North Lake

North Lake is located close to Bishop, CA. It is one of the most popular places among photographers in the fall when the aspen turn bright gold and small shrubs turn orange. The road from the highway into the lake area is a two mile, one way, steep (with no barriers) scary ride!! We visited North Lake in May, well before the aspen even leafed out. We returned often in the fall to check on the trees as they slowly progress to their ‘peak color’. The best day of all . . . well it rained!! Enjoy this collection of our many trips.

Taken in the spring when there was still ice on the lake.

There are not many places to stand for getting a good photograph. By and large, photographers were courteous to share that meager three square feet.

We knew that these would be gorgeous in the fall.

Sunrise.

Color was starting.

From the creek that drains the lake.

From the road or parking lot (I can’t really tell).

From the road.

This was our view as we parked.

Taken from the passenger seat, this is across the valley as we headed up the steep road to the lake.

I suspect it is possible to get tired of these photos of just the one lake from essentially the one spot!!! We never tired of photographing it, however. LOL

A small creek just at the start of the uphill drive.

If you were brave, you could set up your tripod on top if this big rock.

Looking down the road on the way back.

We had come down from the mountain and were headed back towards Bishop. I looked to the side and this was my view!!!

Looking back towards the turn for North Lake.

Do we really want to go home? Not really.

Three Lakes, One Day

We were off!  Early!  Our goal was to scout North Lake, return to Sabrina and South Lakes and have a whole lot of fun.  Mission accomplished!

All three lakes are accessed from Bishop on Highway 168.  The road into North Lake was just opened and we were anxious to check it out.  If this scene looks familiar and you are a 'Mac' person you may recognize it as the opening screen on new Apple computers.  But the vivid color of fall that you see in that photo looks much more toned down in the spring before the aspen across the lake have even started leafing out.  You may notice the very thin layer of ice along the water's edge in this photograph.

The road to North Lke is partially paved and partially gravel and is narrow and winding. There is a small campground near the lake and fishing is very popular here.  Trailers and RVs, however, are prohibited.  In the spring and early summer it is reported that mosquitoes can be an annoyance but we did not have that problem this early in the season.

We are coming back to this area in the fall and we expect all this gray will be gold!

Local photographers are not happy that North Lake has become so well known as a photographic destination.  "Gets too crowded in the morning.  Can't get my favorite spot!"

This time Sabrina Lake was blue rather than covered in ice.  What a difference two weeks can make!  Very popular fishing area.

This guy had it going on!!  Four poles!  I cannot imagine how they keep from tangling up under the water.

I came so close to renting one.  Pick me up later, Tom!

We took a lunch break and returned to the lovely little cafe in Aspendell.  There was a group of artists and they were happy to share their art.  We did not even notice this pond on our last trip where the snow storm had covered this all up.

South Lake had more snow in the surrounding mountains.  I cannot get over how blue the skies and lakes are!

This family reported that they caught their limit of trout and were on there may home.  Lakes around here are stocked, starting in the spring, with rainbow and brown trout.

Thanks for hanging out with us.