11 Best Fall Hikes In Washington State + Things to Consider

I feel like fall is vastly underrated in Washington State. Most people travel to the East Coast to experience fall colors during this time of year. 

But Washington State has some pretty fantastic autumn foliage filled with larches and red blueberry bushes. Larches resemble evergreen trees but turn a bright yellow color around September and the beginning of October. 

Below, I list some of the best fall hikes in Washington State, filled with outstanding hues of red, yellow, pink, and orange. After exploring the Evergreen State for a few years, I am ready to share my favorite fall hikes with you.

So, if you’re ready for some unimaginable fall hiking, it’s time to get stuck in!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you. 

Great Washington Fall Hikes Map

What To Wear Hiking The Best Trails In Washington

• Sunscreen: Super important and part of the ten essentials!  >Buy Sunscreen
• Chapstick: This one has SPF, so your lips won’t get burned! >Check Out This Chapstick
• Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes by hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times before). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
• Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps you prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. >Buy Hiking Socks
• Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent me from getting dehydrated while hiking. The great thing about this reservoir is that it doesn’t have a plastic taste. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
• Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
• Sunglasses: It can get sunny even in the fall, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
• Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, and energy bars. >>>Check Out These Bars
• Camera: he Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people who want to improve their travel photography skills.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
• First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
• Day Pack to carry all your things: To carry all your gear, water, and food, you need a good backpack. Osprey is known to have some of the best backpacks on the market. >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
• Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get stranded in the dark! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now
• Leggings or Hiking Pants: I always wear leggings while hiking as they’re what I feel most comfortable with! >Click For My Favorite Hiking Leggings
• Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
• Mid Base Layer:This is a super warm sweater, plus I think it’s so cute! >Check Out My Sweater Here
• Sports Bra: For women. >Check This One Here
• Jacket: I always have a jacket in my backpack, even if it is hot. I do it just in case of an emergency.  >Buy My Favorite Jacket
• Rain Jacket: The worst feeling in the world is being wet and cold while hiking. You can get hypothermia, so always carry a poncho or a rain jacket when you hike in Washington. >Check Out My Rain Jacket Here
• Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
• Knife: I always carry a knife in my backpack, just in case. >Check Out My Knife Here

11 Best Fall Hikes In Washington State

From Mount Rainier to the North Cascades, it’s time to explore the most scenic Washington fall hikes on offer.

Maple Pass

• Distance: 7.4 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,191 ft.
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Larches
• Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (North Cascades)

One of the most popular fall hikes on this list is the iconic Maple Pass. This trail is fantastic! It does get pretty popular, so it’s one of the great sunrise or sunset hikes to join to avoid the crowds. I got there before sunset and had no problem finding a parking spot during peak Larch season.

It’s popular thanks to its abundance of yellow-tinted larches throughout the trek. Combine them with the vast, enormous peaks of mountains that seem to go on forever, and you have yourself a fantastic October hike. 

I recommend hiking this counter-clockwise as I feel like the views get better and better after every mile. You’ll want to take your time hiking this trail, as you’ll probably stop every 5 minutes to take a photo. In my humble opinion, it’s the best fall hike in Washington.

Skyline Trail Loop

• Distance: 6.2 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,788 ft.
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Red Bushes
• Location: Mount Rainier National Park

The most popular trail at Mount Rainier is the Skyline Trail, and it’s for a good reason! The views are outstanding here, and the parking lot is pretty large, so parking should not be a problem. 

You also don’t need to hike the whole trail to enjoy it. The views are spectacular everywhere. When I took these fall pictures, I only walked part of it because I’ve hiked this trail many times before. 

Peak season is the beginning of October, so if you see a beautiful sunny day, make your way here because it is filled with red, yellow, and orange bushes.

Yellow Aster Butte

• Distance: 8.5 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,791 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Red Bushes
• Location: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (North Cascades)

I have dreamed of hiking this trail for years! It is located in the Mount Baker area (the most beautiful area in the state, in my opinion), and it is well known for having some of the best fall foliage in Washington State. The blueberry bushes turn bright red and orange, and the whole area is littered with these beautiful colors. 

I will warn you that it is so steep at the end! We struggled to get to the peak but trust me, the views of the top are so worth it, especially on a sunny day. Fall in Washington State is so underrated!

Lake Ingalls

• Distance: 8.4 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,939 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Larches
• Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (North Cascades)

Another popular larch hike is Lake Ingalls. This trail is stellar and is located on the eastern side of Washington, so bring a ton of water and sunscreen. It can get hot! The main viewpoint of this trail is, of course, the lake, but right before the lake is a stunning array of larches. You can even camp/backpack right next to them!

Cutthroat Pass

• Distance: 10.0 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,024 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Larches and Red Bushes
• Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (North Cascades)

This fall hike is vastly underrated!!! Most people flood to Maple Pass Loop, which is located across the street from this trail, but this one is still breathtaking. The mountains are not as prominent as Maple Pass, but Cutthroat does seem to have more fall colors. 

