North Cascades Highway
Scenic drive · Washington
Washington's alpine larches turn gold in early-to-mid October, and the pullout at Washington Pass Overlook on State Route 20 frames whole slopes of them beneath Liberty Bell Mountain. The highway closes at the first heavy snow, so the window is short.
Don’t miss
Peak: September 15–September 19
Color builds from August 29 · mostly bare by October 6
Sampled at North Cascades Highway’s own coordinates and elevation (1663 m) rather than a regional average.
34 weather points cover Washington, and the model shifts their answer 2 days earlier, which is what it takes to match 2 published peak dates from smokymountains.com, king5.com and 1 other source. This year's weather has the peak running 5 days later than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to North Cascades Highway
You get about 28 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly September 26. The elevation is 5,456 ft, which pulls the turn earlier.
North Cascades Highway on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Washington, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does North Cascades Highway peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for September 15–September 19 (best estimate September 17). Color starts around August 29 and is mostly bare by October 6.
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