We’ve ventured over to Jack’s Valley Road and Genoa several times over the past week to check on the fall foliage.
The aspens on Sierra Canyon Trail as of Friday, October 16, 2026 were a mix of green and yellow. They might have taken on more color since then, but this current storm could have stripped more of the leaves. To view these aspens, where the trail takes a sharp turn to the right, go straight on a side trail instead.
Most of the foliage on the first half mile or so of the Genoa Canyon Trail was still green on Saturday, October 17, 2026. However, from higher up on the hike it’s a good place to view the fall color show happening far below in Genoa. We also had a great view of the air show from up there.
The cottonwoods around Genoa itself were in the Getting Better stage as of October 19, 2026. There are some that are Near Peak, but there’s still a lot of green, too.
Best Cottonwood Color in Carson Valley
Some of the best cottonwood color is by Cradlebaugh Bridge, on Highway 395 between Carson City and Minden. The trees here look especially nice when backlit later in the day. Nice reflections in the Carson River, too. Just be careful if you pull of the road here as traffic zooms by on the highway. You might want to keep the kids in the car while you take a few photos.
Genoa and Carson Valley Fall Color Report, October 16 – 19, 2026
Genoa Cottonwoods – Getting Better (45%)
Genoa Canyon Trail – Mostly Green
Sierra Canyon Trail – Near Peak (75%)
Cradlebaugh Bridge – Near Peak (75%)
