I’ve lived in California for 30 years but I only discovered fall colors in California recently! Let’s face it, when it comes to fall, we don’t really think of California! But from Mammoth Lakes to Hope Valley, fall is very real in this state. This year, I just returned from another amazing trip to Inyo and Mono counties and will guide you on where to find fall colors in California. I will also walk you through a list of activities to experience while in this region.

Disclosure:Thank you to Visit Mammoth for collaborating on this blog post. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Where is Mammoth Lakes

When looking for fall colors in California, Mammoth Lakes will not disappoint. Mammoth Lakes is a remote area in the Eastern Sierra Mountains (one of my favorite places) with a population of 8,000 and an altitude of 8,050 feet. It is located just 45 minutes from Yosemite National Park and 3 hours from Death Valley National Park. Although Mammoth Lakes is remote, it is a full-service community with two grocery stores, a hospital, shopping, dining, and trendy bars.

You can either fly in to San Francisco Airport, Reno-Tahoe Airport or Los Angeles Airport to discover fall colors in California. There is also an airport just 10 minutes away from Mammoth Lakes and it’s called the Mammoth Yosemite Airport. Flight schedules and costs may be a deterrent for flying into this airport, so please check here when deciding which airport to fly into. Here are the driving times and mileage from the various airports:

• Reno-Tahoe Airport: 3 hours, 166 Miles
• San Francisco: 5 hours, 15 minutes, 262 miles
• Los Angeles: 4 hours, 45 minutes, 313 miles

From San Francisco, check 511 and nps.gov for road closures if you’re planning to head into Mammoth Lakes via Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park. Currently, no day use reservations are required to enter Yosemite National Park.

When to See Fall Colors in Mammoth Lakes

The best time to see the fall colors in California at Mammoth Lakes is from late September through late October. All the photos taken in this blog post are from October 15-18th, 2023. For an up to date report on Mono County fall colors, make sure to check out this website here. You can even download their fall color map that tells you exactly which area is peaking at any given moment with foliage. Finding fall colors in California is not hard if you know where to look!

Where to find Fall Colors in Mammoth Lakes

Convict Lake

Convict Lake is my favorite place to view fall colors in California. Just about 25 minutes away from Mammoth Lakes, Convict Lake is filled with water as clear as glass, and has an easy three-mile long trail that you can hike around the lake. The backdrop is the Sierra Nevada 12,241′ peak Mount Morrison! Convict Lake was originally carved out by glaciers, and at up to 140’ deep in some places, it’s one of the deepest lakes in the region. So what does that mean for you? Spend at least half a day here, either kayaking/canoeing out on the lake and/or hiking the loop. You won’t regret it. Fall colors here are peaking right now so if you go in the next few days you’re bound to catch some color!

History of Convict Lake

Convict Lake got its name from a group of escaped convicts who were trapped in this area in 1871. Most of them were however caught. This lake is also great for trout fishing! Cabins can also be rented near the lake if you wish to stay here for a night to experience fall colors in California!

June Lake Loop

The next stop to see fall colors in California at Mammoth Lakes should be the June Lake Loop. California State Route 158 loops away from U.S. Highway 395 for 16 miles, then returns. It follows a horseshoe shaped canyon containing four lakes, surrounded by a dramatic mountainous backdrop. Within this canyon, among the lakes and streams, exists a modest yet full-serviced community, available to vacationers in all four seasons of the year. This region is also well known for trout fishing so don’t be surprised to see a lot of fishing lines in the water! Kayaking and hiking are also really popular. If you come in winter, skiing is the must-do activity in this region.

June Lake

This is the first lake you’ll hit in the loop depending on which direction you enter and you can spot the colors right away. There are a few places to stop off the loop where you can enjoy the colors. Alternatively you can also head down to the June Lake beach!

Gull Lake

Gull Lake is the second lake on the loop after June Lake and also the smallest of the four lakes. There’s a cute downtown community between June and Gull Lake! Gull Lake is a favorite of many fisherman, as it consistently yields good-sized trout. A healthy population of crayfish and a few small Sacramento perch reside in the lake as well.

To see the fall colors in California at Mammoth Lakes, stop by the Gull Lake Campground – the views are incredible.

Silver Lake

If you want to see fall colors in California, then don’ miss visiting Silver Lake on the loop! I highly recommend kayaking here, the water is calm and still without waves. If you’re a beginner, this is one of the best places to try it!

