Color spotter Michelle Pontoni reported from Arcata this week with the following information:
We’ve had a sunny week in Arcata, but with rain approaching Wednesday night (Nov. 1) we are seeing the last of the blue sky for awhile.
Go NOW! to catch some late color.
We wandered through the Cal Poly Humboldt campus and found quite a bit of color on Oct. 28.
We took shelter from the sun (yes it sometimes warms up in Arcata) beneath a large maple showing all green leaves on the underside. When we looked up into the top story windows of the university library, we could see the reflection of the brilliant colors crowning the tree.
Along Harpst Street some years these trees all change color at the same time but this year it is the north side of the street changing first.
There are ferns everywhere on campus and today they are covered with the browns and golds of fall.
Grab a look at the colors here before they are gone.
Color spotter Angie Plaisted put it best this week.
“It was a beautiful year for fall colors in the Eastern Sierra, but sadly it’s time to bid them farewell,” she said.
It’s true that colors have wrapped in Mono County, so make plans to visit this beautiful Eastern Sierra location in 2024!
Here are a few parting shots from the past week.
Color spotter Jim Adams took a walk around the downtown area of Nevada City on Oct. 29 and found colors peaking everywhere he turned. He estimated color changes were at 75% and recommended that you Go Now to this location.
To take the walk that Jim did, you can check out this fall color map from Nevada City Chamber of Commerce.
Color spotter Michael Beatley took a drive over the weekend to Indian Falls and Indian Creek on Hwy 89.
“The creek is lined with wild grape, willows, big leaf maples and grasses,” he described. “On the west edge of Quincy is the West Ranch with cottonwoods and old farm implements and black oaks. Plumas County is peaking everywhere.”
GO NOW!
Jennifer Natale reports that Yosemite Valley colors are looking good as of Oct. 28.
“I did the full loop around Mirror Lake,” Natale says, “which had some spectacular reds and yellows.” She also walked to the chapel and around other portions of the valley.
Natale also noted that the park is in the midst of prescribed burns so the air quality wasn’t the best near El Capitan.
As expected, as of October 25, the fall colors in the high country of Inyo County are pretty much done. However, colors in the Owens Valley, including the Bishop area, are spectacular! To top it off, the incoming weather brought in amazing clouds this week making for some amazing images, according to color spotter Betsy Forsyth. Plan your visit to this special place in the next 7-10 days.
Southern Inyo County
The Valley is ablaze with yellow!! Between the cottonwoods and the rabbit brush, it can feel like fields of gold.
Bishop Creek Canyon
Bishop Creek Canyon is pretty much past peak. There are a few aspen groves holding onto some green leaves, but for the most part it is lots of leafless trees. With a cold front moving into the area, the best colors will be at the lower elevations like the Owens Valley.
South Fork, Bishop Creek
Middle Fork, Bishop Creek
Bishop
Bishop and the Owens Valley are really beautiful right now.
Northern Inyo County
It’s been “leaf, laugh, love” for those who made it to Mono County this past week, says color spotter Jeff Simpson. Incredible weather conditions over the weekend with some of the most vibrant leaves we’ve ever seen in our 12 of reporting made for a truly wonderful week of leaf peeping.
All locations with the exception of Antelope Valley (the towns of Walker, Coleville, and Topaz) are at 100% and won’t last much longer. June Lake, Convict Lake, McGee Creek, Lower Lee Vining Creek, Twin Lakes Bridgeport, and the community of Crowley Lake have the best chance to make it through the weekend and into next week. Unsettled weather has moved into Mono County with wind and a chance of snow so we can’t guarantee how much longer the leaves will stick around.
The banks of the West Walker River and the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz are just approaching peak colors and are your best shot for peaking leaves after this weekend. Lower Rock Creek Trail near the town of Paradise should also be a great spot into next week.
This is your last call for fall in Mono County until next year!
WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) 75-100% GO NOW! – The West Walker River is at full peak with Walker, Coleville and Topaz reaching peak by the weekend.
Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) Past Peak
BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES
Twin Lakes (7,000′) 100% GO NOW! – Last call for twin lakes!
Bodie Hills (9,419′) Past Peak
Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Past Peak
Conway Summit (8,143) – Past Peak
Summers Meadow (7,200′) Past Peak
LEE VINING
Tioga Pass (9,943′) Past Peak
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) 100% GO NOW! The best color is located along lower Lee Vining Creek trail.
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) 100% GO NOW! Past Peak in some areas. A few good groves still sticking around.
BENTON & 120 EAST
Sagehen Summit (8,139’) Past Peak
JUNE LAKE LOOP
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) 100% GO NOW! Absolutely brilliant this past week with many locations still hanging on.
MAMMOTH LAKES
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) Past Peak
CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) 100% GO NOW! Still some spots hanging on closer to US 395
Around Crowley community (6,781′) 100% GO NOW! Brilliant color this past weekend that should be sticking around.
Convict Lake (7850′) 100% GO NOW! breathtaking last night! last chance for this special spot!
ROCK CREEK CANYON
Rock Creek Road (9,600’) Past Peak but great color along lower Rock Creek Trail out of Paradise.