Where to Find Fall Colors in Mammoth Lakes This Week

Peak color season brings more visitors to the Eastern Sierra than any other time of year. The aspens, wildlife, and landscapes that make fall so spectacular are also fragile. Before you head out:

Plan Ahead: Check weather, roads, and maps before you go. Weather can shift, cell service can be limited and restrooms may be scarce.

Park Smart: Use designated spots only. Avoid parking on plants or soft shoulders to protect fragile aspen roots. Aspens grow in shallow soils, and repeated pressure from cars can damage their roots for years to come.

Tread Lightly: Brush off boots and gear to prevent the spread of invasive species. Stay on trails and know proper trail etiquette. Never carve into aspens—their paper-thin bark makes them especially vulnerable, and even small cuts can introduce harmful disease.

Stay Aware: Drive safely, pull over only in safe areas, and never stop or stand in the road. Even quiet country roads see fast-moving traffic—protect yourself and be courteous to others.

Pack It In, Pack It Out: Carry out all trash—even food scraps. With more visitors during peak color season, even small litter can add up quickly and can harm wildlife. Bonus points for picking up extra litter.

Sonora Pass (9,623') - 10-50% Patchy

Sonora is stunning and overall a solid 50%. Still pretty green up to 7,000’ or so, then beautiful color around the pack station and Leavitt Trailhead. Climb higher and the colors move into the 50-75% range. A few small spots could be considered past-peak, or will be soon with predicted winds, but no matter, it’s still a spectacular and colorful drive or place to spend the day hiking, horseback riding, and visiting Leavitt Falls.

Lobdell Lake (9,274') - 10-50% Patchy

This area is 50%. There is a beautiful display of color and enough green on the far end to not feel comfortable moving it to Near Peak but this is a spot to hit soon for sure

• Lobdell Lake Road is in bad shape; we do not advise driving past the recommended turnaround spot (see map). Up to that point, you’ll enjoy big, beautiful views and a safe place to turn around. Beyond, expect severe washouts, water crossings, deep ruts, and rough terrain—not worth it, especially since the lake itself is a low reservoir. Burcham Flat Road (county-maintained) is generally well-graded but does show some wear and tear. Best access is from the south end via US 395 (just south of Sonora Pass), though a loop can be made with East Side Lane in Walker. Keep in mind: cell service is spotty to nonexistent, and a tow would be extremely expensive.

Monitor Pass (8,314′) - 10-50% Patchy

Monitor offers a very different pass experience from Tioga and Sonora - wide open views make it a great choice for a road trip to or from Mono County. There are several aspen groves up high that have lovely color - this area is heading to 50-75% very soon - but there’s enough green to make us think it will be a great fall color drive for another week or two.

West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200') - 0-10% Just Starting

Majority is still green but creeping to a solid 10%. This area typically changes in October, so give it time. That said, a few trees have thrown in the towel early, a bit brown or blown off. We didn’t mind one bit during our picnic break, nor did the angler fly-fishing the river!

Tioga Pass (9,943′) - 10-50% Patchy

The pass is as close to 50% as you can get. If we get some weather that could dictate what this area looks like. If not, it still has a bit more change in it.

Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) - 10-50% Patchy

Below the lake/campground area would fool you and make you think there is no color to see but we would encourage you to adventure just past the resort and maybe take a hike up in the canyon. Here is where the true beauty begins. Our Camera was so dazzled it died halfway up the trail. We would still put the canyon at 10-50% with the trailhead and above being closer to 50%.

• Lundy Canyon - The road is narrow with limited sight distance on curves, few pullouts to safely park on, and limited bathrooms facilities. We encourage visitors to park at the Lundy Canyon Trailhead parking lot for their fall colors or walking the road from a pull out to their desired location. Alternative parking locations include the boat launch near the Lundy Lake resort, and the parking lot at Lundy Lake dam which has a vault toilet building.
  

Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) - 0-10% Just Starting

Little spots of yellow and orange, especially around the water tank. If you want to see any color, you really need to drive up Lee Vining Creek past Aspen Campground. As you pass the waterfall at Big Bend, it's clear there is still plenty of water keeping these trees green. Pictures in the report are from the groves between Aspen and Big Bend campgrounds.

• Please watch for work trucks in the area.

June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) - 0-10% Just Starting

Though there are some spots on the hillsides with color, most everything in the loop is still green with an occasional shift to yellow. We do not have much change here and will wait for it to showcase itself in the coming weeks. The Parker bench is the highlight of color on the hillside right now.

• June Lake Loop - Hwy 158 is narrow from Silver Lake past Grant Lake. Be especially careful not to park on the road in this section and drive slowly as there is not much room for error. This is also a major crossing area for wildlife.

McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) - 0-10% Just Starting

This canyon is gorgeous right now but still just getting started. Most of the color is just about a mile up trail and beyond. Great picnic, great hike (start early, as the exposed trail can get hot), and an even better trail ride with McGee Pack Station. Early in the morning we noticed some mosquitos by the creek.

Convict Lake (7850′) - 0-10% - Just Starting

The grove at the back of the lake does have a bit more color and also may have lost a bit in the last windstorm. But still, lots of green, especially along the trail at the front of the lake and on the shale beach.

South Lake (9,768') - 50-75% Near Peak (Go Now!)

It’s happening!! Golds, yellows and greens… you can find a little bit of everything here.

Weir Pond (9,650')- 50-75% Near Peak (Go Now!)

Patchy at the pond itself, again, everything above the pond is tones of yellow.

Lake Sabrina (9,150')- 50-75% Near Peak (Go Now!)

There is a full range of colors cascading down the mountains with yellow and orange aspens lining the trail around the lake.

• Please note that they are working on the dam, with access to the path on the dam closed. Please observe parking laws in this area and go early; it gets full quickly!

Round Valley (4,692') - 10-50% Patchy

More yellow is showing on the tops and middle of the cottonwoods, still not much change since last week's report.

Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000') - 10-50% Patchy

Bishop (4,150') - 10-50% Patchy

Yellow is showing more at the tops of the cottonwoods.

Owens Valley (4,000') - 10-50% Patchy

Yellow is starting at the tops of the cottonwoods.