Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Date for peak fall colors?

In planning for a family trip to Mammoth, I want to try to hit the best time for fall colors on the Sierra eastern slope. I am thinking it is somewhere between the first and third weekends of October, but am not sure.

Does anyone have some good information?

I've been in June on or around 10/10 for a lot of years and sometimes you hit it perfectly other times you are early or late. Then there is the wind, which can turn that perfect time to crap.

Clear as mud I hope...

I was around June Lake Oct. 8th 2006. Here are a few pictures.

Fall Colors all depends on several factors. the timing can change from year to year between about September 15 and October 31. Secondly, the higher up you go, the earlier it comes. So, if you miss it in one place, you may catch it in another. There is a web site that reports the progress: www.bishopvisitor.com Look under "Activities" The site does not become active until until the colors start to change.

I think the amount of rainfall and warm weather will affect the leaves changing colors. Generally they say that low rainfall and high temperatures will cause leaves to change colors at a later date. So you may expect a late season that may not be as brilliant as a normal season.

I spent a fair amount of time in New England during "leaf peeping" season.

Last year Bishop Chamber of commerce (888-395-3952) was mailing out free "Eastern Sierra fall Color Guide"..From Big Pine up north past Bridgeport...

What are some of your areas you like to go to around Lone Pine North and South for Fall colors I'd like to take my daughter this October...mark

Steve,

I think your time frame between the first and third week in October is good. I'd steer you towards the first half of that time frame if you had a choice.

I'll look forward to seeing ya out here!

All the best,

Kurt

I've been going to June Lake in Oct-Nov to hike for many years. In normal years, the best fall colors are between October 8-October 28. I know that sounds ridiculously specific, but I pay close attention to the colors and have charted it over the years. Peak colors usually only last 2-3 days and it's tough to know when those days will come.

However, this year is going to be different because of the extreme drought. I was there last week and Gull, Fern and Grant lakes are lower now than they should be in October.

In case people didn't know, June Lake suffered dramatically this past winter because they basically had no snow. Many of the businesses on Main Street and two staple hotels are for sale. The townspeople are on their knees, actively praying for snow in the coming year.

According to what they've said, they expect the fall colors to be delayed this year and peak colors may not be seen until late October.

Aside from the June Lake loop, the best fall colors in the Sierra in my opinion are in Lake Lundy (right by Mono City) and in Aspendale, on the 168 above Bishop. Another fanbulous hike for fall colors is the Fern/Yost lake trail in June Lake, as well as the Rush Creek trailhead in June Lake.

I have finally put up some fall colors pictures from a vacation trip to Mammoth Lakes a week ago.

The colors were excellent while we were there. An added bonus was a dusting of snow on Oct 5 and again Oct 11. It was a little late for colors on the Rock Creek road, especially in the higher elevation. The aspens there had completely lost their leaves. Lundy Lake and Conway summit north of Mono Lake had the most abundant groves of color.

Click here to see the best of the pictures.

This is north of Mono Lake:


Lundy Lake:

Ah..this is one area where finally the east coast might take the west.. Took this picture a couple days ago up in our mountains...



It finally rained!!

Chris

That picture is a fake! It's a copy of a Thomas Kinkade painting.

Wow, great colors Chris! In the Eastern Sierras, I see mostly yellows and oranges, not much (if any) reds! [still love them Fall colors in Eastern Sierras though].
A couple of weeks ago I visited the Sierras with family for a day trip. Many places were not at peak.
http://picasaweb.google.com/caljoyjeet/SonoraPassBodieMonoLakeJuneLake2007

BTW, a good site to check the status of Fall colors in CA (primarily Eastern Sierras) is maintained by photographer Carol Leigh.
http://www.calphoto.com/fall.htm

-Joyjeet

My daughter and I were in the Mammoth area this past weekend. Most of the trees are bare, although we found little pockets of color here and there in the June Lake Loop area. There is a small section in the Lake Crowley settlement with spectacular color; however, the best colors right now are in the Bishop area. Judging from the leaves on the ground in Rock Creek Canyon, at the trailhead for Fern/Yost Lakes, and the Sherwin bowl area, the color must have been quite spectacular.