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.

Fall colors are just starting in the Mono Basin

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.

This post was written by Krista Fanucchi, 2019 Birding Intern.

Autumn in the Eastern Sierra is a captivating time of year. After a busy summer of growth and renewal, vibrant pockets of yellow, gold, and red spills down steep canyon walls and across hilltops. Most of the birds have flown south for the winter, and the autumn leaves quiver and shine throughout a silent landscape. Though the fall colors have just started to pop up in isolated pockets throughout the Eastern Sierra, the crisp clean air announces more fall splendor to come soon!

Leaves turning yellow on trees and shrubs on the flanks of a scree slope and in the valley bottom below.
Lundy Canyon fall color on 9/26/19. Photo by Krista Fanucchi.

Some small groups of aspen are just starting to change color along the June Lake Loop (7,654′), in Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′), and on Conway Summit (8,143′), though most of the changing leaves seem to be occurring in willow thickets and aspen groves at higher elevations.

A lone tree with leaves turning yellow surrounded by green aspen and conifers.
A few aspen trees starting to change color in Lee Vining Canyon on 9/26/19. Photo by Krista Fanucchi.

Lundy Canyon, around 7,858′, is slightly higher in elevation and the leaves are starting to change in larger groves and thickets.

Small aspen trees with yellow leaves in front of pine trees against the blue sky.
Lundy Canyon fall color on 9/26/19. Photo by Krista Fanucchi.

Fall in the Eastern Sierra is dynamic, with changes occurring at different elevations and individual groves every day. The colorful celebration is active yet peaceful, with winter approaching right around the corner.  Visit the Mono County fall color guide and the California Fall Color blog for weekly updates of fall colors here in the Mono Basin.