Also imagine kayaking out on the lake and viewing fall colors from a different perspective! You can rent the kayaks at Silver Lake Resort and even grab a bite at their cafe! Note: kayaking services may stop by October 15th, please check website for details.

For those that want to hike, the Rush Creek Trailhead is located near the resort at the north end of the lake, providing trail access to the Rush Creek Basin, The Ansel Adams Wilderness and Yosemite National Park. The Rush Creek Trail interconnects with the Pacific Crest Trail system and the John Muir Trail, and the local backcountry is fabulous. At the trailhead, the Frontier Pack Station is on hand to provide horses and mules, with packages ranging from local day rides to extended pack trips into the wilderness.

Grant Lake

This is the fourth and the largest lake. If you get this far, check out the lush aspen groves of Parker Bench! I highly recommend finishing the loop back to Hwy 395 because the tree tunnels on the way are simply spectacular with color. Tip: Complete the loop before 3:30pm to get the best sunlight on the leaves.

McGee Creek

The next stop to view fall colors in California at Mammoth Lakes is the area around McGee Creek. The creek itself is filled with color and if you drive a little further across the bridge you will see more color on the right. Turn right at the first road you see and stop by the house you see on your right. From here, you can walk to the backside of the creek and explore the area a bit more.

Crowley Lake

If you keep driving past McGee Creek, take the Crowley Lake exit. At the intersection of Juniper drive and Crowley lane there’s a bunch of streets that have some amazing color right now! Turn into Juniper drive to explore more.

Rock Creek Lake

You will start seeing colors from the very beginning of the drive to Rock Creek Lake. Enjoy the drive and pull out safely to view/take pics of the color! Once you get up to the lake itself, you will see a lot of the color has gone and the temperature is visibly colder.

What to do in Mammoth Lakes

Fly Fishing

Apart from chasing fall colors, I highly recommend you try fly fishing here! You may not know this, but Mammoth offers some of the best trout fishing in the world! I fly fished for the first time earlier this year in Idaho and this past weekend was my second time fly fishing. While fly fishing isn’t part of my Indian culture at all, I really enjoyed getting to stand by the river, cast the fly, watch for the fish and connect with nature. It was an extremely meditative experience. I did the ‘catch and release’ fly fishing technique with Troutfitter, where you use a fake fly to attract the fish and then once you catch it, you release it without taking it out of the water.

Helicopter Ride

When looking for fall colors in California at Mammoth Lakes, I decided to look for it from the air. Yes I’m talking about a helicopter! Did you know you could see Mammoth Lakes from an aerial perspective? It was one of the best things I did while in Mammoth. I chose the ‘doors off’ option because it allowed me to take photos without the glare of a window. Make sure to wear several layers, including gloves, beanie etc and be extremely careful when using your phone. Your camera is a better bet as it’s super windy up there. I saw Mono Lake, the Tuffas, horses galloping near the lake, the Geological Hot Creek, the Minarets range, Convict Lake, June Lake Loop and the Mammoth Lakes from above and I was utterly speechless. If you have the time definitely take this tour with SkyTime. The ride lasts an hour and can cost up to $300 – worth it!

Hiking

To view fall colors, you don’t need to go on a hike. But if you make the time for at least one hike, you can see more variety in color and different perspectives. Mammoth Lakes has tons of trails to chose from, ranging from beginner to advanced to backcountry trails. My favorite trails are the following:

Convict Lake: 3 mi loop around the lake, the views are incredible and the trail is pretty flat

Crystal Lake: 3.1 mi out and back, good amount of incline (833ft elevation gain, you’re ending at 9,600ft) – the views on the way and up at the lake make this hike so worth it. Because this is at a higher elevation, don’t expect colors right now. You’ll have more luck if you go late September or early October.

Inyo Craters Trail: 1.6mi hike to two impressive craters filled with turquoise colored water!

Devils Postpile Loop: 1.3mi loop trail, best done from June through October. Check road access before going on this hike.

Horseshoe Lake Trail: This is a 1.8mi loop trail and is great for all skill levels!

