{"id":20997,"date":"2017-10-02T15:32:10","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T22:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=20997"},"modified":"2018-11-11T22:09:34","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T06:09:34","slug":"where-to-see-the-best-fall-foliage-in-the-pacific-northwest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/where-to-see-the-best-fall-foliage-in-the-pacific-northwest","title":{"rendered":"Where to See the Best Fall Foliage in the Pacific Northwest"},"content":{"rendered":"

A hiker’s paradise of reds, oranges and yellows<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dozens of trails throughout Washington and Oregon hit peak leaf between now and November, their dirt paths covered in leaves and their canopies painted vivid colors that announce autumn\u2019s arrival.\u00a0Whether you\u2019re jonesing for one last glimpse of Mount Rainier this fall or want to check out foliage in the shadow of nearly a dozen waterfalls in the Cascade foothills, here\u2019s where to go for some of the region\u2019s best leaf peeping.<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington Park Arboretum (Seattle, Washington)<\/h4>\n

Why We Love It: <\/b>Nestled against Lake Washington, the Washington Park Arboretum won\u2019t make you work for stunning fall foliage.<\/p>\n

Best Time to Go: <\/b>Mid-October<\/p>\n

What to Know: <\/b>For all its tech-fueled growth in recent years, Seattle still boasts a remarkable array of natural wonder within city limits.<\/p>\n

Case in point? The Washington Park Arboretum<\/a>, just east of the Montlake Cut, hosts 230 acres of plants, trees and shrubs\u2014some of which are found nowhere else in the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n

The changing seasons create a myriad Instagram-worthy sights all year long, and that\u2019s never truer than in autumn. The arboretum\u2019s Woodland Garden boasts one of North America\u2019s largest collection of Japanese maples, with leaves turning electric shades of pink, maroon, orange and red. Elsewhere, witch hazel, black gum trees, sorrel trees, buckeyes, strawberry trees and mountain ash put on a show every fall.<\/p>\n

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Washington Park Arboretum | Photo: Joe Wolfe, Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Skyline Trail (Mount Rainier National Park, Washington)<\/h4>\n

Why We Love It: <\/b>Promising unfettered views of Mount Rainier, this is one of the state\u2019s most popular wildflower hikes each spring\u2014but its autumn displays aren\u2019t to be missed.<\/p>\n

Best Time to Go: <\/b>Mid-October<\/p>\n

What to Know:<\/b> The real show along the Skyline Trail<\/a> isn\u2019t in the trees, but at your feet. Whole fields of bushes and shrubs turn orange and red each fall, offering a colorful contrast to the snow-capped Mount Rainier (which remains visible for long stretches of the hike). Most of the fall colors are found near the stone steps marking the trailhead, but bursts of colorful fields appear throughout the 5.3-mile hike.<\/p>\n

Heads up: <\/i>With winter on the near horizon, check park conditions before heading out. Unpredictable weather and sudden snowstorms can cover the plant life and make for a short day on the trail.<\/p>\n

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Skyline Trail | Photo: Jeff Hollett, Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Salmon River (Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon)<\/h4>\n

Why We Love It: <\/b>When you imagine Pacific Northwest forests\u2014rushing teal rivers, 100-foot fir trees, thickets of moss and ferns\u2014you\u2019re probably thinking of this area.<\/span><\/p>\n

Best Time to Go: <\/b>Mid- to late-October<\/p>\n

What to Know: <\/b>The popular <\/span>Salmon River Trail<\/span><\/a> hugs the appropriately-named Salmon River for most of the 14-mile trek, with occasional forays up to rocky headlands for views of the surrounding scenery. (Note: If you\u2019re not up for a longer hike, choose a trailhead farther upstream to cut down on the distance.)<\/span><\/p>\n

The trail\u2019s low elevation means that it\u2019s mostly accessible year-round, but we\u2019re partial to October hikes for fall colors. All manner of trees and shrubs crowd the river\u2019s laconic banks, reflecting vibrant shades of yellow and orange in its blue-green waters. The trail leaves the river after about three miles, but you\u2019ll arrive at a wide-open viewpoint that delivers vistas of the surrounding forest in all of its seasonal splendor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Heads up: <\/span><\/i>October isn\u2019t only ideal for fall colors along the Salmon River\u2014it\u2019s peak season for spawning salmon, so look for schools of newborn fish milling about.<\/span><\/p>\n

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