Gold Creek Pond
Snoqualmie Pass, Washington · 2,536 ft
Typical peak
Sep 19 – Sep 27
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces NE (45°)
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.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Take I-90 exit 54 at Hyak, follow Gold Creek Road (Forest Road 4832) a mile north to the Gold Creek Pond picnic area, and walk the paved half-mile loop.
What turns here
- vine maple
- black cottonwood
- red alder
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 23Typical color progression for Gold Creek Pond. No change from Aug 16 to Sep 2. First color from Sep 2 to Sep 11. Approaching peak from Sep 11 to Sep 19. Peak from Sep 19 to Sep 27. Past peak from Sep 27 to Oct 7. Bare from Oct 7 to Oct 21.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 2.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 12
5 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
50°F / 36°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Gold Creek Pond on September 23, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:22 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 89° | 6:53 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 40 min of low, warm light | 7:34 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:57 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 40 min before sunset | 6:21 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 271° | 7:02 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:32 PM |
Times in America/Los Angeles · day length 12h 8m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sunrise: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Sunset: side-lit
Side light. Best for texture and depth across a ridge, and the safest bet for contrast.
Classic composition faces NE (45°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.