Biblical Revelation – The Burning Bush
Could Moses’ burning bush actually have been fall color? That’s the revelation Joe Willis proposes in his blog, Black Oak Naturalist. It seems Joe was exploring (no surprise, he’s constantly searching for magical discoveries) when he came upon a flame red dogwood in a brown wood absent of other color. It glowed so red hot, that the “godwood” appeared to be burning. There is wonder in the woods, as John Muir so often told us. We have only to walk in reverie to find its magic.
Mammoth/June – Simply Lovely, Losing It Higher Up
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:
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.
Hiking to Serendipity
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.
San Bernardino Nat’l Forest – Full Peak
Color spotter Lisa Wilkerson-Willis sends these beautiful photographs of the Aspen Grove near Big Bear in the San Bernardino National Forest. These are the best shots we’ve seen of this lovely forest. Wow! Whoever believed there is no fall color in Southern California, just hasn’t gone leaf peeping near Big Bear. Good goin’, Lisa! Be sure to enter your shots of autumn in Big Bear’s photo contest. For more about this contest, CLICK HERE.
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Aspen Grove – San Bernardino National Forest
Lundy Canyon Full Peak
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
Oaks Peaking in Plumas County
Color spotter Richard McCutcheon sends these photographs of cottonwood and oaks colored up at full peak in Plumas County, near Taylorsville. California’s oaks have lovely, though subtle color at peak. It’s often difficult to catch the oaks all turned at the same time, since they tend to change little by little over the weeks. Richard’s aerial perspective is a new one that shows the full change of the trees, looking down on them. Bravo, Richard.
GO NOW! – Oak Woodlands – Plumas County –
Redwoods Reviewed
Nature observer Sandy Steinman (see blog at left) took a trip north to Redwood National and State Parks this past week and provides a good guide to the parks. CLICK HERE to read Sandy’s remarks. The national park is closed, due to the shutdown, though most of the parks along the Redwood Coast are state parks and all of them remain open. Fall color is an added reason to visit the redwoods, though it’s not a prime reason to make the trip. Spots of color are seen among the redwoods and in non-redwood forests along The Redwood Highway. Still, this is California’s greatest boulevard and must be driven. We can think of no finer season than autumn in which to see it.
Color spotter Adam Nilsson-Weiskotts sends photos of changing bigleaf maple, alder and bay laurel among the redwood forests of the North Coast, reminding us that “time does not stand still in the Redwoods.” He reports, “The contrast of green moss and fog-shrouded bigleaf maple with their brilliant shades of orange, yellow and brown is truly a sight to behold and at peak, right now. The best colors can be seen along Prairie Creek Trail which is populated with bigleaf maples.
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Redwood National and State Parks – Bigleaf maple, alder and bay laurel are in full color along the drainages within the parks. The state parks remain open, though gated areas of the national parks are closed during the federal shutdown. No worries, as there are far more state park areas to view.
Mono Lake As Seen By Michael Frye
Professional photographer Michael Frye (see his blog at left) is an enduring and respected chronicler of Yosemite and the High Sierra. This past week, he traveled across Tioga Pass to Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra where he photographed fall color under a dusting of snow. He notes that the snow didn’t greatly damage the color, which has been our experience. It will spot leaves, but because snow falls often without wind, the leaves are not taken away. This weekend has been beautiful in the high country, with clear skies and dazzling color. CLICK HERE to read Michael’s observations.
Upper Bishop Creek – You Missed It
It is still spectacular up the Bishop Creek Canyon, though all areas above 8,500′ in elevation are now past peak with leaves dropping every day. Here’s the latest from Jared Smith of the Parchers Resort up the Bishop Creek Canyon, east of Bishop (US 395)
PAST PEAK – Overall Conditions above 8,500′ – Still many pockets of color around but overall conditions have progressed well past peak with many trees have lost their leaves or turned brown/black from the cold front that came through this week. Still, judging by the number of photographers still photographing the color up high, especially with the snow-capped peaks after the snowfall, it’s still worth a look.
GO NOW! – Overall Conditions below 8,500′ – Lots of color below 8500ft still with many popular areas at or nearing peak. The cold snap did burn a some of yellow the aspen resulting in a reddish brown hue in some of the aspen but most of the color persists, again looking quite stunning with the snowfall from the last few days.
Location Specific Reports
Past Peak – South Lake Rd above Mt. Glen Camp (8,600′) – Still a bit of color, especially along the road, but the best is behind us.
