Botanical Area·California·50,195 acres
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Wednesday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area around Oct 4, and the four days to aim for are Oct 3 to 6.
The area runs from about 8,558 to 11,110 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 11 days: the high stands around Sep 29, the low ground around Oct 10. That's 7 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the area | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 14 to Sep 20 | Starting to turn | |
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Nearly peak | |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Peak color | 9,000 to 10,000 ft, 10,000 to 11,000 ft, 11,000 to 12,000 ft |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Peak color | 8,000 to 9,000 ft |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Just past peak | |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Fading |
- 11,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 296%
- 10,000–11,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2845%
- 9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 435%
- 8,000–9,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1013%
Height off 3DEP inside the area’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the area stands in it.
That’s 7 days later than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 4
You’ll find it just past peak up high, nearly peak lower down.
Up at 10,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 28; down at 9,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 10. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 10,000–11,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 28
- 9,000–10,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 4
- 8,000–9,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 10
- Where to drive
- Bishop Creek Road (Route 168), about 25 miles · US Route 395 (Eastern Sierra), about 36 miles · June Lake Loop (Route 158), about 56 miles
- What turns
- quaking aspen, Gambel oak, bigtooth maple, serviceberry
What turns, and when
- quaking aspen44%
- Gambel oak28%
- bigtooth maple14%
- serviceberry14%
Also named across California, outside what the canopy read measures here: Black Oak, Bigleaf Maple, Fremont Cottonwood, White Alder.
Eastern Sierra aspens turn brilliant gold against granite walls, black oaks in Yosemite Valley go bronze and russet, and cottonwoods line the desert creeks in pale yellow.
Questions people ask about Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area
- When is peak fall foliage at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area?
Our forecast puts peak color at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area around Oct 4, and the four days to aim for are Oct 3 to 6.
- Where is the best fall color at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area right now?
On Nov 10 the area is leaves down. The last band to peak was 8,000 to 9,000 feet, around Oct 10.
- How long does peak last at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area?
About four days at the top, Oct 3 to 6, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the area's elevations the color moves over about 11 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 15 days.
- Is Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 4, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area?
Quaking Aspen, Black Oak, Bigleaf Maple, Fremont Cottonwood, White Alder. Eastern Sierra aspens turn brilliant gold against granite walls, black oaks in Yosemite Valley go bronze and russet, and cottonwoods line the desert creeks in pale yellow.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. Out here we score it against NASA's satellite record of when the canopy shuts down, read inside each unit’s own boundary: two dates in three land within 12 days of it. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Oct 5 best Oct 4 to 7
- Peak Oct 8 best Oct 7 to 10
- Peak Oct 23 best Oct 22 to 25
- Peak Oct 22 best Oct 21 to 24
Fall color roads near Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Botanical Area
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the area, so allow more by road.
- Bishop Creek Road (Route 168)
Climbs from the Owens Valley to South Lake and Lake Sabrina. Aspens line the creek the entire way, peaking in early-to-mid October.
- US Route 395 (Eastern Sierra)
The stretch from Bridgeport to Lone Pine. Every canyon draining the Sierra's east side holds aspens, and the backdrop of 14,000-foot peaks is unmatched.
- June Lake Loop (Route 158)
A short loop off US 395 with dense aspen groves around four alpine lakes. The most concentrated aspen color in California.
- Sonora Pass (Route 108)
A remote Sierra crossing with scattered aspen groves and wide alpine meadows. Less visited than 395 but equally beautiful.