Inyo National Forest
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North Lake Inyo National Forest |
October 1, 2025
This is the day — when my host Gary and I will explore the local fall color
at the peak time of the season. We start out early with a 15-minute
drive from Gary's summer cabin over to North Lake, which is 9,250 feet higher than
where I started life yesterday.
The first photo-op stops us even before we reach the lake
Gary promptly proclaims that this is the best showing he has seen here
And Gary and his partner Sharon have been area residents for nineteen years.
Available parking is nearly gone already
What a scene!
A nice trail leads toward the lake
Fall-color aficionados are everywhere...
...including the middle of the lake
Presently Gary points to an obscure little "secret" path leading directly up a steep slope, and starts climbing.
This row of aspens lines the lake's north side
Gary on his 'Secret Trail'
This path is not actually a secret at all, of course, because it continues northeast for a mile down the the tiny community of Aspendell; so the local residents certainly know about it. Today, however, the other visitors seem content to remain close to the water.
Yours Truly fiddles with his camera
Westward view from the far side of the lake
This is why I go hiking
Green Rabbitbrush
Quaking Aspen
The east end of the lake
Up there is the John Muir Wilderness
I ventured into those mountains on two prior occasions — once with Sharon and Gary, and once sixteen years ago before I had met my local friends.
We could continue to loop around North Lake; but doing so would require walking the rest of the way on the road, and that option does not appeal.
Turning around
Back on the main trail
Numerous fishers are toting fancy gear
Veering over to the outlet channel
North Fork Bishop Creek
Most of this water winds up in Los Angeles. Go figure.
The access road is its own attraction
Gary chats with a fellow aspen-lover
Barry from Roseville visits here every year
The cliff-hugging exit is not to Gary's liking, but I love it.
Highway-168 below
Still visible are remains of the old highway — a tricky one-lane
fishing access that I drove back in the early '60s to see Lake Sabrina.
In places there wasn't room for two cars to pass, so the downhill-heading
vehicle would be compelled to back up to a wide spot. Most modern roads aren't
that much fun anymore.
My hosts and I have hiked up there as well, in the land of 13,000-foot peaks
§: Well, I got my uncommon experience today, on my greatest
reward-for-the-effort outing ever. Of course anyplace in this region is
quite beautiful at any time of year, but what can I say? The incomparable
Eastern Sierra fall-color display is a must-do.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Solitude |  |
