Washington may be The Evergreen State, but it also has some wonderful deciduous trees with leaves that turn glorious shades of yellow, orange and red each autumn. Great fall color can be found in every region of the state, from the coast to the Idaho border and from the Columbia River Gorge to Canada. Here, in no particular order, is a selection of some of the best places to view and photograph fall foliage in Washington.
1. Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle
The City of Seattle and the University of Washington jointly manage 230-acres of beautiful botanical gardens on the shores of Lake Washington. Areas particularly good for fall color are the Japanese Maple, Asiatic Maple, and Mountain Ash sections on the northeast side of the park, and, best of all, the Japanese Garden on the southwest side of the park.
2. Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park
Bigleaf maple trees abound on the Hall of Mosses Trail. Huge maples festooned with moss are also seen along the road leading from Highway 101 to the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center and campground. The resident herd of Roosevelt Elk adds to the attraction of the area for nature lovers.
3. Chinook Pass and the Naches Peak Loop Trail
An easy 4-mile hike around Tipsoo Lake and Naches Peak on the east side of Mount Rainier National Park offers a combination of multi-colored huckleberry bushes and some of the very best views of The Mountain.
4. Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Spectacular mountain scenery and brilliant yellow Alpine larch trees reward hikers who tackle the trails in this rugged section of the central Cascades. The jewel-like lakes of The Enchantments are high on the list of northwest backpacker favorites. There is also plenty of fall color around Leavenworth and the Icicle Creek Canyon on the way to the trailheads, and at nearby Lake Wenatchee.
5. Stevens Pass
Part of the popular Cascade Loop, the Stevens Pass Greenway/National Scenic Byway crosses the Cascades between Monroe and Leavenworth, following the Skykomish River on the west side and the Wenatchee River on the east. It is particularly good for fall color in the Tumwater Canyon area between Lake Wenatchee and Leavenworth. Aspen trees join bigleaf maple and vine maple for a range of color from lemon yellow to crimson red.
6. Lake Ann and Maple Pass
Just west of Washington Pass on State Route 20, the North Cascades Highway, the 7-mile loop trail to Maple Pass and Heather Pass in North Cascades National Park is a fall favorite when the alpine larch trees turn golden, highlighting the spectacular mountain scenery. Lake Ann sits in a forested bowl, with dramatic Cascade peaks rising all around. Nearby Rainey Lake and Blue Lake offer shorter, easier trails.
7. Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Large stands of aspen and cottonwood trees around the town of Glenwood turn golden in a landscape that includes majestic Mount Adams rising above Camas Prairie and the wetlands of the Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The oak trees down in nearby Klickitat Canyon to the east have more muted colors but are also a visual treat.
8. Pend Oreille River Valley and Little Pend Oreille Lakes
This little-visited far northeast corner of Washington has some of the state’s best fall color, with larch, cottonwood and aspen all turning bright yellow in autumn. Travel there via Highway 20 over Sherman Pass and you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the Kettle Range mountainsides covered with western larch (also known as tamarack) in the Colville National Forest. Add the Lake Sullivan loop tour from Ione for even more fall color.
9. Methow River Valley
Brilliant yellow aspen and cottonwood trees line the rivers and streams in this part of north central Washington just east of the Cascades. Make a day or weekend loop trip from Seattle over Washington Pass to Winthrop, head south to Leavenworth and return via Stevens Pass.
10. Indian Heaven Wilderness
Extensive fields of huckleberry are found in much of this part of Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the southern Cascades. A hike on the Bird Mountain Loop Trail will also get you great views of Mount Adams. Nearby, colorful stands of trees add to the already very scenic views of Mount Adams in the Trout Lake area.
In years with typical Pacific Northwest weather, the fall color starts when vine maple and huckleberry begin turning in late August at mid- and high-elevations. Late September to mid October are usually the best in the high Cascades and eastern Washington for maple, aspen and larch, with mid- to late October being prime at lower elevations like Puget Sound, rainforests on the Olympic Peninsula and in the Columbia Gorge.
Whether you’re thinking of a day trip or an extensive statewide fall foliage tour, now’s the time to make plans and get out to enjoy this wonderful season.
Please leave a comment and let me know your favorite places for viewing and photographing fall color in Washington.
by 
Great suggestions Greg ! Some amazing images here for sure..
Thanks, Kevin. I bet you already have fantastic photos from most of these places!
Hi, Greg. Great photos, as always. I have found that Stevens Pass near Leavenworth is really better than the No. Cascades Hwy..but this year who knows!!! Extra dry, smoke damage to foliage. Often overlooked is my own Bellingham to Mt. Baker area — Mt. Baker Highway.
Thanks, JoAnn! I agree that Stevens Pass, and a lot of the area around Leavenworth, is generally better than Washington Pass, although I have a particular fondness for those alpine larch in the high country.
Trying to decide on the top 10 wasn’t easy, and the Mount Baker Highway and especially the Picture Lake view of Mt. Shuksan was a tough one to leave off. Chuckanut Drive along the coast just south of Bellingham was a contender as well.
Maybe I should have done a “Fabulous Fifteen” instead of a “Top Ten”.
Greg, beautiful photos makes me want to go right now! When do you have your peak fall color in Washington and Oregon? I live in Colorado and am planning a trip out to Oregon at the end of October into November. Any suggestions for great places to see on the Oregon Coast below Portland? Thanks
Glad that you like the photos Debbie, and that you’re planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest. Peak of fall color depends largely on elevation. In the high Cascades, color of the larch trees is generally best from around last week of September through the first week of October. Bigleaf Maple trees in lower elevation areas are just starting to turn now, as are the ornamental maples in city gardens and parks. At the end of October and into the first week or so of November you’ll likely find some nice color in the Columbia River Gorge – I would highly recommend that area as part of your upcoming trip.
