Washington Park Arboretum
Arboretum · Washington
The 230-acre arboretum on Lake Washington runs vivid from mid-October into November, with Japanese maples along Azalea Way, the Pacific Connections gardens, and canoe-level color from the Foster Island waterside trail.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 11–October 15
Color builds from September 28 · mostly bare by November 2
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Washington Park Arboretum’s own coordinates and elevation (22 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Washington Park Arboretum on the map
More things to do in Washington
Kubota Garden
GardenPeak October 10
Fujitaro Kubota's 20-acre Japanese garden in Rainier Beach layers maples over ponds, bridges, and stonework. It's Seattle's most concentrated fall-color spot, usually peaking late October into mid-November, free, and quieter than it deserves.
Don’t miss: Heart Bridge · Mountainside maples
Green Lake Park
City parkPeak October 13
The city's favorite 2.8-mile loop rings Green Lake with sweetgums, maples, and cottonwoods that color through late October. It's an easy golden-hour walk, with the water doubling every tree on a still evening.
Don’t miss: The 2.8-mile loop
Franklin Falls
TrailTypically October 1–October 20
An easy two-mile round trip off Snoqualmie Pass through old-growth hemlock and cedar to a 70-foot waterfall, with vine maple burning red and gold through the understory in early-to-mid October.
Don’t miss: Vine maple understory · The falls amphitheater
Mount Rainier, Paradise
National parkTypically September 15–October 5
Paradise at 5,400 feet doesn't do tree color. It does tundra: huckleberry and mountain-ash meadows turn scarlet against Rainier's glaciers from mid-September to early October, some of the earliest fall color in the Lower 48.
Don’t miss: Skyline Trail meadows · Reflection Lakes
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Washington Park Arboretum peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 11–October 15 (best estimate October 13). Color starts around September 28 and is mostly bare by November 2.
- How do I get to Washington Park Arboretum?
- The closest city is Seattle, about 3 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Washington's fall lineup.
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