Top 10 Places To See Fall Colours on the Cascade Loop, Washington.
The thing that people love the most about the Cascade Loop is its diversity of views throughout the byway, and fall colours are no exception. The colours are wild and vibrant and showcase a range of colours and textures as you explore the route. Travel counter-clockwise for the best views and know that as always, Mother Nature sets the schedule for when and how the colours change. Typically however, travellers can expect peak colours from the last week of September through mid-October.
1. Sky Valley-Stevens Pass
Heading east over SR-2, follow alongside the wild Skykomish River as the Stevens Pass Greenway becomes the Stevens Pass “Gold Way”. Leaves blanket the edges of the roadway as they twirl down from the massive stands of amber and salmon-coloured leafy trees.
2. Lake Wenatchee Side Trip
Turn left onto SR 207 and drive toward and along the lake’s edge. The smallish roadway quickly becomes shrouded by brilliant stands of gold, coral and red.
3. Tumwater Canyon
Continuing past Cole’s Corner on Highway 2 as you approach the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth look for numerous pullout options to view brilliant red vine maples unique to the area along the Wenatchee River. Photos from this area are truly special if you can catch the reflection of the colours in the rushing waterway.
4. Icicle River Valley Side Trip
Before you head into Leavenworth proper, hang a right onto Icicle Road. Drive on past the residential area, past the Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort and wind your way through roadways lined with vine maple, aspen and all manner of deciduous trees that line the Icicle River.
5. Leavenworth Front Street
Leavenworth may be best known for its Bavarian theme, but the Fall colours here are equally spectacular and draw guests from throughout the globe.
6. Horan Nature Area-Wenatchee
Stop in Wenatchee’s Confluence State Park, display your Discover Pass, park and walk across the Wenatchee River Bridge to this wildlife-packed nature preserve. Enormous trees sport bright orange leaves and are home to all manner of bird and wildlife.
7. Lake Chelan Vineyards
The Lake Chelan Valley is known world-wide for its award-winning wine making. Those rolling hills blanketed in vineyards not surprisingly make a stunning appearance as their leaves dry and make the change from brilliant emerald to chartreuse to gold.
8. Patterson Lake/Winthrop
From SR-20, turn left onto Twin Lakes Rd and onto Patterson Lake Rd. Patterson Lake is located right off the roadway as you wind your way up Sun Mountain. The lake is enveloped in stands of shimmering golden quaking aspen, broad leafy groves in hues of rust and orange. Vermilion-hued bushes dot the neighboring sagebrush hillsides.
9. North Cascades/Blue Lake
Not all Fall colours are from leaves! Look for the highly sought-after Western Larch here. Just know that if you’re heading out during the Fall, weather in alpine areas where Larch will be found is pretty fickle—be sure to go prepared for changing weather. Snowfall in October is not uncommon here.
10. Heather Maple Pass Loop
This hike ties together pretty much every kind of Fall colour one could hope for on the Loop: brightly coloured shrubs, huckleberry bushes, Westerner Larch, maple, heather and swaying grasses. It’s a jaunt, but well-worth the effort!
