Natural History Wanderings

California Fall Color reports on Mono County

While most Mono County locations are still green to lime-green, colors are starting to show in the higher elevations. Anywhere near 10,000′, including Upper Rock Creek, Upper Hilton Creek and at Virginia Lakes are the best bets for significant color in Mono County this week, as the highest stands have vibrant yellow, orange and red. However, you’ll have to work to get to it.

Other locations showing progress this week include Parker Lake, Conway Summit, Green Creek, Sagehen Meadow, Rock Creek, Sonora Pass, Tioga Pass and Monitor Pass.

Cooler temperatures and some precipitation the past few days have kick-started that fall feeling throughout Mono County. And, the forecast looks absolutely perfect (sunny, low to mid-70s) for fall color viewing in the coming week.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Monitor Pass, Mill Canyon/Golden Gate Mine Road, Walker Canyon, Walker & Coleville – Not much to see as yet.

Patchy (10-50%) – Sonora Pass –While there’s mostly lime green with a little yellow at the bottom, more yellow appears as you approach the top of the pass.

HIKE OF THE WEEK – The Leavitt Meadow Trail to Roosevelt Lake is a 6.5 mile round-trip hike that should be exploding with color in the next 10-14 days. VisitModernHiker.com for more recommendations of great fall color hikes.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Bridgeport Reservoir/Twin Lakes 

Patchy (10-50%) – Virginia Lakes –Some groves are displaying vibrant yellow leaves, while some areas in the lower elevations are still completely green and lime-green.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Conway Summit – Some groves showing some color, but the majority of the area is still green to lime green. There is, however bright golden and orange color in the grasses surrounding groves of green aspen.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Green Creek – Some small changes in the higher elevations, especially on the Green Creek trail to Green Lake.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Summers Meadow 

Just Starting (0-10%) – Tioga Pass & Lee Vining Canyon –Elevations at 10,000′ are near peak, but the more visited lower stands have a long way to go.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Lundy Lake & Canyon

Just Starting (0-10%) – Sagehen Meadow –  0-10% Just getting started. Lime greens with occasional patches of yellows.

Just Starting (0-10%) – June Lake Loop/Hwy 158

Just Starting (0-10%) – Parker Lake – Lime greens with small patches of yellows.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Little Walker LakeGreen Creek (9/6/16) Jeff Simpson

Just Starting (0-10%) – Mammoth Lakes – Will be reported separately, tomorrow.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Convict Lake

Just Starting (0-10%) – McGee Creek

Just Starting (0-10%) – Crowley

GO NOW! Near Peak (50-75%) – Upper Rock Creek – Near Peak at 10,000′. Rides from the Rock Creek Pack Station take you to broad areas of yellow color.

Patchy – Rock Creek – Patches of yellow and lime are mixed with green among the aspen at the lake.

Just Starting (0-10%) Rock Creek Road and Lower Rock Creek 

GO NOW! Near Peak (50-75%) – Hilton Creek – Red, orange and golden aspen leaves mix with lime and green at the upper end of the Hilton Creek Trail.

See photos at California Fall Color » Blog Archive » Mono County From Just Starting to Near Peak