As in leaves of gold….
The main reason I decided to drive Hwy 395 down the east side of California, is because I’ve heard the fall color is quite beautiful on this route….if you time it right!
I timed it right!!
We arrive at the June Lake Loop (just 4 miles south of Tioga Road, aka Hwy 120), on Monday, October 10. I find that I’ve hit the jackpot for gold! Golden leaves, anyway.
We spend 3 days wandering in a golden world.
Home is Silver Lake Resort, and though it’s close quarters, it’s clean and friendly and across the road from Silver Lake, with lake access.
Close quarters indeed! but I’ve been out leaf-peeping every day.
Sunset, our first night here.
This is the only RV park I’d want to stay in, around this area, and it was recommended to me by the people I bought Wandering Spirit from. Peggy and Doug lived in June Lake for many years before they retired. There are lots of National Forest Campgrounds in the area though, some closed for the season, others closing soon. Silver Lake Campground is the one I would pick as far as NF campgrounds go, and it’s right here by the RV Park. (Silver Lake Resort is closing for the season on October 16).
Our gold seeking adventures take us from Tioga Pass at almost 10,000 feet in elevation, to the Mammoth Lakes area, but the best for gold is right here on June Lake Loop, in my opinion…at least at this moment in time. In a week I suspect the color will be nearly finished here.
Up near Tioga Pass.
A little stream along the roadside.
The white bark just sets off the gold so nicely.
Some pink added into the mix!
I couldn’t stop taking pictures.
Joy and Shiloh swam in so many lakes, I can’t even remember which one this was.
And then there were the deer! Shiloh didn’t try to chase them!
They are so pretty and so curious.
And more deer….
So many beautiful mountain lakes.
Joy asking, ‘can I go swimming now?’
It’s like the ‘grand finale’ of the fireworks, when the trees deck out like this at the end of the season.
More deer! Can you see them in the upper right side of the photo?
Shiloh has enjoyed it all too! 🙂
We are moving on in the morning. It’s been amazing here!
Sunset sky, in case you were tired of gold, here is some more pink-ish. 🙂
Lone Pine is our next stop, see you there!
Wandering Spirit 
Loving your blog and the pictures and antics of the pups!
Thank you Ibksmith! Glad you are enjoying it…and them. 🙂
Great pictures. Tree’s haven’t turned yet in middle Tennessee. I usually head to the mountains east for such beauty.
Safe travels!
Cheryl
Hi Cherly and welcome to the blog!
You still have the color change to look forward to…must be soon now. No matter where we are there is usually some place not too far away where we can see this kind of beauty!
WOW! We were there a week too early, you got the leaves peaking!
In June Lake, you’ve gotta go to the Hawaiian-esque food truck parked behind the June Lake Brewery. It is AWESOME.
Lone Pine:
Visit – Film History Museum (small and fabulous)
Drive – the 30-minute loop from Whitney Portal Rd to Tuttle Creek, then back via Horseshoe Meadows to see the fabulous Alabama Hills (you can pick up a free guide/map at the museum)
Eat – breakfast and lunch at the Alabama Hills Cafe, they have vegan options AND a damn fine bakery, breads and sweets
We’re just home today from our road trip, sorry we missed you buy just a week!
hugs
Laura
Hi Laura. Thanks for the recommendations! We’ll be leaving this morning so I’m too late for the food truck in June Lake. Peggy (previous owner of WS) recommended a pretty walk though, that she went on most mornings when she lived here. The first picture on the blog is from that walk.
Hopefully I’ll be able to do all the things you suggested for Lone Pine! If the weather is decent I’m thinking of spending quite a bit of time in that area…more on that later.
I know, it’s not like us to miss each other on our ramblings to and fro!😀
Thanks again for letting me be part of the fun at Desert Trip!
Hugs back!
Oh Mic, what a beautiful tour you took us on! I love every picture and can only imagine how wonderful it all is to see it from your perspective! Fall is my favorite time of year so these pics give me heart flutters. Continue to travel safely. Love you, from somewhere out there. Xo
I wrote Mic, stupid auto correct…
I fixed it. 😊
Hi Denise, I do remember that fall is your favorite time of year, from our times of apple picking with the kids…..such nice memories. I think it might be my favorite time too. It really was amazing standing in the midst of those trees and having the gold light filtering down everywhere, and seeing the bits of blue sky through it all, with the scent of pine and autumn leaves…wow. Wish you could have been standing there beside me….instead of somewhere out there.
