Inyo National Forest Fall Color Report

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Fall Color Report
Updated 9/20/11

What an interesting year it has been!! It’s almost Fall, and once again a time for our canyons, forests, and valleys to display their colors for all to enjoy. However, it is still early in most areas. But wait, there is an interesting treat in store as we are experiencing a colorful rare overlap of wildflowers AND beginning stages of fall colors.

At Rock Creek’s Little Lakes Valley trail, the Indian paintbrush is still in vibrant bloom, along with purple Fireweed, Lupine, Columbine and creek beds full of tiny yellow flowers. At the same time, the underbrush is starting to turn to reds, and some meadows are attempting to turn gold. The remainder of the grasses and Aspens remain spring and summer-time green.

Also, a report of the first splashes of yellow beginning to appear in the Virginia Lakes area. This gives us reason to believe the full start of color change is still a couple of weeks away at the higher elevations. Look to the ground, as ground covers are turning red, but - “What a Year” - the color is coming from wildflowers that are still blooming.

Inyo National Forest