I just returned from leading a private photo tour of the Oregon Coast, and the places that got the most raves from the participants were Ecola Point State Park, Haystack Rock and The Needles at Cannon Beach, Cape Kiwanda, the bridge and lighthouses at Newport, and the sea stacks at Bandon. We didn’t have time to go beyond that, but there are several great sites on the southern coast. There is a good amount of detail on each of these places in my book Photographing Oregon.
Wonderful suggestions, Greg.
On my To-Do list for Fall 2013.
Do you do group or individual workshops? I’ve worked with Chip Phillips, Sean Bagshaw and Zach Schempf.
I’m in Lake Forest Park, Wa
Alvin
Thanks for asking, Alvin. If you have been out with Sean, Chip and Zach, you’ve been working with some of the best. So far I have only done individual and small group custom photo tours. I plan to do a few scheduled workshops in 2013 but don’t have dates and locations firmed up yet. Please send me an email and let me know your interests.
All excellent suggestions, Greg! And excellent images as well! Glad you had the opportunity to tour so much of our state for your new book. Thanks for the post!
Thanks, Don. It’s great to compliments from someone with your photographic talents and extensive knowledge of Washington!
Superb photos. I really like the Conboy one. Some great suggestions for whenever I manage to make my way to Washington State.
Hello Greg,
Stunning photographs — I enjoyed them along with your descriptions.
My friend and I will be flying into Seattle late Nov. 9th and flying out early Nov. 15th. I have been told that there will be no fall colors by then. I wanted to hear your thoughts on this. I understand that it will probably rain every day that we are there. At this point, I am in the beginning stages of planning and just doing some research. Anything you could share would be so appreciated. My friend and I are coming out to do photography and love landscape and wildlife photography! Thanks again for your post!!
Hi Maria,
Depending on what happens with the weather in the next few weeks, you may still find some fall color when you visit. It will be done in the mountains, but could linger in low elevation areas. The Japanese gardens at Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum and Kubota Gardens are good bets for colorful laceleaf maple trees. Also Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island as a great Japanese area among its gardens.
In general, November is not a great month for the mountains, although there will new snow on the higher peaks. It is, however, a good month to do the coastal areas of Olympic National Park. There may be some fall color left in the Hoh Rainforest and Lake Quinault areas. There is a resident herd of Roosevelt elks in the Hoh area.
In the Vancouver (WA) area, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge may have some lingering fall color, in addition to the waterbirds that visit or live there.
Waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge (primarily on the Oregon side of the river) should be good, with a possiblity of some late fall color.
If the forecast is for rain all or most of the time, check the predictions for the San Juan Islands, as they sometimes get less rain. Landscape and wildlife photography opportunities are somewhat limited on those islands, but they are beautiful and fun places to visit.
If you don’t already have it, you might want to purchase a copy of my guidebook Photographing Washington.
Have a great trip!
Another wonderful place close to Seattle is Kubota Garden. Beautiful Japanese garden with many photo worthy opportunities. And best of all it’seems free!
Most definitely, Joe. It was tough to keep the list to just ten. Kubota Garden is beautiful at any time of year, but especially in Autumn.
We will be in the area from CA in July. Are the places you’ve listed worth visiting for photos at that time of year? Are there other area that would be better to visit in addition to or in place of? Thank you so much!
Most of the locations mentioned in this post will also be great in July. Olympic National Park Hoh Rainforest plus Hurricane Ridge will have wildflowers. All of North Cascades National Park; anywhere in the Cascades, actually. Wildflowers at Mount Rainier start in mid/late July and usually peak the first week of August at Paradise Meadows. The San Juan Islands is also a good bet for July. Enjoy your trip! If you don’t already have it, you might be interested in getting my guidebook Photographing Washington; see http://www.GregVaughn.com/books.html.
Hi
I am hoping to head down to Bellingham area to catch the leaves! Wondering where the best drives would be; have not been to Mt Baker and wondering if that drive would provide a great show and also when you think they will be peaking this year.
Regards,
Maureen
Hi Maureen,
I’m sorry I didn’t see your question sooner! It is probably a little late now for fall color in the Mount Baker area, but you might find colorful leaves along Chuckanut Drive south of Bellingham, and in Whatcom Falls County Park in the city of Bellingham.
– Greg
Hi Greg,
Tim Thompson here.
I’d love to see anything you’ve put out recently (in 2018 or 2019) about fall color in Washington State.
I’m thinking primarily about the Wenatchee to Levenworth area, but welcome any suggestions.
Regards,
Tim
Hi Tim,
Great to hear from you! I haven’t been to that area recently, but based on past experience fall color should be getting good there very soon. I mention several locations near Leavenworth that are good for fall color in my book “Photographing Washington”.
Some ideas:
– In Leavenworth, take the drive on Icicle Creek Road at the west end of town. Some good aspen groves up there along Icicle Creek.
– North of Leavenworth, drive Hwy 2 towards Stevens Pass. There are a few spots in Tumwater Canyon that might have some color. On one trip I found some really nice aspen and dogwood on Winton Road near the junction of Hwy 2 and the road that goes to Lake Wenatchee.
– The best fall color I’ve found in that part of Washington is in the Methow Valley, especially between Twisp and Winthrop. Beautiful stands of cottonwood and aspen along Highway 20.
Let me know what you find, and please share any tips you have.