Eastern Sierra Fall Colors: Where to Find the Best Foliage Near Bishop, Mammoth, and More

Each autumn, the Highway 395 corridor comes alive with the colors of the season. From Bishop to the Nevada border, fall foliage blankets the landscape, transforming it into waves of bright crimsons, ambers, and golds. This guide details the best places to spot eastern Sierra fall colors, going geographically from south to north.

Jump to:

• Bishop Creek Canyon
• Rock Creek Canyon
• McGee Creek Canyon
• Mammoth Lakes
• June Lake Loop
• Lundy Canyon
• Conway Summit
• Green Creek
• Sonora Pass
• The Best Time to See Eastern Sierra Fall Colors

Bishop Creek Canyon

Just west of town, down Highway 168, Bishop Creek Canyon encompasses Lake Sabrina, North Lake, and South Lake. Thick clusters of aspen and cotton willow line the shorelines, turning the lakes ablaze in the fall months. The 5.9-mile Lake Sabrina to Blue Lake Trail rises high above the lakes for fantastic panoramic views. 

Alternately, those not up for a hike will still find a front-row seat at Lake Sabrina’s Waterfront Café. The outdoor deck offers a stunning vista of the lake, fall color, and sharp peaks rising in the distance.

Rock Creek Canyon

Rock Creek Lake is one of the highest drive-to lakes in the Sierra, sitting at over 10,300’. That elevation causes the surrounding foliage to absolutely burst each autumn, as prolific aspen groves turn vibrant shades of orange and gold. You’ll also catch plenty of fall color along the 9-mile drive through the canyon, from Highway 395.

McGee Creek Canyon

The aspen groves along McGee Creek put on a dramatic show each fall, blanketing the canyon in brilliant autumn hues. The 3.6 mile McGee Creek to Horsetail Creek hike also leads you to sweeping panoramas, for not much effort.

Mammoth Lakes

Those who prefer their creature comforts will still find plenty of fall foliage in the resort town of Mammoth Lakes. One of our personal favorite areas is the Lakes Basin, which includes both Lake Mary and Lake Mamie, among others. It’s just a 5-10 minute drive outside of town, but feels worlds apart. You can also catch aspens along the Sherwin Creek dirt road.

June Lake Loop

Another scenic fall drive, the June Lake Loop encompasses June, Gull, Silver, and Grant Lakes. When they peak, the tall aspens lining the road are an explosion of fall color and make for a spectacular drive. The entire loop is about 14 miles, providing ample opportunities to get out and admire the colors of the season.

Lundy Canyon

Lundy Canyon consistently ranks as one of the best places for eastern Sierra fall colors, and for good reason. The two-lane road winds you through narrow Lundy Canyon, where you’ll feel positively enveloped in dazzling autumn shades of ochres, crimsons, and golds.

For those who want more, the 5.9-mile Lundy Canyon Trail is a great fall hike. The trail leads you through rich aspen groves to some stunning mountain vistas, with more fall color stretching through the canyon below. You may even spot some beaver dams on the banks of the ponds along the way.

Conway Summit

Conway Summit is another popular spot for eastern Sierra fall colors. A mere turnoff along Highway 395 (just past Virginia Lakes Road), it looks down on the surrounding hillsides, where a string of aspens and cotton willows are ablaze in the fall months.

You’ll inevitably share the viewpoint with others, busily snapping photos of the bright vista below.

Green Creek

Green Creek is one of our personal favorite hidden spots (any time of year) in the eastern Sierra. Tucked away, 9 miles down a narrow dirt road off Highway 395, you’ll know you’re close when a rich grove of aspens suddenly springs up on either side of your vehicle.

Just past this initial grove is the Green Creek Trailhead, which guides you along a fall color-laden trail to Green Lake, for 6.3 miles roundtrip. Along the way you’ll catch more of the dramatic mountain vistas that the eastern Sierra are so known for.

Sonora Pass

Located halfway between Bridgeport and Walker is the turnoff for Sonora Pass, which quickly climbs up to rugged elevations with stunning views to match.

You can continue as far as you wish (Highway 108 will eventually deposit you in the town of Sonora), but you’ll see plenty of color along the first miles of the drive. Leavitt Meadow is especially popular for leaf-spotting in this region.

The Best Time to See Eastern Sierra Fall Colors

When is the best time to catch peak eastern Sierra fall colors? The answer: “it depends.” Elevations range from 5,000 to 13,000 feet, and along with weather variations any given year, color can start in mid-September and last into November.

However, if you’re trying to plan a trip in advance, we’ve found that the second week in October is usually a good bet.

For a more detailed report, CaliforniaFallColor.com is a fantastic resource. They update their map in real time, so you can see which areas are patchy, which are near peak, and more.

And if you can’t get enough of fall foliage in the Golden State, check out our guide to the best spots in California for fall color.