Posted by Steve Luther on October 4, 2015 at 9:17 PM
Thought I would start a thread to discuss where the fall colors are and what you are seeing in your travels in the Pacific NW. I see this thread in some other forums and it's a good source of information and sharing. Post any photos you'd like.
Posted by Steve Kennedy on October 5, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Thanks for starting this thread Steve! This photo is from a week ago at Rainbow Lake, about 5 or 6 miles north of I90 in Snoqualmie Pass area. Leaves were starting their color dance in the mountains. This week is probably peak time for the pass.
Posted by Steve Luther on October 7, 2015 at 4:56 PM
Oregon: Fall colors are really popping around Mount Hood right now. Most of the meadows and ground cover are at peak and so are the vine maples. There are some sporadic larch trees starting to turn. Highway 35 from Governent Camp towards Parkdale has a lot of color. Trilium Lake which doesn't have a ton of decidious trees has some nice color on the trail around the lake. Also Highway 26 around Welches, Zigzag and Rhodedendron also has good color in the vine maples and bushes, at least along the highway. Unfortunately I don't have any photos that fit in the 1 MB limit for this forum or I'd share.
Posted by Steve Luther on October 9, 2015 at 10:45 PM
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon side, 10/9 - Took an out-of-town guest around the tour route on the historic highway from Corbett to Ainsworth and back, and it's a real mixed bag out there. Some of the trees are looking really good, better than I had expected given the drought, especially the cottonwoods alongside the road. Maples are 50/50 - I'd say about half or more are still green, another 25% are looking "OK" and the other quarter already dropped and showing the effects from the drought. Overall, probably another week or so before things start to peak, and it was looking better than what I expected, although it's going to be a down year I think overall compared to previous years.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on October 11, 2015 at 9:23 PM
If anyone is interested in venturing farther afield... on my way back from Yellowstone earlier this week I did the Steens Mountain loop and found that the aspen around Jackman Park are looking pretty good (although I wouldn't say great). Somewhat surprisingly to me, the cottonwoods around Frenchglen were still very green. As were the aspens at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. The rabbitbrush bloom, which adds some nice bright yellow to the otherwise somewhat drab sagebrush habitat of southeast Oregon, were mostly fading but there were a few nice clumps.
Posted by Steve Kennedy on October 12, 2015 at 7:55 PM
Thanks for the updates Steve and Greg!
I just got back from Trout Lake - in terms of fall color, nothing to write home about. Mediocre at best. Some trees are still green but a very large percent are brown.
Posted by Steve Luther on October 12, 2015 at 9:30 PM
Thanks for the updates, guys. I definitely need to get out to Steens one of these falls. I had considered it on way back from Utah a couple of weeks ago but didn't have the time. I read your blog Greg and appreciate the detailed information of the area and your great photo!
Posted by Dennis Plank on October 18, 2015 at 2:48 PM
Came back from the Olympic Peninsula Friday and the colors are starting to look pretty good at low elevations there.
Posted by Steve Luther on November 1, 2015 at 9:50 PM
So I've been out capturing fall colors in other parts of the U.S. including Tennessee and West Virginia (the Smokies were absolutely spectacular this year!) and just got back end of last week. Took a quick run up to Silver Falls State Park on Saturday and the color was pretty great for the most part, just going down to the main South Falls and stopping along the main road. Lots of golden yellow and the vine maples were really vibrant mostly. The falls I saw were all full again or almost there too. Won't last long that's for sure.
Posted by Steve Kennedy on November 3, 2015 at 2:07 PM
Steve, thanks for the update! It hasn't been a good fall for color where I'm at in the southeast Seattle metro area.
Posted by Steve Luther on November 9, 2015 at 12:18 AM
Columbia River Gorge Fall Color - I was out to the Oregon side on Friday and, much to my surprise, the color was pretty darn great! I guess all the rain we've had really brought the trees and forests back to life. Now is the time to see it, as it is mostly at peak. If you ever wanted that iconic shot of Multnomah Falls at peak color, it's there. I found great foliage on hikes to Elowah Falls, Wahclella Falls, and some of the Eagle Creek trail (the higher portions from around Metlako Falls - the lower portions from the trailhead were mostly past.)
Discussion
10 repliesThought I would start a thread to discuss where the fall colors are and what you are seeing in your travels in the Pacific NW. I see this thread in some other forums and it's a good source of information and sharing. Post any photos you'd like.
Thanks for starting this thread Steve! This photo is from a week ago at Rainbow Lake, about 5 or 6 miles north of I90 in Snoqualmie Pass area. Leaves were starting their color dance in the mountains. This week is probably peak time for the pass.
Oregon: Fall colors are really popping around Mount Hood right now. Most of the meadows and ground cover are at peak and so are the vine maples. There are some sporadic larch trees starting to turn. Highway 35 from Governent Camp towards Parkdale has a lot of color. Trilium Lake which doesn't have a ton of decidious trees has some nice color on the trail around the lake. Also Highway 26 around Welches, Zigzag and Rhodedendron also has good color in the vine maples and bushes, at least along the highway. Unfortunately I don't have any photos that fit in the 1 MB limit for this forum or I'd share.
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon side, 10/9 - Took an out-of-town guest around the tour route on the historic highway from Corbett to Ainsworth and back, and it's a real mixed bag out there. Some of the trees are looking really good, better than I had expected given the drought, especially the cottonwoods alongside the road. Maples are 50/50 - I'd say about half or more are still green, another 25% are looking "OK" and the other quarter already dropped and showing the effects from the drought. Overall, probably another week or so before things start to peak, and it was looking better than what I expected, although it's going to be a down year I think overall compared to previous years.
If anyone is interested in venturing farther afield... on my way back from Yellowstone earlier this week I did the Steens Mountain loop and found that the aspen around Jackman Park are looking pretty good (although I wouldn't say great). Somewhat surprisingly to me, the cottonwoods around Frenchglen were still very green. As were the aspens at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. The rabbitbrush bloom, which adds some nice bright yellow to the otherwise somewhat drab sagebrush habitat of southeast Oregon, were mostly fading but there were a few nice clumps.
A few more details, and a photo, in my blog post at http://www.wandersandwonders.com/2015/10/08/fall-color-on-steens-mountain/
Thanks for the updates Steve and Greg!
I just got back from Trout Lake - in terms of fall color, nothing to write home about. Mediocre at best. Some trees are still green but a very large percent are brown.
Thanks for the updates, guys. I definitely need to get out to Steens one of these falls. I had considered it on way back from Utah a couple of weeks ago but didn't have the time. I read your blog Greg and appreciate the detailed information of the area and your great photo!