JUNE LAKE, Calif. — When you think of autumn, you probably imagine the vibrant yellow, red and orange-leaved trees of the East Coast.
California isn't known for its fall colors, but if you head to the Eastern Sierra and take the June Loop, your eyes may tell you differently. So may some of the growing crowd of "leaf peepers" out enjoying the view.
“Dude, autumn happens here too!” says foliage enthusiast Lara Kaylor.
The June Lake Loop, or Highway 158 as it's also known, hugs up against a stark and steep portion of the Sierra Nevada. Along the 15-mile drive, you'll pass by four uniquely picturesque lakes including Grant Lake, Silver Lake, Gull Lake and June Lake.
“You can just drive the loop. You don’t even have to get out of your car to see the lakes and fall colors,” says Kaylor.
Kaylor writes, edits and publishes California Fall Color, an online reporting database that maps out changing leaves in real-time.
“We have 100 color spotters that send us reports from around the state," she says.
One of those spotters is photographer Dakota Snider.
“This is the time of year we all wait for," Snider says. “I might go out and take a thousand photos a day.”
For many visitors, the first lake you'll encounter is Grant Lake. It is a bit sparse along the shoreline, but there are pockets of color that really pop against the rocky hillside.
“Cottonwoods, willow and aspen all along the road,” says Kaylor.
Next on the loop is Silver Lake, which lives up to its name by reflecting the bright foliage off of the glassy water. It has one of the most dense tree populations on the loop. Above it all is Horsetail Falls.
“It's huge and it just makes the fall colors even more dramatic when you see this huge waterfall," says Kaylor.
The Silver Lake Resort parking lot is a great place to see Horsetail Falls. It's also a good place to grab breakfast or lunch.
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As you wrap around Silver Lake, there is a pull-off that leads to a grove of quaking aspen. Be warned that you will run into other photographers waiting for the morning sun to hit the trees at just the right angle.
“Truly, when you are trying to capture fall colors, you are chasing light. That means you are getting up early or staying out 'til dark,” says Kaylor.
A little after noontime, a slight breeze will pick up and you may see leaves at Gull Lake starting to fall. The leaves either change color or fall from the trees, depending on the weather.
“The cold temperature and the daylight really trigger everything to start to change. So, in the fall, as we get less daylight that gets things going and the reason the Eastern Sierra is so good for color is because we get the cold night temperatures first,” says Kaylor.
There are a few hiking trails at Gull Lake that get you under a canopy of changing leaves.
When asked how long you can see a colorful leaf once it starts to change color, Kaylor says, "About two weeks unless we get a windstorm.”
Autumn is also a great time to do some fishing. June Lake is especially an awesome place to do it. Stocked with truckloads of trout, you almost can't miss it.
“Most fish I’ve seen in my life and I’ve been coming here for years,” says one angler.
Fish, however, might not be the only thing that's been dumped in the lake.
As legend has it, an illegal gambling hall threw a bunch of slot machines in June Lake to avoid being caught by police.
The lake is not only well-stocked with fish but also covered in fall colors. You can easily walk from the little town of June Lake to the water's edge. All along the bank, you'll see extravagant homes hiding behind the foliage, which often takes even longer to change color than the other lakes.
“Because of that elevation change we have one of the longest fall color seasons historically in the area,” says Snider.
The June Lake Loop can be an all-day affair. If you get hungry, try the famous pizza at June Pie or grab a beer at June Lake Brewing. Both spots have a great view of the surrounding color show.
MORE 'LEAF PEEPING' ON THE BACKROADS: Searching for fall colors? Take a road trip to Alpine County, south of Lake Tahoe.