![]() ![]() Why visit: The Hoh Rain Forest (near Forks) and the Quinault Rain Forest (surrounding Lake Quinault) offer fall hikes that allow visitors to experience not only the fall golds, ambers, russets and ruby tones of changing leaves, “but also the sounds of silence and the fresh-washed forest air that relaxes and recharges,” says Marsha Massey, the executive director of the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau. When to go: Late-September to late October Photo courtesy of Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau Olympic Peninsula The collection of family-owned farms is filled with pumpkin patches, fall color and corn mazes.” “If you’d rather drive, a trip to Mount Spokane, 30 miles north of downtown Spokane, will give you both fall color and incredible views,” says Visit Spokane’s Kate Hudson, “And for great photo-ops and activities, head to Green Bluff. Finch Arboretum, with more than 2,000 labeled trees, are both filled with deciduous trees that turn from green to luscious golds, reds and soft yellows in the fall.įall colors also can be found on the 37-mile Centennial Trail, especially in the section running from Gonzaga University through Riverfront Park. Why visit: Manito Park, a 90-acre public park with five gardens, ponds and a conservatory in Spokane’s South Hill neighborhood, and the 65-acre John A. When to go: End of September through October The color trail continues in the Horan Natural Area, located within the 197-acre Wenatchee Confluence State Park, at Patterson Lake, near Winthrop, and at other Loop locations. Pitts’ tip: Drive the route counterclockwise for the best views, leaving plenty of time for stops in towns, parks, highway pullouts and overlooks along the way.įor example, heading east over state Route 2, the Stevens Pass Greenway becomes the Stevens Pass Gold Way, with trees along the Skykomish River flashing a brilliant orange color. Why visit: In the fall, a Cascade Loop drive offers “a diverse display of wild and vibrant colors,” says Annette Pitts, the former executive director of the Cascade Loop Association. When to go: End of September to mid-October Photo courtesy of Cascade Loop Association Cascade Loop The drive takes about two hours from Seattle (if you take Interstate 5 to Burlington) and features a number of scenic overlooks and tasty food stops. In October, maples and alders arch over the roadway and create tunnels of scarlet and yellow leaves. Winding from Burlington to Bellingham along state Route 11, the road skirts Chuckanut Mountain and offers gorgeous panoramas of saltwater bays and the San Juan Islands. Keep an eye out for Pacific madrone, or madrone trees that grow on the sides of the rocky Chuckanut cliffs and feature colorful peeling bark. Why visit: Aside from a having a colorful name (anyone else envisioning crazed squirrels throwing acorns?), this scenic drive is awesome for its big views and bright fall foliage. Photo courtesy of Visit Bellingham Chuckanut Drive Mountain weather is notoriously temperamental, so be sure to keep an eye on the forecast for alerts and conditions. ![]() Novice and experienced hikers will be rewarded with bursts of color on many other fall hikes around Mount Rainier National Park as well, including Reflection Lakes, Naches Peak Loop, Silver Falls Loop, and Grove of the Patriarchs. Look for vine maple, high elevation huckleberry bushes and Larch (Tamarack), plus views of the mountain (on clear days) from the popular Skyline Trail Loop, a 5.5-mile round-trip jaunt from the Paradise parking lot. Why visit: For a different take on fall colors, head to Mount Rainier and watch low-lying shrubs become fields of fiery reds and oranges. Photo courtesy of Ian McRae Mount Rainier The drive west of Leavenworth on Highway 2 also is a feast for the eyes, with forests of dogwood, maple and alder against a backdrop of dark green conifers. Look for vine maples and cottonwoods with their stunning scarlet, orange and gold leaves. Why visit: Nestled in the heart of the Cascade Mountains, about a two-hour drive from Seattle and three hours from Spokane (with plenty of scenic and scrumptious stops along the way), the Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth offers a wide assortment of activities and serves as a perfect jumping-off point for leaf peeping along local trails. Call ahead and check the websites of visitor bureaus, parks and destinations before you go. We picked just seven great destinations where trees offer dramatic displays of vibrant crimson, orange and gold.įall is generally a transition time for weather and road conditions, and this fall there may be alerts, updates and closures related to wildfires. Do not let the Evergreen State nickname mislead you the state boasts many great places to view colorful fall foliage. Fall is here, and it is a great time of year to explore Washington’s natural beauty.
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