picture of spectacular orange, red, yellow and lime aspen near peak on Saturday.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Laurel Canyon – Very little color showing at base, though about a fourth of trees have turned at the top of the canyon.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Convict Lake – Convict has lots of yellow just appearing around the lake; Convict Canyon has a way to go.
GO NOW! Near Peak (50 – 75%) – McGee Creek Canyon – Gorgeous color above 8,500′
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Crowley Lake – Very little color is showing, as yet.
Patchy (10 – 50%) Tioga Pass – Give it another week to two.
Patchy (10 – 50%) Lundy Lake – On the lower end of the scale.
GO NOW! Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Lundy Canyon Trail – Beautiful yellow, orange and red aspen can be seen at higher elevations. Follow these links to finding the color at and surrounding Mammoth Lakes:
Colorful Week in California
Steve Wolfe spent his Saturday in Bishop Creek Canyon where he took these photos of the color.
Heavenly Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe is reporting three inches of new snow, but the snows appear to have missed the Eastern Sierra, as evidenced by Steve Wolfe’s shots of Surveyor’s Meadow and Sabrina Lake.
At Oak Lake in Granite Bay this liquidambar was indicating the color it usually presents in November.
This past week, Valerie Nellor sent this lovely shot of Indian Rhubarb, which had us reflecting on the great color yet to appear in Plumas County.
And, we had to share two lovely moments that Kimberly Kofala captured a week ago in Bishop Creek Canyon.
Aspen Progressing Faster, Cottonwoods On Schedule
Color spotter Steve Wolfe is back chasing fall colors in the Eastern Sierra. Steve’s photography appeared last autumn on this blog and he’s back in the eastern Sierra scouting foliage from Big Pine to just below Bridgeport to the north.
Steve reports what we believe is happening, that the quaking aspen are further along than last year and turning faster. We noticed that the appearance of color was about what it was last year, but that the progression of color has been much faster. That is, areas are appearing to change about as they did this time last year, but once they get to Patchy, the progression through Near Peak to Peak is rapid.
That means, you have to be ready to go when we’re reporting Patchy color and certainly, once we report Near Peak, as our reports can be received a day or two after the photograph was taken. California Fall Color always shows date-marked photographs, so you know what’s happening now. We rarely will publish a photo older than a week and then only when it is clearly marked as to the date it was taken.
Steve notes, he believes the color “isn’t as uniform as 2013; there are still patches of green above 9000 feet mixed in with the russets and golds.” He notes that cottonwoods and willows seem to be progressing the same rate as last autumn. Here are a couple of photos taken today above 9,000 feet. To see all his photos, click on the link at left of his Facebook Gallery.
LA Times Urges, “Go Now!”
When the Los Angeles Times urges “Go Now!” instead of “Go Dodgers!,” something seismic just happened.
In today’s LA Times Travel News & Deals, travel writer Mary Forgione selected five Go Now! destinations from this site to recommend to the paper’s readers. To read their report, CLICK HERE.
Perhaps it was Jared Smith’s photos of Bishop Creek Canyon that convinced the Times’ editorial staff. After all, his photos are grand-slam-gorgeous.
In return, California Fall Color reports the following fall baseball conditions.
GO NOW! – Peak (75 – 100%) – Los Angeles Dodgers
GO NOW! – Near Peak (50 – 100%) – San Francisco Giants
GO NOW! – Peak (75 – 100) – Los Angeles Angels
GO NOW! – Near Peak (50 – 100%) – Oakland A’s
Patchy (10 -50%) – San Diego Padres
Full Peak Above 8,500′
If you have longed to see full peak up Bishop Creek Canyon in the Eastern Sierra, but have missed it in the past, this is the week. GO NOW! Color Spotter Jared Smith of Parchers Resort reports “It is absolutely go-time for fall color chasers in the upper reaches of the Bishop Creek Canyon,” with some areas slightly past peak and many areas at peak.
Scenes like the following, taken at North Lake this past weekend by photographer Kimberly Kofala, will not last long in areas where color has changed, should strong winds arrive as predicted.
Overall Conditions Above 8,500′ Elevation – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW! Jared is rating all of the upper reaches of Bishop Creek Canyon at peak, due to a rapidly accellerating show of color. Roadside aspen are just now yellowing, while red, orange and yellow hues are dominating the canyon walls to the east and west of South Lake Road and along Hwy 168 at higher elevations. A concern is that the forecast calls for three straight days of wind with a chance of rain and snow showers, so urgency is recommended. Of course, Jared notes that cooler temperatures will intensify color down the canyon, which could make next week “a real treat if the higher aspen can withstand the short cold snap in the forecast.” Our recommendation is not to wait, but to GO NOW! Overall Conditions Below 8,500′ Elevation – Patchy (10 – 50%) The good news is that if you can’t go now, lower elevations are still mostly patchy with small yellow patches and bright lime green hues being prevalent. With cooler weather ahead, Jared says he wouldn’t be surprised if the better views below 8,500′ start to really pop and develop brilliant color.
