California Fall Color has new reports
American River – In autumn, the American River is placid, unlike the surging stream it is in late spring and early summer. Sycamore, cottonwood and black oak cast golden, orange, yellow and lime reflections across its slow moving waters.
American River, Lotus (722′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
El Dorado Hills (768′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Exotic Chinese pistache, sycamore, flowering plum and pears and native blue oaks planted along El Dorado Hills Blvd. are a mix of burgundy, auburn, crimson, yellow, orange, lime and buff.
See photos at American River ReflectionsQuincy – Quincy, the Plumas County seat, sits at 3,432′. Hike a hundred feet higher into the hills surrounding the town and you have a birds-eye view of downtown Quincy splashed with orange, yellow, red and green.
Throughout town, both native and planted trees provide lush color. Exotic sugar maples near the county courthouse are guilty of being spectacular and Quincy (est. 1854) is packed with peak color.
The Peak color should last through the week, though do not delay, as Quincy is as good as it gets, right now.
Quincy (3,432′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
See photos at Getting Above and Around Quincy
Silver Lake – Silver Lake, June Lake Loop – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
See photo at Silver Lake Silver MomentHope Valley/Tahoe – while most of the aspen in the Hope Valley are now bare, there are some with reasonably good color remaining. Though, the cabin at Red Lake Creek is now “totally bare, even on the mountainside above the cabin.”
“Color can be found in the lower elevations (near the Lake) among aspens and cottonwoods; it can also be found in a few aspen groves hanging tough in the higher elevations.
“For instance, near Tahoe Meadows (on the NV side, along Mt. Rose Highway), there is a gnarled, weathered grove of aspens that tends to turn color in mid-October despite its high elevation (approximately 8,000ft). This grove is going off right now, and is at Peak (75-100%). A number of inches have fallen at this elevation, adding to the beauty. At the right angle, one can capture a photo of orange-hued aspens with the majestic Lake Tahoe in the background, 2,000ft below.
Hope Valley – Past Peak – You Missed It.
Lake Tahoe – Past Peak – You Missed It.
See photos at One Last Shot of Hope
Natural History Wanderings 
Leave a comment