June Lake Loop
Scenic drive · California
A 16-mile loop off US 395 threads four alpine lakes below Carson Peak, and by early October its aspen groves turn the roadside gold. Pull off anywhere along the pavement; Reversed Creek and the June Lake overlook give the classic Eastern Sierra shot.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 2–October 6
Color builds from September 19 · mostly bare by October 24
Sampled at June Lake Loop’s own coordinates and elevation (2325 m) rather than a regional average.
74 weather points cover California, and the model shifts their answer 3 days later, which is what it takes to match 3 published peak dates from monocounty.org and explorefall.com. How the forecast works
When to go to June Lake Loop
You get about 23 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly October 12. It sits at 7,628 ft, high enough to turn before the valleys do.
June Lake Loop on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of California, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does June Lake Loop peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 2–October 6 (best estimate October 4). Color starts around September 19 and is mostly bare by October 24.
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