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 at Mono Lake: It’s not too early to plan your trip

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.

Yes, I know, it’s only August, and the canyons are still glittering green with quaking aspen trees. But if you are thinking about visiting in the fall, now is the time to start planning your trip!

The wide open views and hillsides covered in aspen make the Conway Summit area a great place to enjoy autumn. Photo taken on October 21, 2010 by Bartshe Miller.
The wide open views and hillsides covered in aspen make the Conway Summit area a great place to enjoy autumn. Photo taken on October 21, 2010 by Bartshe Miller.

The colors usually start to change in mid-September and peak around mid-October. By November, the leaves are usually on the ground and snow has arrived. Different areas peak at different times, so let us do the scouting! The Mono Lake Guided Trip program has five trips scheduled in October to take visitors to the hottest spots for fall colors during the peak.

October 2015 at Walker Creek. Photo by Elin Ljung.
Mono Lake’s tributaries, like Walker Creek, light up in the fall. Photo taken on October 16, 2015 by Elin Ljung.

Locations will change as the colors do and we hope to experience a range of coloration, from just beginning to full-on peaking brilliance. Your guide will be scouting each day for new, secluded peak spots so you don’t have to struggle against the crowds.

Freshwater lakes in the Mono Basin are often fringed with aspen, which turn to gold each fall season. Photo taken at Parker Lake on October 2, 2013 by Elin Ljung.
Freshwater lakes in the Mono Basin are often fringed with aspen, which turn to gold each fall season. Photo taken at Parker Lake on October 2, 2013 by Elin Ljung.

Not only will you see the gold and rust and fire colored leaves bursting up the canyons, but your guide will also tell you about the biology behind color changes in leaves and aspen ecology, so this trip is great for photographers and nature enthusiasts alike.

The wet meadows of Lundy Canyon are a great place to see fall colors. Photo taken on October 15, 2011, courtesy of Zach Moe.
The wet meadows of Lundy Canyon are a great place to see fall colors. Photo taken on October 15, 2011, courtesy of Zach Moe.

Join us on these dates, or create your own custom trip for extra solitude in the trees:

Wednesday October 5, 2016 • 8:00am–12:00pm. Sign up!
Thursday October 13, 2016 • 3:00–7:00pm. Sign up!
Saturday October 15, 2016 • 8:00am–12:00pm. Sign up!
Tuesday October 18, 2016 • 8:00am–12:00pm. Sign up!
Wednesday October 19, 2016 • 3:00–7:00pm. Sign up!

All these fall color trips are $75 per person/$65 for members/$35 for kids (ages 5–12).

Colors on the June Lake Loop, October 2015. Photo by Elin Ljung.
Clouds or rain make fall colors seem to glow along the June Lake Loop. Photo taken on October 15, 2015 by Elin Ljung.
Bright red aspen leaves are less common than gold and orange during the fall---let us find them for you! Photo taken on October 3, 2011 by Elin Ljung.
Bright red aspen leaves are less common than gold and orange during the fall—let us find them for you! Photo taken on October 3, 2011 by Elin Ljung.
The June Lake Loop offers many spectacular fall color views. Photo taken on October 15, 2011 by Elin Ljung.
The June Lake Loop offers many spectacular fall color views. Photo taken on October 15, 2011 by Elin Ljung.

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