The Best Fall Hikes in the PNW
While we have tried our best to hold on to summer for as long as possible (we're still trying), the evidence suggests that fall is here to stay. While there's nothing like a summer in Washington, fall may be a close second. With crisp, yet comfortable temperatures, soft autumn light, and golden larches dotting the evergreen forests, it's hard to beat fall in the PNW. Just because the weather is changing doesn't mean you have to go inside. Fall remains one of the best hiking seasons in the PNW, thanks in part to the changing leaves and golden larches. To learn about our favorite fall hikes in the PNW, continue reading below.
1. Maple Pass Loop (North Cascades, WA)
If you had to choose just one fall hike in Washington, Maple Pass would be tough to beat. The 7-mile loop climbs through alpine meadows and larch forests before topping out on a ridge with sweeping views of Lake Ann and the North Cascades. By October, the larches here turn gold, which shines bright on a backdrop of snow-dusted peaks.
Distance: 7.2 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
Trailhead: Rainy Pass on Highway 20
2. Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island (Olympic National Park, WA)
The Hoh River Trail offers a unique fall color experience. Instead of alpine larches, you will find towering bigleaf and vine maples lighting up the rainforest canopy in October and November. Moss-covered Sitka spruce and hemlock frame the trail, and the Hoh River keeps you company the entire way.
Distance: 10.4 miles round trip (to Five Mile Island)
Elevation Gain: 300 feet
Trailhead: Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
3. Blue Lake (North Cascades, WA)
If you want the larch magic without committing to a big climb, Blue Lake is the perfect choice. The relatively short hike delivers alpine scenery, golden larches, and a pristine lake framed by granite spires.
Distance: 4.6 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,050 feet
Trailhead: Highway 20, just west of Washington Pass
4. Ingalls Lake (Teanaway, WA)
Ingalls Lake is one of the most photographed larch hikes in Washington. The trail winds through meadows, passes granite outcrops, and ends at a deep alpine lake with Mount Stuart rising behind it. During the fall, the larches glow against the gray stone.
Distance: 9 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet
Trailhead: Esmeralda Basin Trailhead
5. Tam McArthur Rim (Central Oregon)
Oregon gets its fair share of fall color, too, and the Tam McArthur Rim near Sisters is a standout. The trail climbs to a rocky viewpoint overlooking the Three Sisters and Broken Top, with bright red and yellow foliage along the way. On a crisp fall day, the views stretch for miles.
Distance: 5.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet
Trailhead: Three Creek Lake
6. Silver Falls State Park (Willamette Valley, OR)
If waterfalls framed by autumn leaves sound like your kind of hike, Silver Falls State Park is the place. The Trail of Ten Falls winds through lush forest and past, as the name suggests, ten waterfalls. Each one looks especially dramatic with golden foliage around it.
Distance: 7.2 miles loop
Elevation Gain: 800 feet
Trailhead: South Falls Trailhead
7. Mount Rainier Skyline Trail (WA)
Fall comes early to Mount Rainier, and the meadows around Paradise turn into a patchwork of reds, oranges, and yellows. The Skyline Trail loops through these meadows with up close views of the mountain, plus waterfalls and panoramic ridgelines.
Distance: 5.5 miles loop
Elevation Gain: 1,700 feet
Trailhead: Paradise Visitor Center
8. Herman Creek to Indian Point (Columbia River Gorge, OR)
This hike does not get the same love as Multnomah Falls or Eagle Creek, but in the fall, the Herman Creek Trail shines. Bigleaf maples and vine maples paint the forest in yellows and reds, and the climb up to Indian Point delivers a wild, exposed viewpoint above the Gorge.
Distance: 7.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
Trailhead: Herman Creek Trailhead, near Cascade Locks
Fall hiking in the PNW is all about timing. Catch the larches at their peak or the maples just as they are turning, and you will see some of the best scenery the region has to offer. Pack a layer or two for chilly mornings, bring a thermos of coffee or tea, and head out before the snow starts to set. Stay tuned to the Camp N Car blog for more hikes, guides, and useful car camping tips.
