If you’re not already packed up and headed for the hills, get moving! The first week of October is prime time for fall foliage in the upper elevations of Gold Country, and right now extensive stands of quaking aspen in Hope Valley, Donner Lake and elsewhere in the Lake Tahoe basin are dressed in their autumn best. The Highway 88/Carson Pass corridor, with its string of silvery lakes set in a rugged mountain landscape, is a favorite haunt of hikers and photographers, many of whom hang their hats at Sorensen’s Resort, where dogs are welcome in the cozy cabins at no extra charge.
Fall hiking with your dog in the Sierra is a special treat. The air is crisp, the summer crowds have thinned, and the trails are cooler — much easier on your pup’s paws than the sun-baked granite of July. Hope Valley’s meadow trails are particularly scenic in early October, with golden aspens lining the Carson River and the surrounding peaks often dusted with the season’s first snow.
Later in the month, lower elevations will light up with fall color. Nevada City, graced with big-leaf and sugar maples that turn bright orange and red in late October, is a picturesque destination that welcomes DogTrekkers with many paw-friendly lodgings and chow spots. The town’s historic downtown, with its covered sidewalks and dog-friendly shop owners, is a great place to stroll and soak up the autumn vibe.
If time permits, a late October-early November fall color trip to Plumas County rewards with color in special spots including the Feather River Canyon, Lake Almanor, Indian Valley and the Lakes Basin Recreation Area. The county’s “awesome autumn” web pages include extensive itinerary suggestions as well as a countywide fall color guide.
Some say the best fall color in the West graces the slopes of the Eastern Sierra, where the change starts high and creeps down the mountainsides as October progresses. Mono County’s Fall Color Guide will lead you to the best places for viewing, and dogs are welcome everywhere. To leaf-peep vicariously in Northern California, check out the California Fall Color website managed by DogTrekker John Poimiroo.
