Fall Color at Rainier location

A friend of mine wants to fly into Seattle for us to do a fall color shoot, problem is, he has to do this before October 6th. When do the fall colors at Rainier typically peak? I'm hoping with all the rain from the summer that the colors are pretty good this year.

Also thinking of stomping around the Mt. Baker area. Besides Picture Lake at the end of September, any other suggestions? Kevin Pieper and I did Grasshopper Pass last October (middle of the month if I remember correctly). We both would like to go again around the same time.

Thanks,
Kosta

Rainier is usually good by the end of September, but different plants turn at different times. I've seen the Vine Maple go before the Huckleberry and Ash and vice versa. Either way, you'll get something during that time.

Bagley Lakes is a good area around Baker (no views of the mountain though), the Chain Lakes loop to a lesser extent. Theres one really great patch about 3 miles up the Wells Creek Road from Nooksack Falls that gets some really vivid orange tones.

Larches will usually be in prime form by the last week of September, if not sooner (if it stays cooler).

Bryan,

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

That really great patch you mention 3 miles up from Nooksack Falls, are there good views up there?

Thanks,
Kosta

Rainier: typically the first week of Oct for peak but this year, who knows?

Baker: the areas around Picture and Highwood Lakes for views of Shuksan, up on Kulshan Ridge for views of Baker.

Kosta, the two times I've shot larches, it looked like peak was around the first week of october. Certainly not enough data points to make a trend, but I wouldn't think it would vary too much from there. We were a week later last year, I think and they were still pretty good. Not sure about Rainier-I'm going to check it out again later this month.

Everyone,

I know this about peak color: peak color will be 2 days before or 2 days after I get there! So take that into account when making your own plans.

I think I'll just have to go up every weekend starting the end of September. Rough life.

Kosta, there aren't any really spectacular views from the road, but there is a view of Mount Baker in the area where the patch of good color is, and if you go to the end of the road (you'll need high clearance), you'll hit the Cougar Divide trail that will get you to meadows in about 2-3 miles of moderate hiking.

Bryan,

I'll have to figure out about clearance. I don't think my WRX qualifies

Thanks for the information! One last question. Do you mean at the end of road 3310? (I'm using your waterfall website as a guide)

Now if I can just get a light dusting of snow before I get out there....

Kosta

Its Road 33, not sure where 3310 goes (probably one of the old spurs up top), but the road ends at the trailhead. 33 is in good shape up to the bridge over Barr Creek, then you'll need the high clearance.

Thanks Bryan,

I'll have access to a 4x4 truck next weekend, so I think I'll take that up to an idea of the possibilities.

Thanks,
Kosta