West Coast Fall Road Trips: Chasing Aspens, Sipping Gold
Who doesn't love a good road trip? Every fall, the Sierra Nevada pulls its favorite party trick—one minute it’s all granite and pine, the next it looks like someone swapped out the trees for solid gold. The aspens flip their leaves like they’re showing off, the mornings turn sharp enough to make you grateful for wool socks, and suddenly coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s survival.
Fall road tripping here isn’t about the destination. It’s about pulling over for every trailhead that looks vaguely promising, cranking the heat one second and rolling down the windows the next, and realizing the mountains are better at wardrobe changes than you’ll ever be.
Where to Go
- June Lake Loop – Mirror-lakes reflecting golden groves so perfectly you’ll question if you’re right-side up.
- Bishop Pass – For those who like their fall color with a side of lung burn. Switchbacks, sweeping views, and the kind of air that makes coffee taste like it’s been blessed by the gods.
- Hidden Gem: Sagehen Creek Trail – Just off Highway 89 between Truckee and Sierraville, this mellow trail sneaks you through meadows and pines before ambushing you with a pop of aspen color. It’s the kind of hike that feels like a secret handshake with fall.
Cocktails at Dusk – The Golden Aspen Spritz
By sundown, the trees are glowing like they’ve got their own golden-hour filter on, your beanie’s back in action, and it’s officially cocktail o’clock. Cue the Golden Aspen Spritz: light, crisp, and classy enough to make you forget you’re drinking it out of camp chair number 12 from a gas station.
Recipe (Flask-Shaken, Trail-Approved):
- 1.5 oz gin
- 0.5 oz elderflower liqueur
- Top with Lemon LaCroix
- Squeeze of fresh lemon
- Garnish: thin apple slice
Shake it trailhead-style in your Adventure Flask, pour into the sleeve-cup, clink, repeat. Congrats—you just turned Sierra sunshine into happy hour.
Why It Matters
Fall in the Sierras - The mornings bite harder, the colors shout louder, and the drinks taste better because you earned them.
So pack less, do more, chase the yellow - foliage dude, c'mon.
