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Bishop Creek Canyon, California fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Bishop Creek Canyon area peaks around October 4, with the best viewing from roughly October 2 to October 11.
- Typical peak
- October 4
- Best viewing
- Oct 2 – Oct 11
- Color starts
- Around Sep 22
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Oct 17
- Elevation
- 8,500 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 4. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Bishop Creek Canyon on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Bishop Creek Canyon
Bishop Creek Canyon climbs into the eastern Sierra Nevada west of Bishop, where aspen groves turn gold, orange, and red along the creek and around high mountain lakes. Lake Sabrina, North Lake, and South Lake sit beneath high granite peaks, with aspen along the shores.
Scenic drive
Route 168 climbs west from Bishop up the canyon to Lake Sabrina, and South Lake Road branches off to South Lake. To the north, US 395 runs up the eastern side of the Sierra toward Rock Creek, Convict Lake near Mammoth Lakes, and June Lake.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head higher
Rock Creek Canyon, CA (16 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 7 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Head lower
Yosemite Valley, CA (65 miles away, lower down) typically peaks about 25 days later, and Hope Valley, CA (128 miles away, lower down) typically peaks about 5 days later.
Nearby destinations
- Rock Creek Canyon, CATypical peak Sep 27, 7 days earlier. 16 miles away.
- Mammoth Lakes, CATypical peak Oct 7, 3 days later. 35 miles away.
- June Lake (Eastern Sierra), CATypical peak Oct 8, 4 days later. 45 miles away.
- Lundy Canyon, CATypical peak Oct 6, 2 days later. 65 miles away.
- Yosemite Valley, CATypical peak Oct 29, 25 days later. 65 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Bishop Creek Canyon?
In a typical year, fall color in the Bishop Creek Canyon area peaks around October 4, with the best viewing from roughly October 2 to October 11. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Bishop Creek Canyon?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 10 days. Color starts to show around September 22, and most leaves are down by about October 17.
Is Bishop Creek Canyon early or late compared with the rest of California?
Bishop Creek Canyon typically peaks about 7 days earlier than the California average of Oct 11. It ranks 3 of 11 California destinations from earliest to latest.
What trees color up around Bishop Creek Canyon?
The main fall color in this area comes from quaking aspen and willow. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.