Mono County Fall Color Report – September 21, 2022
CURRENT FALL COLOR REPORT – September 21, 2022: “Still waiting” is the best way to describe this week’s update as many of our favorite fall color destinations are still pretty green. We are seeing groves of yellow/green aspens above the 9,500′ foot level that include destinations like Lobdell Lake Road, Bodie Hills, Virginia Lakes and Rock Creek Lake – but are all still entirely too green to upgrade to a “patchy 10-50%” designation.
Sagehen Summit is the only location upgraded to the 10-50% range this week, and it will be the best bet for significant color this weekend. We expect this location to be the first location in California to reach peak colors within the next 10-14 days.
It was 32 degrees in Bridgeport yesterday morning at dawn, so temperatures are working in our favor. We also received a fresh layer of snow on the mountain peaks (generally 10,500′ and above) this morning, which should also accelerate the process.
We will update this report every Wednesday for the remainder of the season. If you’re new to fall colors in Mono County you can view images from previous years to get an idea of timing for all locations and elevations, and download our Fall Color Map to help navigate all the fall color hot spots in the Eastern Sierra.
For the most up-to-date conditions and pictures, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Guide:
0-10% – Just Starting
10-50% – Patchy
50-75% – Near Peak (Go Now!)
75-100% – Peaking (GO NOW!)
Past Peak – (You Missed It)
WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – 0%
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – 0%
Sonora Pass (9,623′) – 0%
Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – 0-10% Just starting along the road with the best color being found just below the lake.
BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES
Twin Lakes (7,000′) – 0%
Bodie Hills (9,419′) 0-10%
Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – 0-10% Decent changes at both Little and Big Virginia Lakes. Please remember to be respectful of your parking locations along the road and don’t block entrances to private residences. Hunting season is also in full swing here and along Dunderberg Meadow/Green Creek/Summers Meadow roads.
Conway Summit (8,143) – 0%
Summers Meadow (7,200′) – 0%
LEE VINING
Tioga Pass (9,943′) – 0%
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – 0%
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – 0%
BENTON & 120 EAST
Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – 10-50% The best location for fall colors so far and would be approaching peak colors next week.
JUNE LAKE LOOP
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – 0%
MAMMOTH LAKES – Follow Mammoth Lakes Tourism for the most up-to-date information: VisitMammoth.com
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – 0%
CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – 0%
Around Crowley community (6,781′) – 0%
Convict Lake (7850′) – 0%
ROCK CREEK CANYON
Rock Creek Road (9,600’) – 0-10% – Just starting at the lake level and higher elevations. The best color will be on the trails heading higher in elevation.
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(From Mono County Tourism)