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Mountain Glen Campground (8,400′) – The groves directly above the campground have already gone barren of color but the aspen along the creek and the huge groves from here down canyon are spectacular right now.
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – It doesn’t get much better than it is right now. Time will tell if the cold and snow has any effect on these aspen but for the time being, we’re looking at peak color here.
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Cardinal Village & Aspendell (8,550′) – The groves above Cardinal Village near the mine are past peak but the aspen along the creek and on the canyon floor are stunning right now. The Aspens in and around the community of Aspendell, CA are really starting to go off as well.
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Intake II (8,100′) – One of the better concentrations of color in the canyon right now is around Intake II and above the lake in the upper campground. The color along the inlet creek is spectacular right now. Again, these campgrounds are closed to campers but photographers would be well served to make the walk into the campground to see the color.
Past Peak – Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Not much left here – what a difference a week makes.
GO NOW! – 75 -100 % – Forks, Four
Jeffries, Big Trees & Bishop Park Camgrounds (8,000′ – 8,300′) – These areas aren’t quite as famous as some of the other locations in the canyon but they are absolutely worth a look right now as most of the color along the creek at these campgrounds are in peak color. While the campgrounds are closed to campers, photographers are welcome to wander the stream looking for the right photo opportunity.
Past Peak – Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Mostly brown leaves left here as the cold snap really hit this area hard turning brilliant peak color into dead colorless leaves.
Past Peak – Surveyors Meadow (8,975′) – There is a bit of color left here but the color from last week is all but gone, even along the road and stream at the canyon floor.
Past Peak – Willow Campground (9,100′) – The best color here is above the campground in between the campground and Parchers Resort but even then, there are only a few bunches of really good color.
Past Peak – Parchers Camp – The orange and red vein of aspen above the resort still survives but the vast majority of the color is either gone or turned brown with the storm.
Past Peak – Weir Pond (9,700′) – Still beautiful in the snow, but not much from a color standpoint as the color is mostly gone up this high.
Past Peak – Lake Sabrina (9,150′) – Just about all of the color is gone here, including the groves below the dam which were so good last week.
Past Peak – North Lake (9,255′) – There is one nice stretch of color along the road at North Lake that still looks great but the rest of it is gone.
June Is Bustin’ Out All Over – Go Now!
In the words of Rodgers and Hammerstein, “June is bustin’ out all over!” We always get the most queries from color photogs and leaf peepers anxious about timing their visits to the Eastern Sierra and beautiful June Lake in Mono County, off US 395. This week was no different.
Several wrote to us, nervous about what we’d report, as June hadn’t checked in for two weeks. Well, pack your bags! Mono County color spotter Alicia Vennos has confirmed that June IS bustin out all over.
June Lake is a special place to see fall color because of its impressive… no, I’m sorry, I meant to say, IMPRESSIVE landscapes. Massive, snow-draped peaks rise in the background, while dazzling color is reflected in mountain lakes in the foreground.
That’s the scene at June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake and Grant Lake. So, hold your breaths and adjust your white balance, as you’ll see auburn, flame red, pumpkin orange, cadmium yellow, lime green and azure blue. We give it another week like this with full peak sometime next week, unless (fingers crossed) weather comes through. But, why risk it? Go now!
Here’s the latest from Mono County.
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Convict Lake – It is absolutely golden surrounding this pond.
GO NOW! 50 – 75% – Conway Summit – Broad swaths of flickering yellow, tinged with orange and lime are making Conway Summit a sight to behold. It’s still just short of peak, but very close. Don’t wait. The risk of winds or weather stripping the trees from their majesty is just too great. Go now!
GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – June Lake – This measurement is at the lower end of 75%. Because of this, June Lake should have two weeks of good color. Though, it is likely to peak early next week. Conditions are ripe for great photography and leaf peeping this weekend. For anyone who waited too long to see June peak, don’t blow it this year. Go now!
Skiers and Riders: June Mountain ski area will be reopening again this winter, after a several year hiatus. This is a fabulous ski mountain for families, boarders, and backcountry skiing (from a lift). If you’ve not skied or ridden there previously, do yourself a favor and plan a trip this winter. It’s great fun.
GO NOW! 75 – 100% – Lundy Lake – The aspen surrounding Lundy Lake are deep orange, the deepest color we’ve seen them carry in many years. Don’t miss this spectacular show. Go now before the wind knocks them from branches!
Past Peak – Upper Rock Creek – You missed it.
30 – 50% – Lower Rock Creek – Still glowing and turning at lower elevations, though it’s now half off in upper areas.