Favorite Washington Hikes for Fall Colors & Larches
Fall is one of our favorite seasons in the Pacific Northwest. The mountain air is cool and crisp, there are no longer any bothersome mosquitoes, the colors are vibrant, and there’s still a good chance to enjoy a sunny day before the winter gray rolls in. With this however, comes shorter days and cooler temperatures, so be prepared!
If you’re looking for an opportunity to see some beautiful Fall colors in the mountains, read on! This is a list of our favorites thus far:
the asterisk (*) denotes this hike has larch trees!
Larches are members of the pine tree family, but are unique in that they lose their needles in the winter (as opposed to the classic evergreen tree), and turn a gorgeous golden yellow color before doing so. This time period of golden glory is a short few weeks every Fall (otherwise known as “Larch Madness”) between late September and early October. These larch trees are also only found on the eastern side of the Cascade mountain range and above a certain elevation, so you will have to ensure the hike you choose is in an area where they grow.
Green Mountain (North Cascades)
- TRAIL STATS:
- We did this as a day hike in late September and were blown away at how colorful this was. There are no larches, but you are still surrounded by bright red brush and vivid colors at every turn. This hike actually ends at a fire lookout, which is a fun destination on its own. The views from the summit at the lookout are absolutely unreal on a clear day.
Crater Lakes (North Cascades) *
- TRAIL STATS:
- 8.6 miles round trip; 2,200’ elevation; moderate
- Dog friendly
- You will need a Northwest Forest Pass
- Trailhead coordinates here – the parking area has a pit toilet and is quite large because it serves as the starting point for several multi-use trails
- This hike consists of Lower Crater Lake and Upper Crater Lake. We did this as a 1 night backpack and set up camp at Upper Crater Lake during the peak of larch season (usually early/mid October) and it was so delightful.
- The larches were at their beautiful golden yellow peak, we had sunshine and perfect temperatures, and were greeted with an almost full moon at nightfall! Our only wish was that we could have stayed for at least one more night…
Carne Mountain (Central Cascades) *
- TRAIL STATS:
- 8 miles round trip; 3,600’ elevation, moderate to strenuous
- Dog friendly
- No permit/pass needed
- Trailhead coordinates here. Warning: the last stretch of this drive leading up to the trailhead is a slog. It’s not particularly treacherous, but it is rocky enough and long enough that it is slow going. There is not a bathroom at the trailhead itself, but a number of pit toilets at the many campgrounds you pass on the drive in (we stopped at Finner Creek Campground for a potty break, 11 miles / 30 minutes from the trailhead)
- We reached the trailhead on a sunny October Saturday at 8:30am to an already full parking lot, and cars starting to park alongside the road. You reach a fork soon after beginning your hike and will need to veer right to start climbing upwards. Then, the climbing never really stops.
- The elevation grade is never too difficult, but it is a consistent climb upwards until you reach the summit. The views start once you exit the forest canopy after a few miles, and then once you hear a waterfall to your right (at about the 3-mile mark), you know you’ll reach the basin of larches in just a few steps. This basin is beautiful and is a great stop for a snack before the final climb to the summit.
- As you climb you’ll reach another fork – go left to stay on Rock Creek. The final push to the summit is incredible – larches and panoramic mountain views envelop you. We reached the summit just before noon and had a nice lunch before heading back down, completing our hike by 3pm. As you can see from the photos, the larches we saw were still yellow-green (more lime colored than a golden yellow) because this was about 1 week before their peak. We would love to do this hike again when the larches are peak golden!
Little Giant Pass (Central Cascades)
- TRAIL STATS:
- 10 miles round trip; 4,000’ elevation; strenuous
- Dog friendly
- No permit/pass needed
- Trailhead coordinates here – just steps from the trailhead you must cross a creek so I started the hike in Chacos and then changed into hiking boots after crossing. Water levels here will vary based on the time of year you go, so be sure to check recent conditions and reports for the most up to date information
- This was a long and difficult day hike but 100% worth it. The majority of the hike at the beginning winds through shady forest, passing multiple campsites and water sources. Then for the last 2 miles, the trail opens up to expansive, colorful, panoramic views. There are a few larches seen from a distance, but you won’t feel like you’re missing out because the remainder of the colors were popping like crazy! The view from the summit is mind-blowing and allows you to easily forget how steep and difficult the hike was to reach this point!
