Sometimes you just need to leave the motorhome drama behind and go for atrek that may or may not qualify as “a stroll through Mono County fall colors hikes” Because let’s be honest—vacation is supposed to be relaxing, but somehow the Mickey Mouse Club followed me three hundred miles north to the Eastern Sierra. By the time I got to Bishop, I was ready to spike my coffee with eggnog and yes, extra brandy, even though it’s not even Halloween yet.
Safeway’s already Selling Eggnog and I’m Still Hiking for Fall Colors
And can we talk about Safeway? Why are you stocking eggnog in September? It’s hard enough to be a once-athletic hiker who now has a fat ass and a high-maintenance deer-obsessed dog, and now you’re tempting me with liquid dessert before I’ve even switched from iced coffee to PSLs.
The Great California Irony
How is it okay for California’s outdoor adventurers to spray permethrin all over their hiking clothes—something that could send any feline into neurological chaos—but I can’t buy rat poison here in the state of California? So here I am, soaking cotton balls in pepperm
int oil and chucking them behind my motorhome cabinets like some kind of Whole Foods witch. Meanwhile, hantavirus is running wild in our ski towns from the mice and rat infestations that are just part of our daily lives here in 2025, and I’m supposed to believe this liberal utopia is “safe”? Please. Between the Pelosi dynasty and the mouse infestation, this state needs an intervention.
And speaking of Pelosi, is anyone else obsessed with that video where she goes from frail grandma to full-on Medusa the minute someone mentions January 6th? I mean, come on. If Botox could talk, it would say “deflect and pivot.”
Escaping the Drama: Ruby Lake
Sometimes you just have to tune out the Fox News yelling in the background, grab your hiking poles, and head into the backcountry where cell service—and societal collapse—can’t reach you. Enter Ruby Lake, a hidden Mono County gem halfway up Mono Pass. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you love the kind of 32-degree mornings where you can see your own breath but not a leaf peeper insight, this one is for you.
The hike is steep, but the payoff? Jaw-dropping alpine views and a lake full of hungry little brook and golden trout. Sure, they’re not the three-pound show-offs you’ll find at Rock Creek Lake, but they’re feisty and fun to catch. Our Catahoula rescue dog even discovered her inner angler—chasing fish through crystal-clear water like a four-legged Jacques Cousteau.
Italy Pass Trail: Where Hikers Go to Complain in Multiple Languages
Not a fisherman? More into scenic Italian-sounding destinations? Then check out the Italy Pass Trail near Bishop. No one hikes here except locals, masochists, and maybe one confused influencer who took a wrong turn off Highway 395.
About two hours in, gasping uphill, I asked my boyfriend, “How do you say ‘screw this’ in Italian?” We’d packed nothing but homegrown Honeycrisp apples and salt-and-vinegar pumpkin seeds—because apparently we’re now the fattest vegans on the trail. We didn’t make it to Pine Creek Lake, but honestly? It was worth it. We saw two hikers all day. That’s it. No TikTok stars, no matching Patagonia couples, just quiet and a stunning Aspen grove so golden it looked like nature’s apology for everything happening in Sacramento. (It still does not make up for Gavin Newsom)
Sherwin Creek Meadows & Other Mammoth Secrets
Even tourist-packed Mammoth still has hidden gems. Sherwin Creek Meadows is one of them—especially magical right after the first early-season snowstorm. The Jeffrey Pines, rabbitbrush, and aspens turn gold and silver under the snow-dusted peaks, and the only other creatures out there are deer and a few crazy locals still mountain biking through ice.
Another favorite? Deadman’s Pass. (Yes, that’s the real name.) The views looking down toward Red’s Meadow are drop-dead stunning, pun intended. Come late September, the wild primroses turn bright orange, and by summer, the area explodes in purple grape soda lupine. You can drive back along the dirt road, but I recommend stopping before the washouts unless you have a 4WD truck and a death wish (Just kidding, the dirt road is not that bad in a Jeep but I had to make a Deadman’s Party joke, Halloween is coming and I am an Oingo Boingo fan)
Fall Colors, Fatigue, and Frozen Toes
If you’re ready to skip the Instagram mobs and find your own fall color zen, head off the beaten path this October. Hike until your thighs scream, your dog catches her own trout, and your brain forgets all about politics, hantavirus, and the Safeway dairy aisle.
Sometimes, the best therapy is found halfway up a mountain, out of breath, covered in dust, and realizing the Eastern Sierra doesn’t care about your Wi-Fi, your waistline, or your opinions on Nancy Pelosi. It just wants you to look up, shut up, and enjoy the damn aspens.
Skip the tourist chaos and overpriced lattes—here’s where to see the real Mono County fall colors hikes off the beaten path. From Ruby Lake to Sherwin Meadows, discover hidden trails, hungry trout, and the kind of peace you crave.
