It comes fast. Look out your window this week, and you'll notice: Summer's leaves have lost their luster, and lawns are looking wan. That bit of yellow creeping into your willow tree is a precursor of things to come.
If a fall color getaway is on your agenda, the time to plan is now. Timing is crucial, depending on where you want to go.
It all depends on altitude. A broad spectrum of microclimates within a two-hour drive of Sacramento make for a season that extends over eight to 10 weeks. Aspens in the higher reaches of the Sierra already have turned golden, while maples in the foothills, and sweet gums in the valley are still a month and more from their peak.
The most brilliant stands of fall foliage in California are to be found in the eastern Sierra, veteran leaf-peepers say. Trees up high start changing first, with color marching down toward the mountains' base as cooler temperatures take hold.
"My rule of thumb is that it drops about 1,000 feet a week," says Jimmy Kellett, tourism marketing manager for Mammoth Lakes. The last week of September and first week of October mark the seasonal color climax at elevations of 6,000 to 7,000 feet, he adds.
Lest you think that California can't compete in terms of color with New England and other areas where deciduous hardwoods rule, consider this: California's Inyo National Forest in the eastern Sierra ranked No. 2 in the nation in a listing of the top 10 fall forests evaluated this year for the Weather Channel by GORP.com, a national outdoor recreation Web site.
While a trip to the Mammoth Lakes area requires a commitment of several days, the Hope Valley region of Alpine County can be explored as an overnight excursion or a long day trip.
"Hope Valley has the very best aspen show around within striking distance of Sacramento," says Karen Weise, a botanist with the U.S. Forest Service who will lead a guided hike in the area on Oct. 3. "Highway 88 all the way to Monitor Pass has just fabulous fall color. Of all the places around the Sacramento region, it's definitely the most stunning, the most bang for your buck."
Enough said. Time to pull out your road map and figure out a way to get into the high country and fall for fall.
Blazing canyons
Highway 395 is California's premier artery for fall foliage, which should be peaking right about now. The best stands of trees, says Sacramento photographer Dave Henry, who documents the color change each year, are to be found in mountain canyons west of the highway in Mono and Inyo counties between Bridgeport and Bishop. (Bridgeport is about four hours from Sacramento, Bishop about six.)Color hot spots to circle on your map include Twin Lakes, Virginia Lakes, McGee Creek Canyon, Parker lake, Convict Lake and Lundy Lake.
To get a taste of what you'll see, go to www.sacbee.com/leaves/ and view Henry's past photo galleries. A pair of Bee stories from 2006 include suggestions for places to stay, stop, eat and explore along the route; go to www.sacbee.com and type "highway 395" in the search field. A selection of this year's lodging specials are listed in the box accompanying this story, along with information on where to get a fall color guide.
Have Hope
The quickest way to get to Hope Valley is to take Highway 50 toward Lake Tahoe and turn south on Highway 89. The valley lies near the intersection of highways 88 and 89; look for public access parking at several pullouts in the immediate area. A wildfire in early September burned about 50 acres in the vicinity but didn't make a big dent in regional aspen groves.Lodging in the Hope Valley area is available at Sorensen's Resort, where options range from bed-and-breakfast cabins to fully outfitted housekeeping cabins and contemporary mountain homes. Rates start at $115 per night. Sorensen's cafe serves three meals daily, with beef burgundy stew a long-standing favorite on the dinner menu.
Botanist Karen Weise's interpretive fall color hike is set for Oct. 3. During the three- to four-mile excursion, she'll discuss everything from the history of the area to types of fall color, evolutionary adaptations and what fall color signals to wildlife. Cost of the excursion is $50 for Sorensen's guests or $75 for the general public. Lunch is included.
