Bishop Creek Canyon Fall Colors

By October 12, 2010October 24th, 2022Sierra Nevada

Photos of Eastern Sierra Fall Colors and Aspen Trees in Bishop Creek Canyon

Like moths to the flame, Garry and I made a banzai run* up to Bishop Creek Canyon to get some fresh air and check out the fall colors last weekend. The quaking aspen trees (Populus tremuloides) had been turning for about a week or so. We knew we missed the great conditions earlier in the week and indeed the photographic conditions were just so-so, with beautiful near-summerlike weather and nary a cloud in the sky. Most aspen trees at the higher elevations had good color but many were half stripped of leaves due to the recent storm. Lower elevations still have a ways to go, with much green still at Aspendel and the intake ponds. June Lake and Convict Lake are still early, peaking in perhaps a week or two I would guess. As for crowds, they were not too bad: we encountered just one photo group workshop and we only had to kung-fu a few pesky medium format photographers along the shore of North Lake each morning (note: for this I recommend the Gitzo limited edition “Crowd Special” that quickly transforms into bo and nunchaku). OK, that last part is a lie. Here are a few images in chrono order. Life is good!

Sage brush and aspen trees, autumn, in the shade of Bishop Creek Canyon in the Sierra Nevada, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Sage brush and aspen trees, autumn, in the shade of Bishop Creek Canyon in the Sierra Nevada.
Image ID: 26060
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA

Sierra Nevada mountains and aspen trees, fall colors reflected in the still waters of North Lake, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Sierra Nevada mountains and aspen trees, fall colors reflected in the still waters of North Lake.
Image ID: 26061
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA

Sierra Nevada mountains and aspen trees, fall colors reflected in the still waters of North Lake, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Sierra Nevada mountains and aspen trees, fall colors reflected in the still waters of North Lake.
Image ID: 26062
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA

Fall colors and turning aspens, eastern Sierra Nevada, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Fall colors and turning aspens, eastern Sierra Nevada.
Image ID: 26065
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA

Bishop Creek and aspen trees in autumn, in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Bishop Creek and aspen trees in autumn, in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains.
Image ID: 26074
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA

Bishop creek and turning aspens, south fork of Bishop Creek in the eastern Sierra Nevada, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Bishop creek and turning aspens, south fork of Bishop Creek in the eastern Sierra Nevada.
Image ID: 26071
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA

Aspen trees, with leaves changing from green to yellow in autumn, branches stretching skyward, a forest, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Aspen trees, with leaves changing from green to yellow in autumn, branches stretching skyward, a forest.
Image ID: 26073
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA

Aspen trees, fall colors, reflected in the still waters of North Lake, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Aspen trees, fall colors, reflected in the still waters of North Lake.
Image ID: 26077
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA

Aspen trees in autumn, fall colors, eastern Sierra Nevada, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Aspen trees in autumn, fall colors, eastern Sierra Nevada.
Image ID: 26083
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA

*banzai photographer (n): (1) a photographer with a working spouse and multiple kids each of whom has lots of activities that require driving all over the place during the week, help with homework in the evenings, and then driving all over the place on the weekends; (2) a photographer who crams five days of photography into a single weekend; (3) a photographer with a banzai attitude about life; (4) a photographer who photographs banzai trees.

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!