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.

Mono Basin fall color preview

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.

Now that it’s September, we’ve started to get the big question…. Are the leaves changing yet? Not quite yet. But a few aspen groves around the Mono Basin look more lime-green than usual these days, which means they’ll be changing soon.

As you prepare for your fall color trip to the Eastern Sierra, this guide from the Mono County Tourism Commission has a list of 21 recommended fall color locations. In the Mono Basin, the June Lake Loop, Lee Vining Canyon, and Lundy Canyon are all excellent fall color spots, as well as Virginia Lakes and Conway Summit, which are just north of the Mono Basin. We also love the Parker Lake Trail, the Lee Vining Creek Trail, and lower Mill Creek as their aspens, willows, and cottonwoods turn vibrant colors in the fall.

Stay tuned here on the Mono-logue for more fall color updates as the season progresses!

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