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: September 26–September 30
Color builds from September 13 · mostly bare by October 21
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. This year's weather has the peak running 1 day later than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to June Lake Loop
You get about 24 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly October 7. 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 September 26–September 30 (best estimate September 28). Color starts around September 13 and is mostly bare by October 21.
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