The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

I've got some time off next week/weekend and I'm planning on taking the Mrs who does not camp. Any suggestions of lodging in the area? I'm not familiar with non-camping in the area.

 

June Lake Lodge maybe?

 

We spent a night at the Mammoth Lakes Westin so the lady could spend most of the following day working (used her Marriott status to get a late checkout) without tying the truck down at one campsite or trailhead (I ended up doing four short hikes around the craters while she worked). Nice rooms, but the pool and hot tub are closed for renovations if that matters to you. The Schat's Bakkery in town isn't nearly as good as the one in Bishop, though.

 

Plenty of places from 4 star hotels to 1 star motels from Lone Pine through Lee Vining. What's the itinerary?

 

Don't see any snow from town at least. Heading up!


PRAISE WAITETH FOR THEE O GOD IN ZION

UPDATE: Yes, Mt Patterson is drivable as a thru-route as of today! Drove it east to Nevada -- absolutely perfect weather, but a bit slower-going than I remembered on the eastern approach. Late getting home.

The aspens are turning quite nicely on the approach to Lobdell.



Unfortunately, said lake is virtually empty! This shot is taken from water level of my August visit last year -- my front tires would have been in the drink here.



For reference, a shot from last August:



I nonetheless observed signs of fish yet lurking within this murky puddle... but certainly nothing I would want to haul in for dinner. Those poor creatures. A total cesspool at this point, destined to freeze solid this winter. If this lake drains like this each fall, I wonder how it winds up full of fish again each year. Perhaps it is stocked? Or, can fish survive being suffocated in cow shit and frozen solid for several months? No idea.

We did indeed see bits of snow on north-facing slopes, but nothing within even walking distance of the road.



Wasn't much left of the flag at the summit:



So I elected to replace it with the lightly used woven one I normally fly at camp. Perhaps it might wear better, but in any case, now I need a new flag.



(I couldn't reach the top rung!)

Note: Driving in the eastward direction, there is a tempting side-trail to the right, through a rock cropping where you can pose your vehicle for cool pictures. Do not do this, as the route is marked closed -- but only at the far end. :/

Some nice colors visible on the eastern half, but not as a drive-thru experience.



Finally, to address the above question:

Whatever you choose, I would recommend booking it in advance. Pretty much all lodging we saw on the drive up the Owens Valley indicated they were booked to capacity. A bit surprising this late in the season. Little concern for us, I thought smugly... we were on a camping trip!


Is our children learning?

But... the prospect of finding and making camp as we departed the state park in darkness, totally exhausted and with temps plummeting towards a light frost, led us to a new conclusion: We should totally find a hotel room instead.

Pretty sure we got the last room in Bridgeport. Here's a shot to admire this fact, and the fact that I managed to install these stupid little hood pins I just in time for the trip--otherwise the hood would likely have blown into the windshield on the drive up!

 

Originally I was going to stay at PSR tent cabins but temps are gonna be too hot for that. I got two nights at a place in Bishop. Working on itinerary now. Taking the new 4Runner out and won't be doing anything hardcore offroad. Want to see fall colors and do something fun with the two boys (10&15). They like mines and I wanted to take them to Bodie for the mill tour but it isn't going on until Memorial Day. The lady isn't into high altitude so that might limit us a bit. For Owens Valley this is very different for me. I've always camped in the region.
So ideas thus far are petroglyphs on the volcanic tablelands, convict lake, Whitmore hot springs (star gazing), fall colors (not sure where), maybe an easy hike somewhere (bristle cones, Blue Sky Lake, Grass Lake, Tuttle Creek Ashram), Laws Museum

Thursday driving out and checking into motel, nighttime Inyo/White Mountain stargazing.
Friday- ?
Saturday-Drive home, stop at local eats, Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery, Keoughs, Manzanar,

 

Updated today:


0-10% - Just Starting
10-50% - Patchy
50-75% - Near Peak (Go Now!)
75-100% - Peaking (GO NOW!)
Past Peak - (You Missed It)

SAGEHEN SUMMIT
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)

Peak to past peak as the main summit has officially shed its leaves. There’s still some great color along the road the further you head south. Go now as this will be the first “past peak” location on our list by this time next week. Please plan accordingly: AWD or 4WD is recommended, with no restrooms, and no trash removal.

