Fall foliage in West Coast & Alaska
The Pacific states run one of the longest, most varied seasons anywhere, from Alaska's early-September birch and tundra color through the Cascades' larches and vine maples to California's Eastern Sierra aspen canyons.
71 hand-picked fall stops in West Coast & Alaska (leaves & views, farms & harvest, cider & donuts, Halloween haunts, towns & rides). Tap a 🍁 for its peak-color window, drag the date slider to watch the color arrive, or see every destination on the big map.
Washington
Peak ~October 16
Western larch turns whole North Cascades slopes gold along Washington Pass and the Methow Valley, while vine maple flares scarlet in lower Cascade foothills. Peak color typically arrives mid-to-late October across the mountains.
Oregon
Peak ~October 24
Bigleaf and vine maple flare red and gold through the Columbia River Gorge by mid-October, while aspen colors eastern Oregon's Wallowas and Steens Mountain a few weeks earlier. Both regions draw dedicated leaf-peeping drives.
California
Peak ~November 16
Eastern Sierra aspens turn gold along the June Lake Loop, Bishop Creek Canyon, and Lundy Canyon, often paired with turning black oak in the foothills. Peak color generally arrives in early-to-mid October at elevation.
Alaska
Peak ~September 2
Birch and aspen turn the Interior gold around Denali and Fairbanks with striking speed, often peaking in the first week of September, the earliest color of any US region tracked here.
Top fall stops in West Coast & Alaska
71 hand-picked places across 4 regions, by what you go for.
Leaves & views
- Washington Park ArboretumArboretum · Peak Oct 20
- Columbia River GorgeScenic drive · Peak Oct 26
- June Lake LoopScenic drive · Peak Sep 28
- Denali National ParkNational park · Peak Sep 3
- Kubota GardenGarden · Peak Oct 18
- Silver Falls State ParkState park · Peak Oct 26
- Bishop Creek CanyonScenic drive · Peak Oct 2
- Hatcher PassScenic drive · Peak Aug 31
- Green Lake ParkCity park · Peak Oct 20
- Portland Japanese GardenGarden · Peak Nov 2
- Yosemite ValleyNational park · Peak Sep 30
- Franklin FallsTrail · Typically Oct 1–Oct 20
- Lundy CanyonTrail · Peak Sep 23
- Mount Rainier, ParadiseNational park · Typically Sep 15–Oct 5
- The EnchantmentsTrail · Typically Sep 25–Oct 15
- North Cascades HighwayScenic drive · Peak Sep 17
- Tumwater CanyonScenic drive · Peak Sep 13
Farms & harvest
- Hood River Fruit LoopOrchard · Color peaks Oct 16
- Apple HillOrchard · Color peaks Nov 2
- Reindeer Farm Fall Family Fun EventPumpkin patch · Color peaks Sep 1
- Bauman's Farm & GardenFarm · Color peaks Nov 1
- Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin FestivalFall festival · Color peaks Nov 24
- Topaz FarmFarm · Color peaks Oct 31
- Napa Valley Wine TrainScenic railway · Color peaks Nov 21
- Smallwood's HarvestFarm · Color peaks Sep 16
- Bella Organic FarmCorn maze · Color peaks Oct 31
- The Pumpkin PatchPumpkin patch · Color peaks Oct 31
- Stocker FarmsCorn maze · Color peaks Oct 17
- Bob's Corn & Pumpkin FarmCorn maze · Color peaks Oct 18
Cider & donuts
Halloween
Towns & rides
- Alaska State FairFall festival · Color peaks Sep 1
- Pyrah's Pioneer Peak Farm Fall Harvest FestivalFall festival · Color peaks Sep 1
- Mount Angel OktoberfestFall festival · Color peaks Oct 31
- LeavenworthHistoric town · Color peaks Sep 14
- JulianHistoric town · Color peaks Nov 16
- Underwood Family Farms Fall Harvest FestivalFall festival · Color peaks Nov 26