On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
UncleEbeneezer
On the last day of our trip we decided we would finally venture up the road right by our campground, to Rock Creek to peep some leaves and grab lunch before driving back to LA.
Upper Rock Creek Rd. is the highest road in California. On this day they were doing some repaving, closing it down to only one-lane, so we had to wait for a pilot car/truck to guide us up. During the drive we started to see why CaliforniaFallColor had it listed as “GO NOW” status, with lots of gorgeous groves of aspens.
Now THIS is why we come to the E. Sierra every Fall!!!
After stopping for some water and other needed items at Rock Creek Lakes Resort we parked at the day-use spots just across the road by the access point for the lake.
The road to the campground was closed but we could walk in for lake access.
Rock Creek Lake is always a stunning place, but especially so on a clear, Fall day.
Time for a selfie by the lake with my new Mammoth shirt!
The road was delightful to walk, with aspens all around.
After exploring the lake and beach we started to head back to the car with a short detour down to the creek.
After a pretty mediocre lunch at Rock Creek Lake Resort* we headed back down the road stopping for awhile to wait for the pilot car, with this fantastic view.
*RCLR is famous for their pies so we tried them. We both thought they were pretty disappointing. The day before we also had lunch at the Mobil in Lee Vining, which has a grill/cafeteria that Sierra visitors rave about. It was also pretty “meh” in my opinion. So far, Convict Lake Resort is really the only restaurant in the Sierra that lives up to its’ reputation. Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine is also very good.
Last view of Rock Creek Rd. See you next year!
🐾BillinGlendaleCA
Dude, I was up there a week after you and took exactly the same shots, I mean the compositions are exactly, and I mean exactly the same.
(So much for my fall color from Rock Creek OTR submission.)
Amir Khalid
Awesome, just awesome.
Betty
Looks like a stunning day for your visit. Gorgeous colors.
Amir Khalid
@🐾BillinGlendaleCA:
Scooped! You have my sympathies.
Chris T.
Interesting, I had thought that the White Mountains access road was the highest (11,600-ish ft) but it looks like Rock Creek Rd is just slightly taller.
🐾BillinGlendaleCA
@Chris T.: Maybe paved road, the White Mountain Road is not paved past the Bristle Cone Pine Forest.
eclare
Beautiful!
Geminid
@🐾BillinGlendaleCA: A Rock Creek fall color photo tour from you would be most welcome here. Bring it on! I would be glad to look at ten versions of these beautiful scenes.
JPL
Just beautiful!
@🐾BillinGlendaleCA: You can never have too much fall color.
stinger
How lovely!
I’m with Geminid — more, more, more!
🐾BillinGlendaleCA
@Geminid: Might have to wait a bit, I’m putting my new camera through it’s paces. I’m going to try some shots of Orion tonight.
Kevin
Great pictures and scenery. I am jealous.
mvr
Some stunning aspen photos here. Wish I were closer to Rock Creek so I could go.
Thanks!
Bishop Bag
WOW!!! I love it when folks come up here to take photos of our beautiful Eastern Sierra. 3 weeks ago Lundy Canyon (by Mono Lake) and Conway Summit were Spectacular also on my way to Chico for my son’s wedding. Great job UncleEbeneezer and I would love to see your shots BillinGlendaleCA!
WaterGirl
@🐾BillinGlendaleCA: No, you should definitely submit yours. I can link to this one and we can all revel in the shots and the compositions being the same!
UncleEbeneezer
@🐾BillinGlendaleCA: Oh shit. Sorry. I have a feeling yours will have much more photographer’s touch, lighting etc. Also didn’t you go up the LLV trail more? Thought you mentioned that.
Timing is everything.
UncleEbeneezer
@Geminid: Absolutely. Bill has the real professional eye/knowledge on this stuff.
J R in WV
I have to admit, Aspen foliage does the gold colors best of all. But I will always believe the eastern mixed hardwood forests are the best fall color, because there are reds, golds, yellows, bronzes, nearly every color in the spectrum.
And in the spring we get a huge variety of different green colors as tiny new leaves unfold, and tiny scarlet flowers on maple trees blooming. Other colors too, of course, but I can’t name and relate every color to a specific tree type like I can the scarlet blooms of maples.
But thanks so much for the high Sierra vistas and the great aspen colors! Great job!
UncleEbeneezer
@mvr: It’s one of the best perks of living in SoCal.
C Stars
Really pretty! I live in CA and didn’t even know about Rock Creek Lake.
UncleEbeneezer
@J R in WV: Totally agree. I grew up in New England so I always miss the multi-color experience of all the maples and other reds and oranges there. Also, out here you generally have to drive to find the leaves and then they are usually in groves and pockets. Whereas in NE they’re just everywhere so you get those expansive views of nothing but color in every direction. I always miss that.
That said, as mountain ranges go, the Sierra, with their granite faces, crags and minarets, to my eye are far more stunning than anything I ever saw in NH, VT & ME (or even CO, though my exploring of The Rockies is very limited).
One of our favorite YT hiker-video guys, Joey Cocconato has long been a booster for Wyoming and Montana, Yellowstone and Glacier. After years of debate a SoCal friend of his finally got him to go to the E. Sierra on a multi-day hike (Thousand Islands Lake loop, or part of the Big SEKI loop iirc) and he was like “Holy shit. Okay, I never thought I’d say it but yes, this is even better than Montana.” It was a rather brave admission!
UncleEbeneezer
@J R in WV: There’s a dude on YouTube called Trout&Coffee that does some really stunning photography/videos of New England fall foliage. His videos are a bit precious in that “influencer” way but the scenery is absolutely gorgeous.
UncleEbeneezer
Thanks everyone for all the love. Glad you enjoyed our little Sierra Soiree. We are gonna head to the Yucatan in January (FINALLY for a trip we had to cancel in 2019) to check out temples, cenotes and tons of vibrant colonial architecture and incredible food, textiles etc. We will definitely be taking a LOT of pictures, which I will share here afterwards.
joel hanes
Last time I was there, Cottonwood restaurant, overlooking Truckee, was superb.
Also worth trying: Village Pizzeria in Truckee. Some of the best pizza I’ve had outside the major pizza cities.
My experience of both was some years ago; conditions may have changed.
way2blue
UncleEbeneezer
UncleEbeneezer, this begs the question » how high is the highest road in California, and, in turn, what is the elevation of Rock Creek Lake? Gorgeous photos by the way. Thanks for sharing.
NoraLenderbee
@way2blue: Rock Creek Lake is at 9600 feet. Rock Creek Road continues as far as Mosquito Flat, about 10,320 feet. It is the highest paved road in California.
According to this source, the gravel road to the top of White Mountain is the highest, 14200 feet.
JanieM
Thanks again, UncleEb, for the lovely pics of some stunning scenery. I hiked in a lot of places out west, but never the Eastern Sierra, so it’s an extra special treat to see this country.
UncleEbeneezer
@NoraLenderbee: Thank you. I should have clarified “highest PAVED road in CA.” As Bill mentioned, the White Mt. Road is only paved until the Bristlecone guest center/parking lot (10,075 feet) and then turns to dirt/gravel.
UncleEbeneezer
@JanieM: Oh you GOTTA do some hiking in the Sierra. There are tons of amazing and easily accessible hikes just 15-20 minutes off Route 395. It’s a really special place. John Muir and Ansel Adams had very good taste!