Donner Summit Fall Leaves Updates

I've visited several high-country areas in the Donner Summit region in the last few days. Yesterday I took several pictures of aspen in full color but several other locations and another half of the trees in the grove are still a week away. In this area we only have scattered pockets of rich golden aspen and more often single or small groups of bright candles against the deep green of the fir forests. Their rare occurrences make them that much more precious to me and my camera lens.

The best of the fall color, hillside displays in the Central Sierra will always be Hope Valley along Highways 89 and 88 in the Carson Pass areas. These locations are worth day-long or better yet, weekend drives.

Since I can visit only a few areas each week, we can broaden our observations data base if anyone sends me an email at john@SierraOutdoorRecreation.ocm. I'll post updated information on the www.SierraOutdoorRecreation.com New Information Blog.

Many of the aspen in the Emerald Bay of Lake Tahoe area are at their peak in the scattered pockets along the Eagles Falls Trail. Especially the one nice grove below the falls. Willows along the creek

have already peaked and the leaves are falling. The second grove about one-half mile above the falls are still a week away but a couple of small trees along the trail were ideal.

The small grove on the Blackwood Canyon Road only a ½ mile west above Highway 89 is gorgeous with the late-morning or early-afternoon sun providing photogenic backlighting. Scattered trees along the west side of the Lake along Highway 89 are in full color.

I'm projecting the Spooner Summit groves along Highway 50 east of Lake Tahoe plus the groves on the north side of Brockway Summit and the Martis Peak Lookout Road should be at their best or only a few days away. I won't be able to visit those areas until next week. If anyone has better confirmation or projections, please send me an email at john@SierraOutdoorRecreation.com

Along I-80 and the South Yuba River stretching west and upriver from Cisco Grove to above the Rainbow Lodge, the cottonwoods are a few days to a week from being in full color. However, it's a race as many of the leaves are drying out before one-more good cold snap can bring them into their prime.

Although I was in the Lindsey Lakes and Loney Meadows areas on the western boundary of the Grouse Ridge Area late last week, they are at about the same pace as Cisco Grove. Probably another week – if they don't dry out, brown and lose too many leaves before they color.

Our best and nearest immediate display in the Donner Summit area is the Henness Pass Road from Milton Reservoir east to the Stampede Reservoir area on the Little Truckee River. I visited some of this area a couple days ago and will finish writing a separate update tomorrow October 23rd.