The autumn color season in the Sierra Nevada should start very soon. Actually, if you count – as I do – the dry grasses and the high elevation ground plants going dormant, it has already begun. But the real show is the turning of the aspens, mostly in the eastern Sierra, starting around the very end of September and likely peaking during the first week of the month. If conditions are right, it can last as long as the middle of October, but earlier is always better.
Several web sites have posted fall color guides in the past, and since timing is so critical it is a good idea to follow the as the time approaches. One site that is new to me is a US government site that reports on fall colors nationwide. Another that I’ve often followed in the past is the California Fall Color site, though it doesn’t (yet) appear to be active. In addition, I’ll summarize what I know and what I hear about Sierra fall color once the curtain begins to rise on this year’s show.
More info posted on the Fall Color in California site too.
Dan,
Rock Creek Canyon has this posted on their member forum:
“8/25/08 – Just returned from East Fork campground and some of the aspen are turning yellow on the tips.”
“9/2/08 – Yes, the Aspens are turning yellow in the canyon and many have already fallen off…due to the gusts of 50mph winds we had on Saturday night and all day Sunday. Many of the other tree’s and shrubs have already started to turn yellow. This mornings low was 33 degree’s in the canyon…fall is on it’s way!”
Rock Creek is beautiful, if you can catch the leaves before they fall. The lower canyon around big Meadow campground always turns later, but the trees around the lake and above have eluded me for the past couple of years. They were already bare by the time I got up there……
I’m looking forward to seeing your fall images Dan. Looks like I’ll be visiting DV next week. Maybe Zion as well.
Inge, that’s a great report – and encouraging, too. Thanks!
Dan
Dan,
The Lake Sabrina Boat Landing has this in their fishing report:
“Fall is undeniably in the air as more and more yellows, oranges, reds and golds continue to appear in Bishop Creek Canyon. And if that wasn`t enough to let you know the seasons are a-changing, the temperatures might help a bit, too. That nip or crispness that makes you think autumn is near is sure making it seem more like winter especially with the snow flurries at South Lake and North Lake on Wednesday.”
Here is the link with some photos:
http://www.lakesabrinaboatlanding.com/Fishing_Report.html
Also the CalPhoto Fall color site now has Nelcha’s report.
The Naturephotographers.net has this report:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=33966&CGISESSID=ac3a6598f16b5882ec1d9644f1d2a146&u=15533
Hope the link works, the message is from Cory Freeman who lives in Bishop.
Inge
Hey, Michael, I don’t see it on the page at my link… Do you know if it is posted somewhere else, or if perhaps it has been submitted but not posted?
I’ll guess that your dates of Oct 3-6 should be great. Some of the locations are almost guaranteed to be in great shape right about that time.
Dan
Looks like Nelcha Cross left the first report on the California Fall Color site yesterday. Sounds like it’s started. Hope my planned trip for October 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th doesn’t miss the peak!