Seasonal Nature Report: Week of October 27

Fall foliage near Merced hits full peak this week: Yosemite Valley's black oaks, bigleaf maples, and dogwoods are at their most colorful along the Merced River between now and November 1, while the season's first significant snow dusted the high country and briefly closed Tioga Road on October 21. See the peak color in Yosemite Valley and along Highway 140, watch sandhill cranes massing at Merced National Wildlife Refuge, and catch fall-run Chinook at the Merced River Hatchery near Snelling.

This is the fourth weekly Seasonal Nature Report for Merced County and the nearby Sierra foothills, published every week through the fall color and spring bloom seasons. Each report covers what is happening in nature right now, where to see it best, and honest notes on what has not started or has finished. This is the strongest week of the fall so far: the valley at full color, the first snow on the high peaks, cranes building on the wetlands, and salmon still running in the river. For more ways to enjoy the week close to home, see the weekend guide for October 30 to November 1, and catch up on last week's nature report for the week of October 20 for the season's full arc so far.

Where Is the Best Fall Foliage Near Merced Right Now?

This is the peak week. The California Fall Color report rated Yosemite Valley at 50 to 75 percent and Go Now in mid-October, and Yosemite National Park now reaches its full seasonal peak from October 26 through November 1, with the best color around October 31. Mariposa County, the last county in California to peak, runs about a day behind the park and tops out around November 8, so the color closest to Merced still has another week or two to go. In other words: this is the week to go.

This week: the Merced River corridor in Yosemite Valley is at full peak

The classic viewing loop is the Merced River corridor from Sentinel Bridge to Cook's Meadow, where the river reflects the turning trees against the valley walls. Look for the bigleaf maples' yellow along the southern wall below Bridalveil Creek past Sentinel Creek, the black oaks' golden-orange on the lower slopes, and the red sugar maple beside the Yosemite Chapel. Cathedral Beach and El Capitan Meadow along Southside Drive frame the big granite faces with oaks and maples, Tunnel View gives the wide postcard view, and Mirror Lake and the Happy Isles area show red dogwoods and reflections at the east end of the valley. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit, and the valley is about a 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Merced via Highway 140.

Closer to home: Highway 140 redbuds and foothill oaks

The nearest fall color to Merced is along the Highway 140 corridor from Mariposa through Midpines toward El Portal, at 2,000 to 3,000 feet. This week the western redbuds are brilliant gold and crimson along the canyon walls and roadside, the black cottonwoods and willows glow bright yellow along the Merced River below the highway, and the black oaks show golden-orange on the slopes. Because this is the lowest-elevation entrance route, the show lingers here longer than it does up high, sometimes into early November. The oak-dotted hills around McSwain and Lake McSwain follow the same late-October rhythm, and the historic town of Mariposa makes a good lunch stop along the way.

First Snow: The Season's First Significant Snow Arrived This Week

The first significant snow of the season has now fallen in the high country. Tioga Road was temporarily closed at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, due to a forecast of snow at elevation, and Yosemite Valley remained accessible by Highway 140 and Highway 41, including the route from Merced. The National Park Service's current conditions page is the place to check before you drive: Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road both typically close for the season once permanent snow arrives, usually between late October and mid-November, and neither is plowed after it closes. For Merced County itself, the first snow of the season usually waits for colder storms later in the fall; what fell this week was confined to the high country above about 7,000 feet. The foothill roads around Mariposa and Catheys Valley on Highway 140 were clear and open as of this report.

Bird Migration Watch: Sandhill Cranes Are Building Toward Their November Peak

Sandhill cranes are abundant on Merced National Wildlife Refuge from September through March, and this week the autumn build is moving toward its peak: the refuge can hold 15,000 to 20,000 lesser sandhill cranes through November, with the largest concentrations typically from mid-December through late February. Migratory ducks and geese are arriving with them, and the seasonal wetlands fill with birds through the fall.

The best place to see them is the refuge's free 5-mile auto tour route, entered at 7430 West Sandy Mush Road, Merced, CA 95341, about 15 miles southwest of Merced off State Highway 59. The one-way gravel route is open year-round, free, and runs from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset daily, with two elevated observation platforms. Early morning and late afternoon are the prime times, when cranes fly between roosting and feeding areas. Stay in your vehicle on the tour route, and bring binoculars. For the full lowdown on the refuge, see the Trail or Park of the Week feature on Merced National Wildlife Refuge.

One honest note for birders: the Beckwith wildlife observation area at San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge was still listed as closed as of this week, though it typically opens for its mid-October-through-mid-March season around now. Check the refuge's official visit page before you plan that trip. The Pelican Nature Trail at the Merced refuge itself remains open daily.

Salmon Run: Fall-Run Chinook Still Spawning Below Crocker-Huffman Dam

Late October remains prime time for the Merced River's fall-run Chinook salmon. Spawning runs from roughly October through early December on the lower river, California Department of Fish and Wildlife surveys begin in the first week of October, and the Merced Irrigation District releases pulse flows from upstream dams in October to help migrating fish move up the river. The upstream limit of the run is Crocker-Huffman Dam, and the best public viewing is right below it.

The prime spot is the Merced River Hatchery at 4998 Robinson Road, Snelling, about 20 miles east of Merced, where the fish ladder is open to the public and the hatchery welcomes visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Merced River Hatchery page. A note on locations: spawning fish are best watched below Crocker-Huffman Dam, which marks the upstream limit of the run, so head for the hatchery rather than the reservoirs up at McSwain and Lake McClure. Use extra caution near the river during October pulse-flow releases, when flows rise on short notice.

Not Yet / Done: What Hasn't Started or Has Finished This Week

A few seasonal phenomena are either still ahead of us or already past, and it helps to know the timing so you do not plan a trip around the wrong week:

• Done: high-elevation aspens. The golden aspen display along Tioga Road and the eastern passes peaked in late September and early October, and the leaves are mostly down now. The color has moved down to the valley floor and foothills, where it is peaking right now.
• Peak this week: Yosemite Valley is at full peak from October 26 through November 1, with Mariposa County and the Highway 140 foothills peaking around November 8, so another week or two of rich color remains.
• First snow: The season's first significant snow arrived in the high country the week of October 21. First snow at the valley floor and lower foothills of Merced County usually waits for colder storms later in the fall.
• Monarch butterflies: Only a slow trickle of monarchs has reached California coastal groves so far. Peak populations arrive from mid-November through December at sites like Natural Bridges State Beach and the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary.
• Spring blooms: Wildflower and blossom season returns in March through May. The Seasonal Nature Report will cover it then.

Enjoy the season, Merced. The valley is at full color, the first snow is on the high peaks, the cranes are massing on the wetlands, and the salmon are still running in the river. And when you are ready to talk about your home, Monica is here, whether you are selling now or planning for the new year. Learn more about Monica's approach on her about page, and find the whole archive of guides on the blog.