Eastern Sierra Nevada Fall Colors
It’s that time of year again, September 1st. Many photographers are beginning to think about fall colors in California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada. Though I’m no longer able to give first hand reports, I know that many of my readers will help me out when the time comes and give reports of their findings. That’s still a few weeks away though. So for now, I’ll give a report on past experience with the timing of the colors.
Beginning in about two weeks you can expect to find trees at the upper elevations, 9000 feet and above, starting to change. Bishop Creek Canyon and Rock Creek Canyon will most likely be the first areas to see color. You’re not going to find large areas of color yet, but there will be nice pockets here and there.
Around the third week in Sept. things really begin to pick up above 9000 feet. The last week in Sept can be awesome in places. Bishop Creek Canyon between Aspendell and Lake Sabrina can be gorgeous. As can Lake Sabrina and South Lake. In Rock Creek Canyon the trees around Rock Creek Lake can be nice at this same time too.
Come the first of Oct. the trees will be rocking at the higher elevations and the trees below 8500 feet will begin to show signs of color here and there. Once again, your best bet for the first week in Oct is Bishop Creek and Rock Creek Canyons.
Beginning the second week in Oct. you will find that the trees below 8500 feet are starting to look nice. McGee Creek Canyon and Convict Lake can be nice then. Also check out Lee Vining Creek. That can be nice starting the second week.
By the third week in Oct, June Lake Loop should be going strong, as well as Lundy Canyon and Crowley Lake. Things begin to wind down once the forth week comes, but there can still be great color everywhere.
Of course all of this is guesswork. I’m going on my past experiences here. I’ve seen trees changing as early as the first week in Sept. I’ve also seen them wait until the end of Sept. Something else to keep in mind, one good day of heavy winds can strip a whole hillsides of trees bare. And one hard freeze can turn all the leaves brown overnight. If you’re in the Eastern Sierra around the first to third week in Oct. though, you’ll see good color and get good images.
One more point, if you’re staying in motels, make your reservations early. Maybe even right now if you know the dates of your trip. The motels fill up during weekends in Oct. Also, if you’re heading to Bishop on Oct. 2, 3 & 4 the Fall Colors Classic Car show is that weekend and the whole town will be full. On the following weekend is the Lone Pine Film Festival, there is a lot of motel spill over into Bishop once Lone Pine fills up for that. So plan ahead and make reservation or you may be sleeping in your car.
If you’re heading to Bishop Creek for fall colors, you may want to check out my eBook, “Eastern Sierra Photo Guide: Bishop Creek”. It contains a lot of information on places to shoot up Bishop Creek. I’ve recently cut the price of the book by ten dollars. It can now be purchased for $15.
More Info on Eastern Sierra Photo Guide: Bishop Creek
Other Resources for Eastern Sierra Fall Colors
- G Dan Mitchell Photography : Sierra Nevada Fall Color Season
- Phillip Colla Photography: Get Ready for Fall Color in the Eastern Sierra
- Flickr Group: Eastern Sierra Fall Color
- CalPhoto.com: Fall Color in California Report
Steven – wow! fall, it’s hard to believe it’s that time again! thanks for the heads up. i currently have plans to head to lee vining first weekend in october, not for fall color or car show though. the mono basin historical society is conducting their annual “sagebrush tour”. there is a dinner friday eveining and tours of the log cabin mine, via shuttle, on saturday. i’ve tried to reach this mine twice and both times the truck sputtered out, altitude sickness i guess, so i’m really hoping nothing blows up and i make. it will be a turn around trip for me, heading back on sunday. here’s their website:
http://www.monobasinhs.org/
if anyone else goes, let me know so we can connect.
That sounds like fun Terry. Have fun on that tour.
great write-up here steven and good info. It’s already getting down into the low 40′s in the morning here. I gotta get some firewood this weekend. Fall is my favorite time of the year and I’m eagerly awaiting the color change. I have no idea what it will do this season. With June as cold as it was and wet, I wonder how that has any impact if any on the start of color.
