Outdoors with Don Q: Enjoy the fall colors of Hope Valley

It's that time of the year for my reminder to enjoy the spectacular color of the leaves on Quaking aspen trees (Quakies) in Alpine County, Calif.
And, based on our photography trip on Monday, Oct. 8, you had better enjoy that display, as soon as possible, because four of us (Mary Bottoms, Mary Morris, Elaine and I) found the following color conditions:

Some of the leaves on the Quakies are still green.
Some of the leaves are just beginning to turn color.
Some of the leaves are at their prime.
Some of the leaves are already dead but remaining on the branches.
Some of the leaves are already on the ground.
So, if you would like to see and photograph those colors, you better hustle.
Here is a list of my top seven locations in the Woodfords Canyon – Hope Valley – Red Lake areas of Alpine County. To reach all of these locations, just drive south from Carson City on a combination of U.S. 395, Nevada S.R. 88 and California S.R. 88.

In Woodford’s Canyon:
Along California S.R. 88 between Woodfords and Sorensen’s Resort, which is near the junction of S.R. 88 (to Kit Carson Pass) and California S.R. 89 (to South Lake Tahoe). This junction is known as “Pickett’s Junction.”

At Sorensen’s Resort:
The Quaking Aspen trees serve as a colorful backdrop to the resort on one side with the West Carson River on the opposite side.

The short area between Sorensen’s Resort and Pickett’s Junction:
This is one of the best locations for viewing colors in the entire area.
It has always been one of my top locations for enjoying fall colors.
Special Note: Be careful when parking and then walking along the edge of the highway due to the high-speed traffic whizzing past.

The right side of S.R. 88 in Hope Valley, between Pickett’s Junction and the Blue Lakes Turnoff:
This is a popular location for photographers, so if you’re not sure where it is, just look for parked vehicles and people walking, with their cameras and tri-pods, along the edge of the highway or in the meadows.

Along S.R. 88, as you travel past the Blue Lakes Turnoff:
You’ll be traveling, uphill, on a long straightaway; with “Quakies” on both sides of the highway, but the colors will be best on the right side as you near the far end of the straightaway.

Where the road to Crater Lake intersects S.R. 88:
This small road is 1.9 miles past the Blue Lakes Turnoff.
Watch for a paved road on your right side that curves up a steep bank, next to the highway. Take that paved road (the pavement is very badly eroded) for about 50 yards, cross a cattleguard and the pavement turns to dirt.
Once you’ve crossed the cattleguard, park anywhere you like and then enjoy a leisurely walk through the Quaking Aspen Trees.
Special Note: This is our favorite location for photographing fall colors and having a picnic in this entire area.
On a nice day take a picnic lunch, sit on a large log, leisurely eat your lunch and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature all around you.
It doesn’t get much better than that, anywhere.

Along S.R. 88 on the straightaway, just before reaching Red Lake:
The Quakies are very colorful, especially on the left side.
At Red Lake, the Quakies are also colorful along the dirt road on the left that leads to Lost Lakes.
I would not advise driving your vehicle uphill on that dirt road (unless you have four-wheel drive), as the road gets narrow and steep.

Finally:
Now that you know where to go to enjoy some gorgeous fall colors, do not delay because Mother Nature is not going to wait for you. Winter is coming!

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you what is so unusual about all this helpful Don Q advice for enjoying fall colors. If he grins and says, “That advice comes from someone who is color blind,” he could be one of my relatives or a close friend.
It’s true, I am color blind, but I have a great time enjoying all of the yellow and orange colors at this time of the year.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor South Tahoe Now and www.CarsonNow.org. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com