TIOGA PASS
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)

The best colors are located along the road about a mile before Ellery Lake. The color wheel is on full display here as green, yellow, orange, and even crimson are all bunched together. Head to Saddlebag Lake for additional viewing while it lasts!

ROCK CREEK CANYON
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)

As one of the highest paved roads in California, Rock Creek Road climbs almost 3,000' in about 10 miles - so, understandably, colors can vary wildly from top to bottom. Upper Elevation: FULL PEAK! Absolutely stunning color around the lake right now that will hopefully stick around through the weekend. Deep orange and yellow leaves surround the lake and up to Mosquito Flat Trailhead. Middle Elevation: Mixed colors at this elevation with groves of yellow mixed in among the green. This section should be peaking by next week! Lower Elevation: Still very green the closer you get to US 395 and Tom’s Place so this road will still be worth the drive for the next 10-14 days!

MONITOR PASS
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)

Along the road leading up to Virginia Lakes, there are sections of trees that are near peak. Around the lake, the trees and bushes are bright lime green.

MCGEE CREEK CANYON
50-75% Near Peak (Go Now!)

Still mixed colors along the lower elevations of US 395 with the leaves around the pack station starting to approach peak. The main show is 1-2 miles up McGee Creek Canyon where orange and yellow leaves can be seen cascading up the mountain. This entire area will be at full peak by this time next week.

SONORA PASS
50-75% Near Peak (Go Now!)

Still more to go in terms of color, but some patches are showing yellow and orange leaves with the occasional red at the top of the pass. Mostly yellow/green on the drive up.

VIRGINIA LAKES
50-75% Near Peak (Go Now!)

Yellows and oranges have made progress here while some parts are still green. Midway up the canyon is currently one of the prime spots.

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN
10-50% Patchy

Patchy.Colors are continuing to reveal themselves, coming in closer to 50%. There are more patches of yellow and orange aspens within the area, starting on Lake Mary Road as you head up. The strongest fall colors can be seen along Lake George.

LOBDELL LAKE ROAD
10-50% Patchy

A few patches are near peak on the road up to the lake, with bright yellow colors and some red. The majority of patches are just starting to turn.

TWIN LAKES
10-50% Patchy

Some gorgeous hues of orange appearing in the area. The Honeymoon Flat Lower Campground has trees that are in transition showing lots of yellow but still a bit green too.

LUNDY CANYON
10-50% Patchy

Colors are showing nicely midway up the canyon. This area is still mainly green at the trailhead.

JUNE LAKE LOOP
10-50% Patchy

Higher elevation is showing color. Along the loop road (HWY 158) you will find sections that are near peak including a couple spots around June Lake, Gull Lake Campground and spots in the Silver Lake area.

CONVICT LAKE
0-10% Just Starting

Some trees are showing off fall color, but for the most part, this area needs more time for the aspens to make their colorful transition.

LEE VINING CANYON
0-10% Just Starting

Still verygreen in Lee Vining Canyon. Put this spot on your list around 10-14 days from now. It could accelerate rapidly by this time next week as there were full peaking orange aspens along Tioga Pass Road around 1,000 feet up.

 

Are you constantly going to these places to report this to us?

 

There are websites that provide the info. Such as this one: https://www.monocounty.org/things-to-do/fall-colors/ He's just lending us a hand by spoon feeding it to us here

I was up in the Sierra over this past weekend for my brother's wedding. Didn't get out much since the weekend was full of wedding activities but it's always nice just to be up there regardless. And, I'll be back up in 3wks for our annual "closing" trip to fish Hot Creek and hang with family. Looking like the leaves will not disappoint!

 

Im lazy, I get an email from Mammoth Mountain. But it looks like the same source as the Mono County site.

 

It's good info to share

 

I've always thought you were a pretty smart guy. But now I understand why we're friends.

 

Lake Sabrina

 

Just got back from a quickie to Mammoth. We target the shoulder season since, well.....I hate most people and avoid them for the most part. Jokes on me as we landed in a perfect storm. This weekend was the Obstacle Course Race World Championship and town was packed. Can still find seclusion if you know where to look.

 

To augment @Stuck Sucks 's vigilant patrolling and frequent reporting on the fall color changes throughout the eastern Sierra, I present...



Updated today:


0-10% - Just Starting
10-50% - Patchy
50-75% - Near Peak (Go Now!)
75-100% - Peaking (GO NOW!)
Past Peak - (You Missed It)


SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
0% - No color change at all (WTF?)

