Guide to the 21 Best Fall Hikes in Washington (From a Seattle Local)
You take a deep breath and feel the chilly air fill your lungs. ‘Ahh,’ you say. Finally, it’s official: fall is here in Washington. From the middle of September through the middle of October, one of the most jaw-dropping places is in the state of Washington. The bugs are gone, the air is crisp, and the fall colors are popping. Included in this are the best fall hikes in Washington, PLUS the top larch hikes as well.
I’ve outlined these by region as best I can, and while I haven’t done all of them in the fall (almost all, though), they are still the best fall hikes in Washington I’ve found. You won’t be disappointed!
Why you can trust me: You can trust that this blog is authentic and real because I have hiked almost all of these trails, and I recommend them to everyone. I try to use my blog like I’d talk to my friends, and these epic Washington fall hikes are ones you’ll be stoked about!
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Best Fall Hikes in Washington – Mt. Baker Region
Yellow Aster Butte
- Distance: 8.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,700 feet
- Popularity: Busy but not overwhelming
- Best Feature: The fall colors on the ground and surrounding peaks. Plus, the reflection off Mt. Shuksan is surreal once you arrive near the top. Lastly, views of Baker are present as you hike up.
- Drive from Seattle: 3 hours. About five miles on a dirt road to the trailhead should be suitable for all cars. After that, though, the road gets terrible.
Chain Lakes Loop
- Distance: 7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet
- Popularity: An insanely popular trail teaming with people on the weekends. Most start from Artist Point, but a few other parking lots are on the way up.
- Best Feature: The bushes and trees turn gorgeous colors. Plus, the lakes glisten and reflect. It’s beautiful.
- Drive from Seattle: 3 hours
Washington Fall Hikes – North Cascades and Highway 20/Mazama
Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm
- Distance: 14 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,800 feet
- Popularity: Very crowded all summer and fall – but worth it
- Best Feature: The amount of red on this hike is bonkers. It’s arguably my favorite of the fall hikes in Washington.
- Drive from Seattle: 3 hours
Maple Pass
- Distance: 7.5 if you make the loop, but a lot of people go counter-clockwise and then come down the same way
- Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
- Popularity: More than you can imagine. Weekends here in the fall will see half a mile or more of road parking on both sides of the trailhead. Sunrise or sunset hikes will help you beat the crowds, or do it on a weekday. Then, push up to Wing Lake for more larches and solitude.
- Best Feature: Lake Ann is a stunning focal point at the bottom of the basin with towering peaks in the distance. Coupled with fall colors on the ground and larches spread out in the higher elevations, it’s simply perfect.
- Drive from Seattle: 3 hours
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Wing Lake
- Distance: 12 miles out and back if you don’t do the full loop around Lake Ann. Stay on the right side as you hike up to Heather Pass.
- Elevation Gain: 3,000 ish feet (up to Heather Pass, then down to Lewis Lake, then up to Wing Lake)
- Popularity: Not nearly as crowded as the above, but it’s gaining popularity with backpackers and day hikers. You have to cross a boulder field and then traverse a final 1.2-mile, 1,200-foot climb that takes it out of you.
- Best Feature: Mesmerizing larches and a beautiful lake with the touring Black Peak rising 2,000 feet above you.
- Drive from Seattle: 3 hours
Slate Peak Lookout
- Distance: Half mile
- Elevation Gain: 300 feet
- Popularity: Not too popular
- Best Feature: Larches on surrounding slopes but none directly around you
Drive from Seattle: 4 hours
Kangaroo Pass
- Distance: 7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet
- Popularity: Some, but it’s hidden and unmarked
- Best Feature: A ridiculous amount of larches and stunning mountain peaks. This is a small hidden gem on Highway 20.
- Drive from Seattle: 3.5 hours
Cutthroat Pass & Cutthroat Lake
- Distance: 10-13 miles round trip depending on approach (There’s the PCT approach and the Cutthroat Lake approach.)
- Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet via lake trail & 2,000 feet on PCT
- Popularity: Busy but nothing like a lot of the others.
- Best Feature: This prime larch spot will have stunning colors and blow your mind. I recommend coming up the Cutthroat Lake approach to be in the larches. The trail up is also quite mellow; you won’t notice as you crush miles.
- Drive from Seattle: 3.25 hours
Related: The best hikes in Mt. Rainier NP
Grasshopper Pass
- Distance: 9.5 miles round trip from Harts Pass
- Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet
- Popularity: Not too popular due to the difficult road up
- Best Feature: High level of larches and surrounding mountain peaks
Drive from Seattle: 4 hours
Blue Lake
- Distance: 4.5 round trip
- Elevation Gain: 925 feet
- Popularity: In autumn, this is one of the fall hikes in Washington that people go crazy for. The parking lot isn’t too large, which means people park upwards of a quarter mile or more from the trailhead to hike.
- Best Feature: Larches and a stunning blue lake
- Drive from Seattle: 3 hours
Goat Lookout
- Distance: 3.3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet
- Popularity: Mildly popular, but much less than surrounding areas
- Best Feature: Lots and lots of larches!
- Drive from Seattle: 4 hours
Copper Glance Lake
- Distance: 5.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet
- Popularity: Pretty mild.
- Best Feature: You’ll find tons of larches and see why this is one of the best fall hikes in Washington.
- Drive from Seattle: Almost 5 hours
Spectacular Fall hikes in Washington – Alpine Lakes Wilderness/Central Cascades
Lake Ingalls
- Distance: 10 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet
- Popularity: Very popular trail during fall colors
- Best Feature: Lots of larches, a stunning lake, and pretty peaks. I loved this hike even though I rushed through it due to darkness. If you want to be in the larches, take the lower trail. If you want to be above them for photos, stay high.
