Cottonwoods with a dogwood understory, June Lake Loop
Sometimes it seems as if autumn will never come, but it always does. From all reports there wasn’t much color on the eastern side of the Sierra a week ago, but things have changed, and the aspens are just beautiful right now. Most of the usual spots near Lee Vining have great color, including the June Lake Loop, Parker Bench, Lundy Canyon, Conway Summit, the road to Virginia Lakes, Dunderberg Meadow, Green Creek, and Summers Meadows.
We had a wonderful day photographing all that color. Autumn in this area is just magical. Here’s one photo from the June Lake Loop this morning, and I’ll post more when I get a chance to process them.
In all the places I mentioned there were some green leaves, and few bare trees, so I’d say it’s just before the peak. The June Lake Loop had the most green aspens, so that area is probably a week or so from it’s peak, but there’s plenty of color there now. We didn’t visit Lee Vining Canyon (we drove through it in the dark last night), or points south like McGee Creek and Convict Lake. We might head south tomorrow, but then again the color is so nice around Lee Vining that we might just stay here!
—Michael Frye
Related posts: App Update is Ready; Fall Color in Yosemite; A Rainy, Misty Day in Yosemite Valley, and a Quick Fall Color Report
Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author and photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters, plus the eBook Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom. He has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.
Nice shot. Here in Western New England it seems like we are just going from green to brown with just some small areas of color. Glad it’s looking good out there.
Nice, glad you’re there now to enjoy it!
We were up in the Sierra’s this past weekend. Great color on the road to South lake and nice isolated color on the June Lake loop. Convict Lake had a lot of color along near the campground but we still saw some green along the foot of mount Laurel. Convict is always a great place to shoot particularly at Sunrise. Can’t wait to see some more of your photos.
I planning on going to Yosemite on the 24th, and we are thinking about driving over the pass. I hope there is still color in a week.
Headed that way this weekend on motorcycles with friends on a photo safari! Mixing hobbies 🙂
OK, THAT’S it! The color is about to PEAK and no one will hire me in the Bay Area (CA), so I’m packing for a quick Fall Color photo blast to the Eastern Sierra!! — Great that I can go mid-week and avoid the photog crowds.
Some of my shots from 2007 around Convict Lake, etc.
https://picasaweb.google.com/116406827355037865537/EasternSierraLandscapesConvictLakeAndTwinLakes?authuser=0&feat=directlink
See u flat-landers later!
That seem to be the one spot a lot of people stopped at along the June Lake Loop Rd. Good job keeping the river/creek out of the photo! I have a shot almost identical from Saturday.
Hi Michael, love the colors in the image. We haven’t had that great of a fall foliage season here this year, and it’s pretty much finished now. I’d love to be out there!
Hi, Just drove home to Santa Rosa, CA. from Mammoth this morning. I spent a week based in Mammoth and drove the 395 north to Bodie and south to Rock Creek. Conway Summit is ON FIRE this morning Looked so much better since I was there over a week ago. June Lake Loop is 50-100% depending on where you are. It doesn’t matter, it’s all be-u-t-ful! Anyone wanting to know do they still have time? Yes. Go now!
Thamks, Michael I just drove through the loop 2hrs ago. The northern half is wonderful; below Silver Lake is already past its prime.
Thanks for your comments and reports folks!
Steve, sorry you haven’t had a great fall there. I hope next year is better.
Jack, there will surely be color in a week, though some areas might be past peak. June Lake Loop and Lee Vining Canyon are good bets.
Tim, unemployment has it’s advantages!
Dave, yes, this is a pretty obvious spot right along the road. I’ve never found a decent composition before though. I tried to include the creek, but it just didn’t work. Rich Seiling has a wonderful photo of this group of trees:
http://craftingphotographs.com/2009/10/20/examples-the-making-of-a-photograph-cottonwoods-autumn-june-lake-loop-california/
Rachel, are you in New England too?
John, I’ve always thought the best photo spots are around Silver Lake, Grant Lake, and in between, and there’s still a lot of green there. Did you mean the southern part of the loop? I didn’t go that far.
On what date was this article posted?
Jerry, the date is always listed at the end of each post. This was October 18th.
Thanks – was using my cell and didn’t see it on the small display.
Do you think two weeks from now would be too late for the eastern Sierra?
Jerry, no worries. But yes, two weeks from now will probably be too late for eastern Sierra color. A grove or two might still have yellow leaves, but I think Yosemite Valley would be a better bet then.
Thanks, good idea!
Will be in the Eastern Sierra and Yosemite starting on Friday cannot wait to take photos and use the information in learn from you.
That’s great Richard – have fun!