These oversized aspen trees apparently didn't get the memo, stubbornly retaining their summer colors well into the fall season -- to the great disappointment of throngs of tourists!



---


Returned to this fire lookout by night...





And holy crap... there was a fire in the distance.

 

Last weekend there were a ton of bikers in the area and a fly in of some sort. Tons of aircraft at Lone Pine and Independence had a few too.

 

Sorensen's on Sunday. Mostly peaked, raining golden showers (so to speak) when breezes came through. Far side of Hope Valley was gorgeous.

 

My extensive boots-on-ground latest report (aka: copy/paste from Mono County's site):


0-10% - Just Starting
10-50% - Patchy
50-75% - Near Peak (Go Now!)
75-100% - Peaking (GO NOW!)
Past Peak - (You Missed It)

TOWN OF MAMMOTH LAKES
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)
The fall colors around town have come along beautifully over the past week. Take a walk or a bike ride through all the colors along the Town Loop path. The two most notable locations to explore along this path are near Mammoth Creek and within the Snowcreek area. Now is the time to experience peaking fall colors right within Mammoth Lakes.

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)
This is likely the 'last call' to catch any remaining fall colors in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. While the aspens have mostly lost their leaves or will soon, yellow and orange colors still linger in the bushes around Twin Lakes and Lake Mary.

ROCK CREEK CANYON
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)
As one of the highest paved roads in California, Rock Creek Road climbs almost 3,000' in about 10 miles - so, understandably, colors can vary wildly from top to bottom. Upper Elevation: Past peak. Middle Elevation: Past peak. Lower Elevation: The lower elevations of Rock Creek Canyon are still bursting with color. Lower Rock Creek is a great area for mountain biking or hiking, just keep in mind it’s a shared trail for both these activities so be aware of each other.

MONITOR PASS
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)
This area has been at its peak for a while now and is quickly going to be past.

MCGEE CREEK CANYON
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)
Now is the time to experience peaking fall colors along the McGee Creek! Any colors that were already peaking throughout the canyon are past peak or will be soon.

LUNDY LAKE & CANYON
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)
Lundy has it all - green, yellow, orange, red, brown, and bare trees. The colors along the road driving in and the day-use picnic spots are beautiful, but the campground is stunning – super colorful. There are still colors around the lake and trail, though some groves (like the south shore, accessed from the dam road) are past-peak. It's still absolutely worth the drive.

LEE VINING CANYON
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)
Most of the Lee Vining Canyon is now closer to peaking at 75%. Within the next week, this area should hopefully be fully peaking! You will still come across a few patches of green trees, but every year, they end up being the last to peak.

TWIN LAKES
75-100% Peaking (GO NOW!)
While Upper Twin Lake is approaching past peak, there is still lots of color around Lower Twin Lake – and maybe even more to come. Color pacing this year has us puzzled, as it's more sporadic than in the past, but there are still some green areas, and depending on the weather, there could be bonus color here for some time. This is a great place to focus your fall color efforts this coming weekend.

JUNE LAKE LOOP
50-75% Near Peak (Go Now!)
The June Lake Loop is really stretching out its color timing this year. Aspens within the town have been peaking, but between Silver and Grant Lake on HWY 158, the trees are holding on at 50/50, a blend of yellows and green. Even though it hasn’t reached its peak between that section, you’ll find brilliant patches of yellow and orange, both at eye level and high in the mountains. This area is known for being exceptionally dramatic when it reaches full peak status, but for now, the drive is still showing off plenty of stunning color and is worth the excursion.

CONVICT LAKE
50-75% Near Peak (Go Now!)
As you drive along Convict Lake Road, you'll be greeted by yellow aspens lining Convict Creek. This year, the colors are less synchronized compared to previous seasons, so you'll encounter sections of trees that are peaking, still green, and past peak. Regardless, of all the different phases happening here, this is still an unreal location to add to your list this fall.

SONORA PASS
Past Peak (You Missed It)

LOBDELL LAKE ROAD
Past Peak (You Missed It)

 

Just got back from the area. June lake area was full of color. McGee Creek and Lee Vining was great too.

I was blessed to see to herds of wild horses. Well, they looked wild to me.

 

Wife and I will be heading up on Monday to meet some friends & family for our annual October Hot Creek fishing trip. Looks like the color change will be just about in full effect. Absolutely cannot wait!