So what if Western Washington’s fall color isn’t bold and brassy like the Northeast’s brilliant palette?
Ours is more like an exquisite piece of jewelry displayed on a classy suit, an eye-catching jewel that brings a smile.
We have spectacular backdrops to our fall color that can’t be matched in the Midwest or New England, including jagged peaks and alpine lakes that are home to the gold-turning larches.
The alpine larch is at 5,000 feet or higher; when the light is right, they simply glow. The Western larch grows in the 2,000- to 5,500-foot elevation range and turns to gold seven to 10 days later than the alpine larch.
Both are found in rough, rocky country, often in north-facing basins. The larch is one of two deciduous North American conifers; its needles turn yellow and drop every fall.
Here are a few places that will put on a show this month. Be sure to call to see what state the color is in, for directions, and to see if the snow has started to fall at higher elevations.
Blue Lake: One mile west of Washington Pass (Highway 20) is the Blue Lake trailhead in North Cascades National Park. It’s a 4-mile round-trip hike with a 1,200-foot elevation gain, but the rewards include reds and golds. The stars are definitely the larches, but a turquoise lake and surrounding peaks are bonuses. Information: Marblemount Ranger Station, 360-873-4590.
Maple Pass Loop/Lake Ann: It’s all here: 6.5 miles (round trip) of great colors, late huckleberries and alpine larch off the Rainy Pass parking area. If you have a whole day, take the side route to Lake Ann, too. Information: Marblemount, 360-873-4590.
Ingalls Lake: Another good hike for larches, which are beginning to hit their peak at this elevation. It’s a 9-mile round-trip with a 2,600-foot gain going in and 600 feet coming out. This is a typical Alpine Lakes Wilderness hike, with pretty lakes, snowfields and views of surrounding peaks. Information: Cle Elum Ranger District, 509-852-1100.
Heather Meadows area: The drive on Highway 542 to Mount Baker is worth a fall trip. Deep red huckleberry bushes and mountain ash, plenty of trails at high elevations, scenic vistas, all are to be had by heading to the ski lodge and a few miles beyond – Chain Lakes Trail, for instance, starting at the end of the Artist Point parking area, or the easier Bagley Lakes Trail are good options. Information: Mount Baker Ranger District, 360-856-5700, ext. 515.
Tonga Ridge: The nine-mile round trip on the south side of U.S. 2 near the Skykomish Ranger Station climbs through blueberry fields with slashes of color and peak views. The top of Beckler Peak can turn a burnt red because of an abundance of maples. Information: Skykomish Ranger Station, 360-677-2414.
Green Mountain: The south fork of the Stillaguamish offers plenty of drive-by color on the way to the trailhead. The 8-mile round-trip hike gains about 3,000 feet. There’s not much color during the wooded first mile, but it opens up to colors of mountain ash and huckleberry patches. Information: Darrington Ranger District, 360-436-1155.
On the other side of Stevens Pass, admire the dramatic reds rippling in the breeze along the avalanche chutes on Windy and Licthenberg mountains north of U.S. 2.
Glorious reds, yellows and oranges of big leaf maples, vine maples and sumac brighten lower elevations, especially in avalanche chutes and clear-cuts; and Tumwater Canyon is a visual treat in the fall.
Good hikes from the pass to the Leavenworth area (information: Wenatchee River Ranger District, 509-548-6977) include:
Lake Vahalla: Just east of Stevens Pass on U.S. 2 is the trailhead for a three-mile round-trip, a good fall-color outing with alpine woods, meadows, and the lake.
Eightmile Lake: The moderate hike into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a nearly seven-mile round trip, partly following an old logging road, and passing by Little Eight Mile Lake. Much of this area was devastated by fire in 1994, and about a mile up the trail, you’ll hike through a ghost forest. Enjoy abundant color of maples and sumac.
The only down side to October hiking is the length of days. They are considerably shorter than summer days – worth remembering when you’re choosing an outing.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
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