Best Fall Color Hikes in the Eastern Sierra (Mammoth Lakes & Nearby Areas) - Travel Guide

If you’re looking for a beautiful hike with fall colors, look no further, the Eastern Sierra has so many of those! I’ll be covering hikes all along the US395 - in Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, Lee Vining, and Bridgeport. You’ll see a variety of colors, from bright golds, crispy oranges, and sometimes red. If you’re just looking for places to see fall colors (more drive-able areas, less hiking to access the fall colors), check out my other blog post, Fall Color Guide for Mammoth Lakes & Nearby Areas!

WHEN TO GO

The change in colors typically starts around mid-September to late-September and can go through to the end of October. Every year varies a bit on when the colors start, but what actually causes the leaves to change color is dry warm days with cooler nights as well as less sunlight as the days grow shorter. If the area gets too much rain or not enough cold nights, the colors won’t be as bold but will likely still change. Being that color change is between mid-September through the end of October, I think the first week and second week of October is a promising time most years. You can also follow my Instagram and Facebook page where I post updates on fall color sightings.

WHAT KIND OF WEATHER TO PREPARE FOR

It’s important to know what kind of weather you may encounter in the fall so you can be properly prepared. Temperate wise, you could encounter evenings and mornings in the low 30s, even 20s by the end of the fall color season. During the day, you can expect to see the highs around 60, with a few chillier days in the 50s. This season is also infamous for early snow storms so please check the forecast before heading out so that you have all the proper gear for this weather.

Another condition to beware of during the fall is smoke. Unfortunately the fire seasons have been bad in California and lately there’s been fires in September that linger through the fall and cause smokey conditions. I use the app AirVisual, it allows for you to look at multiple locations air quality plus the air quality forecast for the week, which makes it best for planning. Now for the hikes!

FALL COLOR HIKES IN THE BISHOP AREA

Bishop Pass: this trail starts at South Lake and has many lakes along the way up to Bishop Pass which then takes you into the SEKI Wilderness. Plenty of turnaround options: Bishop Pass (11 miles round trip with 3,000 ft of elevation gain), Bishop Lake (8.5 miles round trip with 2,100 ft of elevation gain), Saddlerock Lake (7.3 miles round trip with 1,800 ft of elevation gain, Long Lake (4.1 miles with 1,100 ft of elevation gain).
Treasure Lakes: this trail also starts at South Lake and is 5.6 miles round trip to the first of the Treasure Lakes with an elevation gain of 1,700 ft. You’ll spot golden patches around South Lake has you hike around it on your way to Treasure Lakes.
Tyee Lakes: this trail starts along the South Lake road, but not as far down as the previous two hikes. The start of this hike has a nice amount of golden trees. There are 4 Tyee Lakes and if you reach the last one, the hike is 6.2 miles round trip with 2,200 ft of elevation gain.
Blue Lake: Starting out of Lake Sabrina and 5.6 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 2,100 ft., this is one of my favorite hikes and you could continue further down the trail to Hungry Packer Lake (link to that blog post).
George Lake: this trail also starts out of Lake Sabrina, but splits off and continues up towards Tyee Lakes (you could go all the way over to Tyee Lakes through this trail), you’ll experience golden leaves along the way around Lake Sabrina. If you stop at George Lake, the hike is 5.8 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 2,150 ft.
Lamarck Lake: this trail starts out of North Lake and is 4.6 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,600 ft. You could also add in Grass Lake to see more lakes, which would add about 0.5 miles to your total mileage.

FALL COLOR HIKES IN THE MAMMOTH LAKES AREA

Little Lakes Valley: This whole trail has highlights of golds in the grass and some trees along the way, a mellow 8.1 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,200 ft.
McGee Creek: You’ll see beautiful fall colors all the way up to the Beaver ponds of this hike (6.2 miles round trip, 1,200 ft elevation gain), but could continue up to Big McGee Lake to get more mileage (13.5 miles round trip, 2,800 ft elevation gain).
Convict Lake Loop: this is easily one of the best fall color hikes in the Eastern Sierra and it’s an easy 2.5 mile loop with only 125 ft elevation gain with every beautiful perspective of the lake.
Heart Lake: this is an easy 2.1 mile hike through a section of aspens and some golden shrubbery and only 480 ft of elevation gain
Emerald Lake: this trail is a 1.6 mile round trip hike, with only 360 ft of elevation gain, to a pretty little lake featuring some colors along the way and around the lake.
TJ/Barrett Lake: this is a 1.4 mile round trip hike from Lake George with an elevation change of 300 ft. The shrubbery along the trail and a bit around TJ Lake are a beautiful sight.
Rainbow Falls: this is a mellow 2.4 mile round trip hike out of the Devil’s Postpile/Red’s Meadow area with only 300 feet elevation gain. Keep in mind this hike becomes unaccessible once the road closes seasonally (typically the first snowfall of the season, or Oct. 31st if a storm hasn’t come by then and cost $10 a day unless you show a National Park’s Pass.

FALL COLOR HIKES IN THE JUNE LAKE/LEE VINING AREA

Along the June Lake Loop (October 15, 2020)

Yost/Fern Lake: This trail starts just before reaching Silver Lake with a section of aspens on the way up. This trail is fairly steep but will give you awesome overview of the June Lake area from above. You can either go up to Yost Lake (4.6 miles round trip with 1,700 ft elevation gain) or Fern Lake (3.1 miles round trip with 1,550 ft elevation gain), there is a junction 0.8 miles in.
Rush Creek: This trail will take you up and give you an amazing view of Silver Lake, you could go all the way up to Agnew Lake (4.6 miles round trip with 1,600 ft elevation gain) or further to Gem Lake (6.3 miles round trip with 2,200 ft elevation gain).
Parker Bench: This trail starts at the Rush Creek trailhead but takes you away from the June Lake Loop and towards Parker Lake (10.2 miles round trip with 3,100 ft elevation gain) with pockets of Aspen along the way.
Parker Lake: This trail is a short option to get to Parker Lake and still plenty of Aspen to see along the way (3.6 miles round trip with 560 ft elevation gain)
Lundy Canyon: This canyon is lined with so many fall colors and a pretty little hike up to a waterfall. It’s about 1.3 miles up the canyon with 320 ft of elevation gain to the first waterfall.

FALL COLOR HIKES IN THE BRIDGEPORT AREA

Along the Green Creek Road (October 2, 2020)

on the way up to Virginia Lakes (October 1, 2020)

Virginia Lakes: This hike starts after a very colorful drive to Virginia Lake, you’ll see a good amount of fall colors along the trail up to Frog Lakes. The hike is 3.1 miles round trip with 900 ft of elevation gain
Green Creek: This is one of my favorite hikes because of how many aspens are along the beginning of the trail and even more before reaching Green Lake. This hike is 6 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,000 ft.
Barney Lake: This hike is one I still need to complete, it’s 8.5 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,200 ft. I’ve seen beautiful photos of the beginning of this hike in fall that caught my eye.

Fall Color Hiking Map

Here’s a map of all the trails listed above with their trailhead locations!

I hope you’re able to experience a beautiful fall color hike, if not, you can follow along my fall adventures on my Facebook or Instagram page, Happy Trails!

VIDEO OF PAST FALL COLORS

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Thanks for reading my latest adventure!

Tiare Kirkland

Hi! My name is Tiare, but you can just call me ‘T’. I’m a California based hiker and I spend most of my free time taking photos and videos of some of my favorite hikes. You can usually find me ‘Out Hiking’ in the Sierra Nevada mountain range or road-tripping to new areas. Read more about me here and follow along with my adventures by subscribing below!