Where to "Larch March" this Fall

Editor's note: After viewing a segment on CBS "Sunday Morning" earlier today about Washington State's remarkable "Larch Madness," I was reminded of an article provided by Washington State Parks and Recreation on the same topic. View the CBS segment via a link at the end of this article, but first, enjoy this piece courtesy of Washington Parks:

The northeastern United States gets a lot of love when it comes to fall colors, but we proudly hold our own here in Washington state. The Pacific Northwest is known for dramatic seasonal shifts, and many locals say autumn is the most wonderful time of the year. 

Fall in Washington can come and go before you know it. There are a few weeks left to enjoy it, so get out there with this handy guide!

Larch Madness

The Enchantments thru-hike is a classic larch march. At 19 miles and 5,000 feet of hard-scrabble elevation gain, you’ll want a comfy campsite at Lake Wenatchee or Wenatchee Confluence before and after this feat!  

 

Maybe you’ve heard of larches, and maybe you haven't. (Spoiler alert: they are not a type of bird.) Unique to the Northwest (particularly to central Washington), these deciduous conifers turn greenish gold, then bright orange, then burnt orange – almost pink – in September and October. The trees then drop their needles for winter.

Maybe you’re hoping to walk among these golden beauties, but you’ve heard they can only be reached by monster hikes - like the Enchantments.

Not true! You don't have to be an extreme recreationist to see these fall colors.

Central Washington has larch hikes of all sizes. And while you’ll have many lodging options, we (of course) recommend camping at one of our spectacular state parks.

Check out our recommendations for looking at lovely larch landscapes:

Please note, the hikes mentioned here sit on lands that are not owned or managed by State Parks. So, for your own safety and enjoyment, make sure to plan in advance, research trail rules and pass requirements, conditions, gear needed and Leave No Trace principles!

• Sawtooth Lakes(Upper Eagle Lake or Horsehead Pass – moderate/strenuous)
  • Camp at Alta Lake State Park, which has amazing fall colors of its own.
• Larch Lake, Lake Julius/Lake Ethel, or Carne Mountain(Strenuous)
  • Camp at Lake Wenatchee State Park, and don’t miss the colors on the park’s north side.
• Heather/Maple Pass Loop or Rainy Pass to Cutthroat Pass(moderate)
  • Camp at Pearrygin Lake State Park, and make sure to hit the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery in Twisp, or the Mazama Store, made famous by PCT thru-hikers, for your pre-hiking snacks!
• Swauk Discovery Trail (easy), Tronsen Ridge/Blewett Pass (easy to moderate), Lake Ingalls(strenuous)
  • Camp at Lake Easton State Park, enjoy fall colors on the Palouse to Cascades Trail and stop for a meal in Roslyn of Northern Exposure fame.
• Lake Clara(easy to moderate)
  • Camp at Wenatchee Confluence, Daroga or Lincoln Rock State Park.

Find spectacular fall colors at these state parks, where you can stay in a campground, cabin or yurt:

• Wallace Falls State Park – Walk up the three-tiered Wallace Falls for dramatic season change!
• Beacon Rock State Park – Our staff recommends the park’s equestrian trails for the best fall foliage.
• Seaquest State Park – Our customer service crew loves the interpretive walk from the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center across the street from Seaquest for changing colors!

Photo courtesy of Washington State Parks and Recreation

 

October is our favorite color, and it won’t last long. Try to get out and experience it while you can.

But no worries if you can’t make it this year! The great thing about seasons is they’re annual, so autumn will come around again next year.

To view the SUNDAY MORNING segment from CBS, click the following link. I found it to be an enjoyable 4 and a half minutes: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/fall-foliage-season-time-for-larch-madness/

This article was originally published October 17, 2023 by Washington State Parks Blog