Our 6 Favorite Spots To View Fall Colors in Mono County
Throughout the United States, there are literally thousands of locations that feature amazing fall colors. California alone has some of the top spots in the country!
One of those places in California that is known for fall color is Mono County. It is located in the east central part of the state and contains dozens of amazing sights.
These sights are great any time of the year, but fall in particular is when they shine most. The dramatic fall color in this area can turn even the most featureless lake into a must-see destination.
The official tourism website for Mono County does a great job tracking the fall colors at numerous locations throughout the county as they progress in their weekly reports.
For this article, we’re going to showcase six of our personal favorite locations in Mono County for fall color. All of which are easy to access either by driving up to them or hiking.
Let’s get into it.
1) Convict Lake
Convict Lake is situated in the Sherwin Range of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and near the town of Mammoth Lakes. It is known for its beautiful turquoise-blue water and is popular among Fisherman.
When the foliage surrounding the lake peaks in the fall, the color contrast with the water makes it pop like none other. Combine that with Mount Morrison providing the backdrop and you’d be hard pressed to find better scenery.
2) Conway Summit
Conway Summit is a large mountain pass situated between the towns of Bridgeport and Lee Vining. Just beyond the pass, you’ll find amazing views of Mono Lake. The pass is always beautiful, but fall is when it really comes to life.
During this time, you’ll see a ton of cars parked alongside Highway 395 all vying to get that perfect shot. Thankfully, there are multiple large pullouts along this stretch of road. Just pick one and enjoy!
3) Silver Lake
Silver Lake is one of four amazing lakes featured along the famed, “June Lake Loop”, drive. If you’re coming from the direction of Lee Vining, it is the second lake in the series. If you’re coming from June Lake, it’s the third.
The sheer concentration and amount of foliage surrounding the lake gives an explosion of color when they peak. It isn’t the largest lake you’ll ever see, but it’s certainly one of the most scenic.
4) Town of Coleville
Coleville is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town along Highway 395 near the California-Nevada border. Lots of outdoor activities such as fishing, ATV riding, hunting, wildlife viewing, hiking, and more can be enjoyed here.
Much like the rest of the county, Fall colors tend to be their best in late September or early October. Dozens of large trees line the highway so when they peak, it makes for an amazingly scenic drive.
5) Virginia Lakes Trail
The Virginia Lakes Trail is an easy to moderate hike in the Sierra Nevadas and features many picturesque lakes such as Blue Lake and Frog Lakes dotting the trail.
The road leading up to the trailhead and the trail itself are usually one of the first areas in the county to start turning. When it peaks, it makes for an unforgettable hike. Be sure to stay on top of this one.
6) Lundy Canyon
Without a doubt, our absolute favorite location in Mono County to view Fall colors is Lundy Canyon. The views start as soon as you reach the trailhead and only get better as you go up the trail.
The hike is moderate to hard and for most people, concludes with an epic series of cascading waterfalls. Prior to those, you hike through a heavy concentration of Aspens that when peaking, pop in color like no other. If you only have time for one, make it Lundy.
Conclusion
There you have it! Our six favorite spots to view Fall colors in Mono County. These are just a small handful of all the amazing places here. To see the full list and watch the color progression, check out the Mono County Tourism fall report here.
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Thanks for reading and safe travels!