Lake Twenty-Two (North Cascades)
- TRAIL STATS:
- 5.4 miles round trip; 1,350’ elevation; easy to moderate
- Dog friendly
- You will need a Northwest Forest Pass
- Trailhead coordinates here
- This is a very popular day hike that is easily accessible and family friendly. We did this in mid-October and felt that this was towards the tail end of the fall colors. No larches, but still very pretty! Nothing beats the reflection of vibrant fall colors against the background of a peaceful alpine lake.
Chain Lakes Loop (North Cascades)
- TRAIL STATS:
- 6.5 miles round trip; 1,820’ elevation; moderate
- Dog friendly
- You will need a Northwest Forest Pass
- There are multiple places to start your hike along this loop. We started by the Heather Meadows Visitor Center (also can type in directions to Austin Pass Picnic Area) and there was plenty of parking available with two pit toilets
- We actually did this hike in early September, just as the Fall colors were starting to come about, but certainly well before they were ablaze, and even so it was still so gorgeous! We would love to come back in true Fall for a more colorful treat!
Naches Peak Loop (Mount Rainier area)
- TRAIL STATS:
- 3.2 miles round trip; 600’ elevation; easy
- Dogs are NOT allowed (because part of this hike is within the Mount Rainier National Park boundary)
- You will need a Northwest Forest Pass
- Trailhead coordinates are here – if this parking lot fills up, there are a few other spots to find parking further North that will connect to the hike
- We have done this short, family friendly hike twice! On a clear day, views of Mount Rainier with the backdrop of bright colors is an absolute joy. Know that you may be sharing these trails with the local bears as they forage for berries during this time of year!
The Enchantments *
This area is extremely popular, and when Larch Madness hits, it gets even more crowded! Check out our detailed planning guide for how we tackled this thru-hike in one day for the first time in early September 2022 here. Then, in October 2024, we did this AGAIN, but in the midst of peak larch season! The only difference is that we did it as a trail run, meaning we packed far lighter and reduced the elapsed time by several hours compared to exclusively hiking the trail.
- TRAIL STATS:
- 20.2 miles round trip; 5,300’ elevation; strenuous
- Note that this mileage includes a 1 mile detour to Crystal Lake around mile 8.5
- Dogs are NOT allowed
- This is an out and back: we parked at Colchuck Trailhead (start point), and did a car swap with the remainder of our group who parked at Snow Lake Trailhead (endpoint)
- Again, CLICK HERE, for even more details for stats + planning in our original blog post
- 20.2 miles round trip; 5,300’ elevation; strenuous
- 6am start, headlamps for the first hour, reached Colchuck Lake at 7:30am (this is 4.2 miles in), then reached the top of the daunting, infamous Aasgard Pass around 9am (6.2 miles in).
- After going over the Pass and reaching the Core Zone of the Enchantments, you start to see crystal blue lakes surrounded by golden larches, mountain goats meandering about, and you really breathe in all the magic that is the Enchantments. Somehow the views continue to get even better as you continue to wander through the Core and you understand why a place like this has become so popular.
- After the Core, you start the descent down towards Snow Lake. Between here and the trailhead (i.e. the last 8 miles or so), the terrain is mostly runnable, and while still beautiful, you have left the larches and expansive vistas, so moving quickly is much easier when you are not stopping for a photo op every minute!
- Various members of our group reached the Snow Lake TH endpoint between 3-3:30pm, totaling 9-9.5 hours of total elapsed time (which was about 8-8.5 hours of moving time).
Or are you looking for something more chill & family friendly? Check out Snoqualmie!
Snoqualmie is a small city 40 minutes from Seattle that is a gateway to the mountains, but still full of beautiful fall colors.
Head to Meadowbrook Farm Park for short, flat, family-friendly trails, where you can observe the local elk herd from a distance. Many folks bring binoculars to view them, and the colorful trees in this area are gorgeous.
Then, about a mile away is a larger recreational area called Three Forks Natural Area, and also the Three Forks Off-Leash Dog Park for more easy strolls and beautiful golden and orange colors.
What’s on our bucket list for larches & fall colors?
To name a few… Lake Ingalls, Yellow Aster Butte, Cutthroat Pass are at the top of our list
Happy Autumn adventuring!