Must-See Destinations in Fall

FALL FOLIAGE IN CALIFORNIA

Tucked away in the Eastern Sierra Mountains and about five hours Southeast of Santa Clara is Inyo National Forest at Bishop, one of the most beautiful, and serene places to see fall foliage. Every year there is an array of aspen leaves from red to orange that line mountain roads and lakes, making you feel as though you're in state parks in Maine or Vermont, and in awe that such a place exists in California.  

I have visited North Lake as an annual camping trip for the past four years, and each consecutive year surpasses expectations. Thinking I wasn’t going to be able to visit this year because I would be a freshman on campus was upsetting; but with SCU closed, my silver lining of fall quarter was squeezing in a last minute trip, and this year’s colors were like none before. 

The best way to experience the fall foliage and colors that North Lake and the surrounding lakes have to offer is by camping, and the best time to visit is late September through October. These months are known as “peak” season because this is when the aspen trees lose their green hue and turn into vibrant reds, oranges, yellows and golds. Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that most often the best time to visit during peak season is the last week of September through the first week of October. 

Camping in the Inyo National Forest allows for the most fun while visiting because the campgrounds are situated equidistant from some of the most popular places to hike or sightsee. North Lake, South Lake, Lake Sabrina, Weir Pond are well-known locations are are super close to the campgrounds, making it easily accessible to park and explore or hike around the lakes and find the best patches of color. 

North Lake

North Lake is the most popular location to see fall colors in the Inyo National Forest because of the patches of aspen that line the lake, and the mountains that shoot straight into the sky in the background, making for a very picturesque scene. And in my opinion, it’s the best place to explore while visiting. The best time to see the leaves and scenery is at sunrise. The wind does not pick up until later in the morning, leaving unreal reflections of the mountains and colors on the lower lake. Another reason for North Lake’s popularity is that was the standard background picture for Apple Software a couple years ago, which draws lots of photographers to the lake. 

The trail around the lake is pretty narrow and unpaved the closer you get to the water, but once you hit the road you are walking under canopies of aspens. When the North Lake Campground is open, I highly recommend setting up there. It is the most secluded campground on the mountain and has great hikes surrounding the site. And If you are serious about taking some cool photos of the lake go extra early! The east side of the lake is usually packed with photographers that get there super early. Right after sunrise, the sun reflects on the granite peaks of the mountains creating an impressive phenomenon called alpenglow. The mountain lights up bright pink and the sun unveils the rest of the face just moments later, and in my opinion it’s one of the coolest things to see.

South Lake

After visiting North lake, head to bishop creek to find South Lake. But before going straight to the lake, make sure to stop at the turnouts on the road to explore more colors! Heading from North Lake to South Lake there is a waterfall on the left side of the road called Mist Falls, where a different setting of yellow and green aspens in the background make it a must-see place to stop and take a look. Down the road a little closer to the lake is another picturesque view of a valley of changing aspens and a creek with little trails to walk by that are also worth the hike. 

Once you arrive out South Lake, an expansive view of mountains and pine trees go on until the lake’s horizon. I recommend following the trail that borders the edge of the lake for the best views. For other routes that lead to serene, high elevation lakes, the Bishop Trail Pass connects to South Lake, which eventually connects to the John Muir trail.  It is a more intense hike, but if you have the time to do it’s definitely worth it. 

South Lake

Weir Pond

Finally, the next must-see place to stop at is Weir Pond. Every year I have visited this region I found that the best time to visit is a sunset. The sun lights up the pond and turns the surrounding meadows gold and orange and it makes for a really peaceful scene. It’s common to find people fly-fishing in the pond itself, or farther down where the pond turns into a stream, so if you are feeling outdoorsy, these ponds and lakes offer great trout fishing. Other pine trees surrounding the pond have hidden patches of aspens that are always fun to search for too, and under the color patches are great places to picnic with friends or family too.

Weir Pond

All spots around the Inyo National Forest are beautiful places to escape to for a much needed dose of nature during these times. It’s hard being inside most of the day on zoom calls for classes and meetings, but if you have the chance to head to any of these places over a weekend, I highly recommend it. You won’t regret it!