It is littered with Larches! I couldn’t believe how many there were. There are also splashes of red and orange bushes throughout the trail. The viewpoint is outstanding at the end, but if you are looking for fall foliage, the best parts are while hiking (not at the peak), so keep your phone and camera out!

Blue Lake

• Distance: 4.6 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 921 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Larches
• Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (North Cascades)

Blue Lake is perfect if you are visiting North Cascades National Park and you don’t want to do a trail that is too difficult (most are difficult in the park). It is one of the few trails with a lake that features the famous larches. It is perfect for a beautiful crisp fall day.

Hannegan Pass

• Distance: 10.4 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 3100 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Red Bushes
• Location: Mount Baker Wilderness (North Cascades)

Another fantastic Mount Baker trail! At the summit, enjoy 360-degree views of Goat Mountain, the High Divide, the Nooksack Ridge, Copper Ridge, Mount Redoubt in the distance, Mount Baker and Ruth Mountain, Mount Shuksan, and the East Nooksack Glacier. 

Fall colors are usually pretty vibrant around the end of September and the beginning of October. Just watch out for snow! This area is one of the snowiest spots in the United States, so you can expect winter to start pretty early here!

Spray Park

• Distance: 6.9 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,198 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Red Bushes
• Location: Mount Rainier National Park

Spray Park is my new favorite hike at Mount Rainier National Park. The beautiful red bushes scattered all around the meadow with Mount Rainier in the distance are truly magical. 

There is also a fantastic waterfall on this trail (probably my new favorite waterfall in Washington), called Spray Falls, and it is so stunning! The road is a little bad to get here, so make sure you have a good car with clearance.

Mount McCausland

• Distance: 6.3 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,758 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Red Bushes
• Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (North Cascades)

This trail is steep! But it is one of the best fall hikes in Washington State! If you get to the peak, there are fantastic views of Lake Valhalla and Lichtenberg Mountain with red and orange bushes. 

It is one of my favorite hikes in central Washington, and I am so happy I stumbled upon this trail. You can also add in Lake Valhalla trail at the end, but it will add some mileage to the day.

Naches Peak Loop

• Distance: 3.2 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 600 ft.
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Red Bushes
• Location: Mount Rainier National Park

Naches Peak Loop Trail is a fantastic route to do with the whole family. I took my mother-in-law to this trail while she was visiting, and she absolutely loved it! 

It is extremely popular in the summer when the wildflowers are out, but in the fall, a whole new array of colors comes out. It is a popular trail, so get there early. Also, make sure you hike it clockwise as it has better views this way.

Oxbow Loop Trail

• Distance: 1.3 miles, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 72 ft.
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link
• Best For: Kid-friendly, late October fall colors
• Location: Oxbow Regional Park (near North Bend, Washington)

Oxbow Loop Trail is a wonderful fall hike to enjoy towards the end of October, especially if you’re hiking with kids. This easy loop meanders through a lush forest and offers stunning fall foliage as the leaves change color. The low elevation gain makes it accessible for all ages, and the peaceful setting near the Snoqualmie River is perfect for a relaxed, scenic outing. It’s an ideal family-friendly hike to embrace the beauty of autumn in Washington.

FAQs About the Best Fall Color Hikes in Washington

Before sending you on your way, here are a couple of questions and answers to consider for the best fall hiking experience. 

Do I Need a Permit to Hike in Washington?

You’ll need to get a Northwest Forest Pass in order to visit the national parks of Washington — which you can get from the US Forest Service website. Alternatively, you can gain access to all these stunning autumn hikes with the America the Beautiful Pass. 

What Is the Best Month to Go Fall Hiking in Washington?

Arguably, late September to mid-October is the best hiking season for admiring vibrant larch trees and idyllic fall colors.

What Are the Best Fall Hikes Near Seattle?

Aside from my favorite trails mentioned above, here are a few more routes to consider close to Seattle: 

• Upper Eagle Lake Trail — Hard 11-mile trek in the North Cascades. >Trail Guide
• Mount Storm King — Hard 4.1-mile hike in Olympic National Park. >Trail Guide
• Twin Falls Trail — Moderate 2.4-mile trek in Olallie State Park. >Trail Guide

How Well Maintained Are Washington Trails?

Fortunately, the Washington Trails Association — a nonprofit organization — helps keep the state’s hiking trails and paths in tip-top shape.

Final Thoughts On Best Fall Hikes Washington

Thanks for reading all about the best fall foliage hikes near Seattle! Make sure to check out some other great posts on fall and Washington:

• What To Wear Hiking In Fall
• Where To Find Fall Colors Near Mammoth Lakes
• 13 Best National Parks To Visit In The Fall
• The Mighty 5 Utah: Utah National Parks Road Trip
• The Ultimate Arizona Road Trip Itinerary
• Best Waterfall Hikes In Washington

Pin For Later: Best Fall Hikes Near Seattle