Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Fall colors are emerging in the Mono Basin

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

This post was written by Erica Stephens, 2014 Mono Lake Intern.

Quaking Aspens between Grant Lake Reservoir and Silver Lake along the June Lake Loop are rapidly changing their leaves from a dark green to yellow color. These trees regularly grow in dense, unbroken stands, creating a stunning golden vista when their leaves fully change color in the fall. If you are headed to the Eastern Sierra, make sure to do this driving loop to see these beautiful seasonal changes.

Aspens along Highway 158 are starting to change to lime-green and yellow. Photo by Erica Stephens.
Willow leaves on the shore of Silver Lake look yellow due to a combination of fall color and a rust fungus. Photo by Erica Stephens.

Along with the trees, the undergrowth changes spectacular colors too. Photo by Erica Stephens.

Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Canyon, Conway Summit, and Virginia Lakes are just beginning to change. The Parker Bench, visible below Mt. Wood west of Highway 395, has a mixture of green, yellow, and even a little bit of orange already.

A hike up to the Parker Bench at this time of year yields spectacular views of the Mono Basin along with beautiful fall colors. Photo courtesy of Nathan Taylor.
So far, the Parker Bench is the only place in the Mono Basin displaying orange aspen leaves. Photo courtesy of Nathan Taylor.

Check back for next week’s update on fall color in the Mono Basin, and check out the California fall color website for updates from all over the state, including the Bishop area.

One comment

  1. I am now living in Anacortes, WA – in the northwest part of the state. However, I was born in CA in 1940 – and spent many wonderful vacations in the Eastern Sierra. We stayed at the Lundy Lake Resort every year – and thoroughly enjoyed the fabulous fall colors in Lundy Canyon!

    Thanks for sharing this beautiful place with me.