Fall Foliage

In the fall, the deep blue green evergreens provide striking contrast to sunset tones of the deciduous trees and vines.  Vine maples are showy from October through November, the rest of the hardwoods follow suit and turn quickly. The vibrant shades of orange of the Vine maples, and the golds and browns of Big Leaf maples also can be observed along Skate Creek Road (Forest Road 52), with bronze bracken fern and the scarlet leaves of the huckleberry bushes visible in the undergrowth. The loop drive from Highway 12 in Packwood, onto Forest Road 21 (unpaved but in good condition) to Forest Road 23 and back to Randle and SR12, follows the Cispus River valley and offers occasional views of Mt. Adams. Look for the yellow leaves of cottonwoods along the river corridors. On FR23, headed toward Mt. Adams, spot the fiery red foliage and oval leaves of the mountain ash in small patches in the drier areas.    Climb from 1,000 to 4,500 feet in 20 miles on Highway 12, from Packwood to White Pass. Note the effect of the change in elevation on the turning of the foliage. On the east side of White Pass, make time for viewing the Western larch (a.k.a. tamaracks) -- a deciduous evergreen whose needles turn a vivid yellow after the first frost and drop by late October -- and the light yellow canopies of black cottonwoods. A large grove of quaking aspen and oak trees can be seen from the south side of Rimrock Lake (take Tieton Road from Highway 12).

More Fall Foliage Information