10/12/2026
🍄Field Notes: Fall Edition
The Lost Sierra can hang with the best of 'em when it comes to putting on a breathtaking fall display. If you're planning your trip around that short window of the year where the colors are brilliant, here's a few things to know:
🍂 Watch the elevation. Color starts high and works its way down. The higher trailheads and lake basins often turn weeks before the lower valleys catch up.
🍂 Mid-September to mid-October is your window. High country can start as early as mid-September; lower elevations often hold color into mid-October.
🍂 A cold night speeds things up. The first real cold snap can trigger a fast turn. If there's been a chilly week, it might be time to go.
🍂 Aspens, willows, dogwoods, and cottonwoods are some of the show-stoppers around here this time of year—all can be found near creeks, lakes, and drainages (not so much up on the dry ridgelines).
Remember to bring layers, and don't be afraid to ask us our favorite places to see the season change (fair warning: we're going to tell you Constellation Creek is one of them 🤗).
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