Rainbow Falls Trail: If you start the trail from shuttle stop #9, it’s 1.3mi each way. It’s pretty easy on the way down but has a slight incline on the way back. The falls get their name from the rainbows that appear on sunny days in the mist generated by the falls. You are most likely to see the rainbows on sunny days during the summer, generally around mid-day. The best spots to photograph the rainbows are the two overlooks along the trail. The road may be closed so double check before planning for this hike.

Kayaking

Kayaking at any of the lakes around Mammoth is a pleasure. The Lake Mary Marina is a launch spot on the north shore and has kayak, SUP, and fishing boat rentals.

Twin Lakes is a great place for families and first time paddlers to begin an exploration of the spectacular Mammoth Lakes Basin. Get picnic supplies and sundries from Tamarack Lodge or the Twin Lakes General Store.

Canoeing, kayaking and sailing are also popular along the mile-and-half long June lake.

Silver Lake is awesome for kayaking, especially now while the fall colors are visible.

Accommodation Mammoth Lakes

I recently stayed at the Westin Monache Resort, a full-service hotel just steps away from the Village Gondola in Mammoth Lakes. It’s in close proximity to many restaurants and shops.

Amenities include room service, Wi-Fi access, The Westin Workout Fitness Studio®, heated pool and hot tubs, air conditioning, in-room ski fitting and delivery, Westin Family Kid’s Club®, business center, on-site ski/snowboard rentals, ski valet and complimentary airport and town shuttle service. Pet-friendly (no fee).

I highly recommend this hotel when in Mammoth Lakes, it was great to come back to a spacious suite at night after a long day of exploring!

Where to eat in Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Lakes is a small mountain town but the cuisine has evolved to ‘mountain chic’! Here are the places I recommend eating when visiting Mammoth:

Elixir: Located on Main Street, this is my go-to place when in Mammoth Lakes. It’s a gluten free place that has tons of options from elixir drinks to veggie bowls to smoothies and even Acai bowls! There is a small seating area inside the place, if it’s crowded, you can always take your food to go. I recommend the Thai bowl, the Golden Latte, and try any one of their smoothies, you can’t go wrong!

Mammoth Brewing Company: This is a popular spot when in Mammoth! With plenty of indoor and outdoor space you an easily dine on-site. Mammoth Brewing Company concocts a full range of microbrews, crafted with local ingredients. They offer sandwiches, tacos, fish and chips and flatbread pizzas!

Black Velvet Coffee: They have an espresso bar and are known for serving organic, Rain Forest Alliance and Fair Trade coffees. They also offer hand-picked loose leaf teas, beer and wine! My matcha lovers, they have you covered and I also tried a Pumpkin Spiced Latte, in keeping with the fall vibes!

Noodle-ly: One of my favorite spots for asian food, loved their noodle & rice bowls! You can also get them without broth. I tried their spinach noodles bowl and it was sooo good! The restaurant offers dine in and to-go options.

The Lakefront Restaurant: This restaurant is at Twin Lakes, which is part of the Mammoth Lakes Basin area and is part of the Tamarack Lodge. It’s sophisticated and fine dining in this mountain town and my verdict is a solid A. The atmosphere is quiet and intimate and the food is carefully presented, while being surprisingly delicious! I tried their asparagus soup, Rainbow trout, and truffled cannelloni and all were really good!

Stellar Brew & Natural Cafe: It’s awesome to see places like this in Mammoth Lakes! I least expected to run into a cafe that has gluten free, vegan options including Acai bowls, wraps, smoothies, burritos and salads! I had the Acai bowl and a cup of jasmine rose tea – both were the perfect breakfast!

The Warming Hut: The name itself is so inviting, especially when visiting in colder weather! The menu offers a variety of foods for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Do yourself a favor and have at least one breakfast here! I had the eggs, toast, pancakes and a cup of hot tea and felt ready to take on a day of exploring Mammoth Lakes!

Conclusion

If you do plan to visit Mammoth Lakes to see fall colors in California in the next few days, carry snow chains and be prepared to use them in case of snow. There was about 4-5 inches of snow last weekend (Oct 15th) and the roads were icy until mid-morning when the sun finally melted everything down. If you have never used snow chains, you can stop by an automotive store (I recommend Mammoth Chevron) and based on your tire size, the store rep will sell you the right chains. For a small feel ($35-$40) they can even install the chains for you. My recommendation is to learn how to install and remove the chains so you an do it anytime you need them. Stay safe and have a great time! PS: Please remember to leave no trace and pack out all your trash.