Peak (75 – 100% – Go Now!) – Weir Pond (9,650′) The hillside to the west of the pond is fully turned now with a few aspens giving up for the season. The aspen on the west side of the pond have really progressed quickly making for some exceptional reflection shots with green grass contrasted with gorgeous yellow, orange and touches of red. The view from the outlet is stunning with a great view of the Sierra Crest and the grass-lined pond below with color on either side of the small lake. There is still some green yet to turn, especially along the road, though Jared supposes that the next week will be the best of the best for this location, weather permitting.
Near Peak (75 – 100% – Go Now!) – Parchers Camp (9,260′) Parchers Camp is probably closer to the 75% mark with some lower-lying aspen yet to turn, but the hillsides surrounding the resort are on fire to both the east & west. The color here at the resort tends to stick around a while so he’s hoping to get at least another week of good color at Parchers Resort if Mother Nature can behave herself, a tall order in late September and early October. Fingers crossed.
Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Willow Campground (9,000′) There is still enough green along the road and in the campground to keep this location at the near peak level but things are moving quickly with select trees showing nothing but green last week now showing peak color. Especially brilliant are the trees on the right hand side of South Lake Road just past the campground with a nice dark granite backdrop behind them.
Near Peak (50 – 75% – Go Now!) – Sabrina Campground (9,000′) The aspen along Hwy 168 are at peak color with lots of red and orange to go along with yellow and some green from the pine. Inside the campground however things are not quite there yet. There is a lot of yellow near the entrance to the campground and some red/orange hues on the hwy side of the campground but there is still quite a bit of green yet to turn along the middle fork of Bishop Creek. Let’s hope the wind, which can be especially strong here, doesn’t strip the friendly aspens of their foliage too early.
Peak (75 – 100% – Go Now!) – Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) Jared’s favorite views from this area are on the canyon walls above and around the campground, both of which are as brilliant as they’re likely to get this season. Still quite a bit of greenery within the campground but it’s changing incredibly fast. This is certainly a “GO NOW!” spot.
Peak (75 – 100% – Go Now!) – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft) Some green is still hanging tough along the road but most of the aspen in this area have turned. One of the better areas in the canyon to spot some orange and red, the mountain to the west of South Lake Road and the trees along the creek are especially brilliant.
Peak (75 – 100% – Go Now!) – Lake Sabrina (9,150′) Color towards the back of the lake near the main inlet is going off in a big way right now with lots of orange to go along with yellow, some patchy red and a bit of green. The east shore, especially the aspen lining the high mark of the reservoir are also showing some orange and red. Jared hopes the color sticks around a bit here but this location is the most susceptible to wind so he’ll have to wait and see. Thankfully, just below the dam there is plenty of color yet to change and the slow moving stream and pond below the lake can be nearly as spectacular as the reservoir when the color pops.
Peak (75 – 100% – Go Now!) – North Lake (9,255′) Jared reports the North Lake area was a difficult area to grade with some significant green lining the famed road just past the lake and along the shoreline of the lake, but the vast majority of the fall color is here now with the hillside directly above the lake, the road approaching the lake, and the campground really looking spectacular. Some red, orange and yellow all found here. The outlet creek is a great place to view North Lake. GO NOW!
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Steiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8,600′) It’s safe to say that about half of the color has started to go between Mt. Glen campground and the end of the Steiny Loop below Table Mt. Camp, possibly a touch more, but with the amount of green dominating the hillside at and below the campground, I’m still calling this patchy. The roadside aspen are really starting to turn making for a most scenic drive up canyon. More to come from this area.
Patchy (10 – 50%) – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) The color at the falls is a bit of the ordinary this year as just a few trees turned and are now losing their leaves while the vast majority of the color isn’t showing at all yet, just some lime green. This is a really good thing as regardless of what weather we see this weekend, this area should maintain its leaves allowing for the transformation to continue in the coming weeks.
Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Aspendell (8,400′) Pretty much the same report as last week although the lime green hue is lightening somewhat. Very few yellow branches within this small community as of now.
Peak – (75 – 100% – Go now!) – Groves above Cardinal Village (8,550) The color above Cardinal Village is in full effect with yellow painting the mountain from Cardinal Peak down to the mine. There is still quite a bit of green at Cardinal Village and below to Aspendell so I would expect more good stuff to come from this beautiful area.
Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Four Jeffries Not much change this week, which again is probably a good thing with the weather coming. The more green we have, the safer we are in expecting good fall color well into October.
Just Starting – (10 – 50%) – Intake II Some nice color developing below the spillway at the Intake and some decent yellow on the mountain east of the lake, but the aspen surrounding the lake itself remain primarily green, although lightening somewhat over the past week. Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Big Trees Campground A few early-bird trees are starting to go but barely any color here yet. This is another late blooming color location which hopefully will pop come October. [weatherlayer country=”United States” city=”Bishop”]
Take a Hike with Modern Hiker
If CaliforniaFallColor.com has a purpose, it is to share the beauty of California’s autumn. That often means venturing to places we hadn’t known about before.
I was called by a kindred spirit this week in the person of Casey Schreiner, editor and founder of Modern Hiker. I’ve admired Casey’s well-written and informative blog for some time and when he called to see how we might collaborate, I was more than ready to take a hike with Modern Hiker.
If you haven’t read Modern Hiker, you’ll find wonderful recommendations on hikes throughout our state that are both inspirational and energizing. Our society spends a lot on gym memberships, diet fads, self-improvement programs, medications and counseling, and why we do baffles me. As, the easiest, least-expensive and most-effective tools we have for a healthier, more fulfilling life are found at the end of our legs… our feet.
They can take us to places where nature’s beauty can cure what ails us, in ways none of those other aids can.
Casey has asked his readers to post trails leading to beautiful fall color. Similarly, I’m asking our readers to post fall color they see that is reached by trails. The Little Lakes Valley Trail, seen above in early September, is one of those trails. You’ll find other recommendations at ModernHiker.com.
Happy fall color viewing… and hiking!
Plumas County Reports First From Shasta Cascade
Plumas County is typically a mid October peak, though we’re already seeing early reports of orange-red Indian Rhubarb along Rock Creek, off Bucks Lake Rd; gold and orange Black Oak leaves showing at Oakland Camp; bright yellow bigleaf maple on La Porte Road, rosy dogwood in Round Valley and brilliant red sugar maple leaves in Quincy. We don’t have photos to share, but have asked the folks in Plumas County to send them. From what we’ve seen on a Facebook site, we’re raising the northern Sierra color rating to Patchy.
First Peak Color High Above Mammoth Lakes
Mono County gets credit for the first full peak report. Areas above 8,500′ in this Eastern Sierra county are now flush with orange and red.
GO NOW! – Peak (75 – 100%) – Rock Creek – Rock Creek Lake and the Rock Creek Trail are now at full peak. Lower areas of Rock Creek Canyon at are approaching peak and could go any day, now.
GO NOW! – Peak (75 – 100&) – Hilton Lakes Trail – Same as Rock Creek.
GO NOW! – Peak (75 – 100%) – Sherwin Lakes – You’ll have to do some hiking to get to where it’s at full peak. Take the Sherwin Creek Trail up to the Sherwin Lakes to get close to these peak color areas. Patchy (10 – 50%) – Sherwin Creek – Sherwin Creek in Mammoth Lakes is just above 10% with lots of lime and a little yellow.
GO NOW! – Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Green Creek – The color at Green Creek varies from patchy to near peak, so we’re alerting to Go Now!
Patchy (10 – 50-%) – Rainbow Fall and Devil’s Postpile NM – The road into Devil’s Postpile remains open until the first storms, providing viewing of the fall color in the upper San Joaquin River drainage.
Patchy (10 – 50%) Conway Summit – It’s still early, but showing signs.
Finally, It’s Fall
We’re feeling lucky today. Even though fall color has been visible in locations throughout California since August, Google’s search masthead today makes it official. Finally, it’s fall. In the past week, I traveled to attend a travel writer’s conference in Iceland. Though that Nordic country has much to its credit, Iceland’s fall color doesn’t hold a candle (or more appropriately, a lava flow) to California’s. Here are some of the great photos that have appeared on our Facebook site, since I took off towards the artic circle.
Alena Nichols posts these shots taken in the San Bernardino Mountains
Steve Wolfe sends these shots from the Eastern Sierra.
Susan Taylor visited the Napa Valley and Eastern Sierra for these great images.
Kimberly Kofala always has great shots, and these did not disappoint.
Candace Gregory sent these warm aspen leaves from the Mosquito Flat Trail near Rock Creek Lake.
Laura Thompson reports the color is beginning to develop on Hwy 89 north of Truckee.
And closing this gallery of recent shots is Katrina Lounsbury’s kernel of fall color.