Fall Color?

Toying with the idea of heading out to the PNW during the second week in October, once leaves drop here in Vermont. I'll probably fly into Seattle and am wondering what the color is normally like around Rainier and/or the Olympic Penn that time of year. Is that too late for color in Mt Rainier Nat. Park and Cascades? When do things peak out in the rainforest. Any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kurt

The mountains usually peak for color around the end of September. So far September has been pretty chilly too, so I expect it to be an earlier peak in the high country this year. You might be too late by the middle of October. The Larches may be in good shape then, however, because they've shown no signs of turning yet. I've seen Vine Maple, Huckleberry and Mountain Ash all turning already so its coming pretty fast.

The Columbia Gorge and areas at lower elevations in the Olympics, however, ought to be good in mid October.

Thanks Bryan.

This has been a strange flower year, and so fall color may be different too. The flowers were several weeks or more behind, so you might still catch some color up there. If not, as Bryan notes, consider the Gorge, the Trout Lake area, and The Klickitat River area.