I’m thinking I might concentrate more up north this year around June Lake to Virginia Lakes. I’ll hit North Lake for sure as it’s one of my favs and Little Lakes Valley.
Thanks Cory.
Congratulations on that cover shot. That’s awesome.
For those who don’t know, Cory got the cover shot for the Sept/Oct edition of “Mammoth Sierra Magazine”. You can check it out at his blog: http://sierraimpressions.blogspot.com/2009/09/second-cover.html
Cory – hey, that’s great. i’ll have to hunt down a copy.
Many congratulations, Cory. It’s a beautiful cover!
You beat me! I was going back and forth on posting a night photography message or an eastern Sierra color message at my blog last night – and the night photography won out!
Nice summary of the typical timing and locations. It takes a while to figure out the general sequence of events – where the color starts and how it progresses – and the seasonal variations that come with the changing conditions each year: heat, precipitation, early storms, etc.
My most recent pack trip was in the Ten Lakes area of Yosemite about a week ago – and there already were some signs of the coming autumn color. The mule ears plants are lighting up some areas with golden and yellow color, some of the chaparral plants were showing a bit of color, and if you get down close to the ground in the alpine and subalpine meadows you can see some small plants turning red and gold.
Take care,
Dan
Thanks Dan.
When I saw how many search engine hits I was getting for ES fall colors, I knew it was time to get a post up.
Look forward to reading your post.
I’ve been anxiously waiting for Sept/Oct for a few weeks now. Last year I finally got to the Sierras two days after a snow storm froze all the leaves and turned them black, so I’ve been waiting a year to go back. Can’t wait, this time I’ll make sure to head up before it’s too late.
Hope you get there in time this year Mike.
Thanks. Last year my work is why I couldn’t leave when I wanted too. Hopeing it doesn’t happen again this year, but with my luck….=(
Our annual fall trip to the JLL is starting on Oct. 10, a week later than last year due to Silver Lake Resort closing later this year (home base). Cory, if you get the chance and don’t mind the trail, check out the back of Walker Lake and the aspen stands there. One of my favorite places to be in October.
Congrats, too, on the cover page, Cory.
Steven, thanks for all the good work you do. You guys are my connection from So Cal to my higher authority, the peaks and valleys, lakes and streams of our Sierra Nevada wilderness.
Mike, ENJOY!!
Thanks Art.
Hi Steven — Anyone who reads this is welcome to check out the new Eastern Sierra Fall Colors group on Flickr.
Also, I’ve volunteered to organize a loosely organized group of photographers who are interested in meeting either the last week of September or the first week of October in the Eastern Sierra. I’m calling this the “Trip n’ Fall” photo adventure and in a few days I’ll be sending out the first regular email to those who have expressed interest.
This isn’t a workshop; it’s just a way for us to know who else is in the area, maybe shoot together, have a meal or share info on where the best leaves are.
Again, people are welcome to send me their regular email address me via Flickr and I’ll add them to the list.
Don’t be surprised if I mention your Eastern Sierra Fall Color e-book or provide a link to this page so people have a sense of how the color will unfold.
I also welcome any color reports and will happily return the favor to the followers of Sierra Visions once I’m in the area.
Kahlee
CEO (Chief Erstatz Organizer)
Eastern Sierra Fall Color Group
http://www.flickr.com/groups/easternsierrafallcolor/
Further to my last comment above, I’ve now posted info about Sierra Visions and this Eastern Sierra Nevada Fall Colors post on the ES Fall Color group discussion page on Flickr. Hope it brings you some business too!
(Now don’t forget to join the new Eastern Sierra Wildflowers group!)
Thanks Kahlee.
Check out her Flickr group guys, it’s got some awesome photographers in it.
Kahlee – i love the title of your gathering! hopefully, there won’t be any injuries. ;^)
thanks for the shout-out Steven! And thanks to everyone else too!
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