Washington Fall Foliage 2026
Western larch in the North Cascades turns gold from late September through mid-October, with the best shows typically along Highway 20 and the Enchantments. Vine maple and bigleaf maple color the western slopes and Puget Sound lowlands from late September into early November. The state's fall season runs longer than most, with high country accessible before snow closes the passes.
When Washington peaks
Sep 13 – Sep 21
Centered on Sep 17. Larch peaks in the second half of October; the Puget Sound lowlands in early November.
low confidence. Long range. Treat as a planning estimate only.
Where peak usually lands. Drought or an early freeze moves it by a few days. Method
What turns here
- western larch
- vine maple
- bigleaf maple
- quaking aspen
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 17Typical color progression for Washington. No change from Aug 10 to Aug 27. First color from Aug 27 to Sep 5. Approaching peak from Sep 5 to Sep 13. Peak from Sep 13 to Sep 21. Past peak from Sep 21 to Oct 1. Bare from Oct 1 to Oct 15.
Color starts around Aug 27.
Peak by elevation
16 days between the ridges and the valleys. County maps average this away, which is how you miss peak at the right place.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 6,500 ft | Sep 8 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 4,000 ft | Sep 17 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 2,000 ft | Sep 24 | No change |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Light at peak
Washington on September 17, the day it typically peaks. Knowing when color arrives is one thing. Knowing where the sun will be is another.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:11 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 86° | 6:42 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 41 min of low, warm light | 7:23 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:57 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 41 min before sunset | 6:31 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 274° | 7:11 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:42 PM |
Times in America/Los Angeles · day length 12h 29m · computed from NOAA solar equations
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of those and the canopy glows translucent. Turn your back to them for flat, accurate color.
Location pages name the light directly.
Where to shoot in Washington
4 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Carne Mountain No change
Entiat Mountains · 7,085 ft · peaks Sep 5
The last mile climbs into a basin of subalpine larch around 6,100 feet, then opens on the ridge to Glacier Peak, Mount Maude, and Seven Fingered Jack. The 3,600 feet of gain keeps the crowd far thinner than the roadside larch hikes on Highway 20.
- Blue Lake (Washington Pass) No change
North Cascades Highway · 6,254 ft · peaks Sep 7
Subalpine larch ring the basin below Liberty Bell Mountain and the Early Winters Spires, which rise straight out of the far shore to the northeast. The larch here go gold in the first half of October, two to three weeks ahead of the western larch down at valley level.
- Gold Creek Pond No change
Snoqualmie Pass · 2,536 ft · peaks Sep 23
Vine maple turn scarlet around a paved loop that circles the pond, with the Gold Creek valley and the Chikamin ridgeline lined up to the northeast. Cold mornings put mist on the water, and the shoreline is a five-minute walk from the car.
- Tumwater Canyon No change
Central Cascades · 1,488 ft · peaks Sep 26
US-2 runs ten miles through a granite canyon where vine maple and bigleaf maple fill the slope above the Wenatchee River. Flat light beats sun here because the canyon walls throw hard shadows across the water most of the day.
Recent reports from Washington
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Washington?
- Washington typically peaks Sep 13 – Sep 21, centered on Sep 17. Larch peaks in the second half of October; the Puget Sound lowlands in early November. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model, not a live reading of this year's canopy.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Washington?
- Yes, by about 16 days. High ground around 6,500 ft peaks near Sep 8, while valleys near 2,000 ft wait until Sep 24. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb, so if you miss it low you can often drive up and find it.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Washington?
- We track 4 verified locations in Washington, including Carne Mountain, Blue Lake (Washington Pass), Gold Creek Pond. Carne Mountain turns first, around Sep 5, and Tumwater Canyon is last, around Sep 26. Each has real coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Washington?
- Mainly western larch, vine maple, bigleaf maple, quaking aspen. Yellows and oranges come from carotenoids that are already in the leaf, so they show up every year. Reds are made fresh each autumn and need warm sunny days with cool, frost-free nights, which is why a dry summer or a warm September produces a duller year.