- Drive from Seattle: 2.5 hours
Related: Washington hikes you need to do
The Enchantments
- Distance: Approx 14 miles round trip. I recommend going through Colchcuk and up Aasgard Pass to find the larches.
- Elevation Gain: 4,400 feet
- Popularity: Incredible. I can’t understate how popular this is.
- Best Feature: Larches and the surrounding peaks make this, hands down, one of the best fall hikes in Washington.
- Drive from Seattle: 3 hours
Carne Mountain
- Distance: 8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,600
- Popularity: Not that popular, as it’s harder to reach.
- Best Feature: An incredible amount of larches and views. It’s one of the top larch hikes in Washington.
- Drive from Seattle: 3.5 hours with a long, somewhat rough dirt road
Fall hikes in Washington – Mount Rainier National Park
Skyline Loop Trail
- Distance: 6.5 miles. I recommend going counter-clockwise for a more gradual ascent and to ditch the crowds.
- Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet
- Popularity: Very popular. Make sure to arrive early to get a parking spot.
- Best Feature: Deep red bushes and other great colors
Drive from Seattle: 2.5 hours
Naches Peak Loop
- Distance: 3 miles.
- Elevation Gain: 600 feet
- Popularity: Very popular. Make sure to arrive early to get a parking spot.
- Best Feature: Deep red bushes and other fall colors
Drive from Seattle: 2.5 hours
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Washington Fall Hikes – Lake Chelan Area
While I firmly believe these are some of the best fall hikes in Washington, I haven’t done them. But I’m stoked to get out there. Almost all of these will be amazing larch hikes in Washington.
Eagle Lakes
- Distance: 11.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,500
- Popularity: Quite popular in for peak colors
- Best Feature: Larches everywhere around the lakes.
- Drive from Seattle: 4.5 hours
Cooney Lake
- Distance: Two routes: Longer, more gradual ascent is 18 miles round trip; Steeper but shorter is 15 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet or 3,800 feet
- Popularity: It’s going to be busy as one of the top larch hikes in Washington
- Best Feature: Larches surrounding Cooney Lake is an amazingly picturesque view.
- Drive from Seattle: 4:15 mins
Golden Lakes Loop
- Distance: 23 miles
- Elevation Gain: 5,200 feet
- Popularity: Crowded during peak fall colors
- Best Feature: This loop encompasses the above two hikes and makes it a pretty amazing two or three-day backpacking trip.
- Drive from Seattle: 4.5 hours
Crater Lakes Trail
- Distance: 9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
- Popularity: One of the less crowded larch hikes in the area, making this one of the best fall hikes in Washington
- Best Feature: Tons of larches encircling the lake
How to prepare for the best fall hikes in Washington
What To Wear Hiking The Best Trails In Washington
Below are some of my recommendations for gear as you tackle the best fall hikes in Washington. Weather can be wacky, so it’s best to come prepared.
- Wool base layer to keep you warm: Men’s and Women’s
- Nice comfy fleece as a mid-layer: Men’s and Women’s
- Down Jacket for extra warmth: Men’s and Women’s
- Comfy yet durable pants: Men’s and Women’s
- Rain jacket: Men’s and Women’s
- Beanie
- Sunglasses
- Wool Socks: Men’s and Women’s
- Sturdy Hiking Shoes: Men’s and Women’s
- Midsized hiking backpack: 20L, 25L, 30L
Advice for hiking in the fall
Fall in Washington can be a weird time. Some years, it’s very chilly, while others are warmer. However, warmer years usually mean wildfires will still be a factor when chasing fall colors in Washington.
So, as you’re planning your September/October hikes in Washington, remember to check local conditions as they may be very different from Seattle.
Furthermore, remember most of these trailheads are insanely busy on the weekends. Places like Maple Pass, which gets all the fanfare, will have cars lining the road for a half mile. If you can, hike on the weekdays or for sunset to avoid most of the crowds.
As for bug spray, most locations are not swarming with bugs this late in the year. However, it is still wise to bring it with you, especially if there is recent rain or stagnant water on the route.
Where to stay for your hiking adventures
This obviously depends on where you want to hike.
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Heading East for Larches:
- Leavenworth
- Lake Chelan
- Winthrop
- Mazama
- Twisp
Heading North toward Mt. Baker
- Bellingham
- Glacier
- Newhalem
- Marbelmount
Heading toward Mt. Rainier
- Ashford
- Tacoma
- Seattle
FAQ: Best Fall Hikes in Washington
Can you hike Mt. Rainier in October?
You most definitely can. Earlier in October is best for autumn colors, weather, and daylight. By the end of the month, your days are starting to get a lot shorter, the colors are nearly gone, and temperatures will be far colder (or even snowy).
Is Mt. Rainier busy in October?
In addition to the above, you’ll have busy weekends, but during the week, the crowds should be at a minimum. It’s not peak season.
What is the most difficult fall hike in Washington?
For a single-day hike, the hardest fall hike is the Enchantments thru-hike, which is about 20 miles. It’s a full-day hike, and because the days are shorter, you’ll start and end in the dark.
What are the fall colors in Olympic National Park?
Head into the rainforest to enjoy gorgeous yellow, red, and orange leaves. While most are used to the lush green, during autumn, these offer unique sights!
Wrapping Up – Top Fall Hikes in Washington
As my time in Washington grows, I can’t wait to knock out some of these further away hikes from Seattle. The ones over by Lake Chelan look incredible for both day hikes and backpacking trips and have tons of larch hikes.
Overall, this list will satisfy your cravings for the best fall hikes in Washington.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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