Love you too!
Wow. You are right. Timing IS everything! And this is an example of why I think, if I ever do RV traveling that I want a separate unit towed by a vehicle of some kind. So that I can go off exploring in the vehicle and leave the ‘home’ behind. I don’t think I want to drive my entire home up and down mountain roads looking for great shots.
Love that your dogs like to swim in those cold mountain lakes! 🙂
Hi Dawn, it was a big decision for me…what kind of RV to get. I tried to list pros and cons of the various kinds and I found, but there is just no perfect one. For me the Travel Trailer won out because like you, I didn’t want to drive my house around sight seeing and every other place I go. But…I have to back it up, which is still difficult for me after more than 2 years.
If I could down size to a large van type ( class B ), that might be an option, but that won’t happen with large dogs in the mix.
I’ve thought the class B would be perfect too….but I’ve been inside them at every camper show I’ve attended and I just can’t see living in one full time. Even without dogs. Then I follow a woman who takes very long trips in her class B and I asked her what she thought about full timing in it, now that she’s taken some months long trips. She thinks it would be too small given she’d want different season clothes etc and she doesn’t think she could pack her entire life into a class B.
Interesting to think about it though. Here’s her site: http://kimbopolo.blogspot.com/
PPS: My biggest fear about towing is hitching up….are you feeling comfortable with that now after 2 years?
Yes Dawn, storage for full timing would be an issue for me too. The bed of my truck is loaded with stuff. But I also have found that I use as much room as I have access to. Downsizing is a continual process. ( thanks for the link. I’ve heard of her.)
Seasonal clothing…I’ve found I can’t really pack away much of anything because I get such temperature variations in my travels. Well maybe a winter coat and an extra comforter, but that’s about it.
Hitching up hasn’t been a major issue for me because I have a back up camera. Mind you I still have to get out and look, sometimes only a couple of times, sometimes ten times! Depends on the surface I’m on and on what kind of day I’m having. Also depends on if the area I’m looking at in the camera is in the shade. Also I have a couple of tricks to help me but would need pictures to explain them. Good idea for a blog. Hitching Rods ( available on Amazon) are very helpful if you don’t have a back up camera and if you are solo.
Gorgeous photos! I am so glad you got to see the fall colors along the eastern sierra. Beautiful!
Thanks Michael, I’m glad I was able to share those pictures and spread that beauty around a bit.
Wow, great shots this week. Amazing that the dogs didn’t chase the deer. Such good pups.
Thanks Rick, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures. I guess I took about 150 or so….it was fun!
When I started out, the pups chased everything, and Shiloh would still like to, but so far he’s demonstrating some control of late. Nice for me, I don’t end up on the ground so often! 😂
Whew! 395 – the memories!!!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Hi Judie, now I’ll have the memories too! 😊
Hugs!
We were at Donner Lake a couple weeks ago and Paul is as crazy about the “quaking Aspen” as you are! Enjoy! and I’m impressed that Shiloh and Joy don’t chase deer! our anitolian shepherd ,Micah does. relentlessly, but hasn’t caught up ever!
Hi Marie, glad you and Paul got to see some color too. Such a gift of beauty!
My dogs used to chase…deer, squirrels, rabbits, etc. I think the reason they don’t now is mostly age related, though if Shiloh was off leash he would probably still go for it.
Oh what beautiful colors!!! Definitely my favorite season of the year…..until spring!!
I’m afraid our leaves here won’t be so pretty due to the severe drought. I’m glad I got to share in your leaf peeping!! We are finally out in our Casita and have extended our stay twice…just don’t want to leave. Does that say anything?? Yes, we are thinking about once again full-timing. I have to hang nearby due to seeing my doctor every 3 months ( recovering from cancer…so far cancer free).
Looking forward to your next stop. Take care!!
Hi Gerri, congratulations on being cancer free! That is the best news there is.
Glad you have been able to get out in your Casita and have been enjoying your time.
Lots of thought and consideration into going full time, that’s for sure. But you know that!
Nice to hear you enjoyed the leaf-peeping photos. 🙂