Lake Sabrina & South Lake (2025)
During last year’s trip to Bishop, I arrived a bit late and missed the peak scenery of Lake Sabrina. So this year, to avoid any regrets, I returned to Bishop a week earlier than last year, on the weekend of September 27. Fortunately, the timing was perfect, and this time both Lake Sabrina and South Lake were at the height of their fall colors. The weather was not clear and was rather overcast, but that actually made the yellow hues stand out even more. The autumn leaves, harmoniously blending with the gray sky, created a different atmosphere compared to the vibrant colors seen under sunlight. When the cool breeze blew, the Aspen leaves fluttered and swayed gently, and the scenery at that moment felt calm yet mystical. I could feel with my whole being that it was distinctly different from last year, and that “this is the best moment right now.”
The first destination was Lake Sabrina. Last year, I was left with regrets as I arrived after the fall colors had ended, but this time the area around the lake was completely bathed in yellow and orange hues. Even under the cloudy sky, the autumn leaves shone more vividly, and the reflection of the trees’ colors on the lake’s surface made the tranquil scenery even more special. Standing by the water’s edge, I felt as if I had stepped into a watercolor painting. Surrounded by the deep autumn colors, Lake Sabrina became the greatest gift of this year’s trip.
The next destination was South Lake. When we arrived at the lake, the autumn colors welcomed us, but what impressed me the most was the road leading to the lake. The Aspen trees lining both sides of the road were all painted in yellow, and whenever the wind blew, the leaves fluttered, creating a golden tunnel. We stopped the car intermittently to take photos and enjoyed the cool air and the autumn scenery leisurely. Even those moments of driving became one of the most beautiful scenes of the trip.
As a reference, seeing that the places that had a yellow hue last year still had a greenish tint, it seems that there will be a few more weeks to enjoy the autumn foliage. If you’re planning a visit, it’s best to check the fall color report on the official Bishop website in advance.(link) Before this autumn passes, how about experiencing the golden landscapes created by the Aspen trees at least once?
Lake Sabrina
South Lake (2024)
Bishop is a small town in the Eastern Sierra region, and in autumn, the surrounding mountains and lakes are dyed in yellow and orange foliage, adding a special charm. Particularly, this area has many clusters of Aspen trees, and when a cool breeze blows, the golden leaves flutter down, creating a scene that feels like yellow rain is falling. While LA continues to experience hot weather, Bishop definitely allows you to feel the change of seasons, making it a popular travel destination during the foliage season.
When we visited Bishop, the autumn foliage was at its peak. The original plan was to go to Lake Sabrina, but after seeing on the Bishop website that the foliage had already ended, we headed to South Lake instead. The road leading up to South Lake from Bishop was a highlight in itself. The sides of the road were filled with yellow foliage, and the gently blowing wind scattered the leaves of the Aspen trees, creating a beautiful scene before our eyes. In the cool weather, it felt like yellow rain was falling, and we couldn’t help but stop the car for a moment to take photos.
Arriving at South Lake around 10 AM, it was already more crowded than expected, with the parking lot nearly full. Fortunately, we were able to find a spot quickly, but if you plan to visit, it might be better to arrive a bit earlier. We walked along the South Lake Trail, enjoying the refreshing morning air. Since we were traveling with our dog, we couldn’t go all the way to the end of the trail and stopped midway, but the view from there was more than satisfying. The scene of the calm lake surrounded by yellow foliage lightened our hearts and allowed us to forget the busyness of everyday life for a moment. If time permits, it would be nice to walk all the way to the end of the trail to enjoy a deeper landscape.
South Lake
It was a short trip, but the autumn scenery I encountered in Bishop will remain in my memory for a long time. The yellowing Aspen trees and the tranquil view of South Lake were so beautiful that they couldn’t be fully captured in photos. If I get the chance to visit again, I would like to walk the trails all the way to experience the autumn in Bishop more deeply. How about visiting Bishop, a place where you can see beautiful autumn leaves, and enjoying the fall atmosphere? You can check the status of the autumn foliage at each location on the attached site. (link)
