Washington's Glorious Fall Foliage Is A Sight To Behold At Olympic National Park

When it comes to the turning of the leaves in the U.S., New England is clearly the star of the show. Each year, millions of leaf-peepers flock to the country's northeast corner to marvel at the multichromatic splendor the region boasts in spades, which can best be taken in via this fall season road trip route.

That said, New England doesn't have a monopoly on vivid autumnal glory. Other parts of the nation — such as the Pacific Northwest — enjoy an impressive fall foliage season, including this stunning central Oregon destination for fun fall outdoor adventures. Neighboring Washington state also hosts spots worth checking out once the leaves start to do their thing, especially its Olympic National Park, which is home to rugged, unspoiled coastline, temperate rain forest, deep valleys, and soaring mountain ridges. 

While the park attracts the lion's share of its guests during the summer, a visit in the fall can be a deeply enriching experience. Not only will you witness the stunning landscape and wildlife that has made the Olympics one of the most popular draws in the national park system, but you're also sure to beat the summer crowds. This allows you to soak up the raw, mystical serenity that makes Olympic National Park such a unique and magical spot to begin with.

To experience the best of what the Olympic National Park offers up in the fall, head to one of its four temperate rainforests: the Queets, Quinault, Bogachiel, or Hoh — which is considered the quietest destination in America. These lush stands of moss-draped trees surround the glacial rivers on the park's wet west side, where they bear the brunt of rains blowing in from the Pacific. While majority of the trees are conifers such as Sitka spruce, Western hemlock and Douglas fir, the forests are also home to a large number of deciduous trees whose leaves turn fiery hues of golden, amber, and crimson once the thermometer begins to drop and the rain begins to fall.

All four rainforests can be accessed (at least to their edges) via road. However, for full effect, you may want to don your Gortex jacket, lace up your boots, and hit one of the forests' hiking paths. If you're lucky, you just may come across herds of elk whose haunting bugles reverberate through the lowlands in the fall. Just make sure to give them plenty of space, as they can become aggressive if you get too close. Also, keep your eyes open for other wildlife, including black-tailed deer, bobcats, coyotes, river otters, as well as cougars and black bears.

Fall is the beginning of the rainy season in the Olympics, and the rainforests are so named for good reason. The region can see 135 inches of rain a year, but one benefit to hiking in the deep rainforest is that the canopy acts as a kind of natural umbrella. This shields you from the worst of the downpours while you instead soak up a land of otherworldly green punctuated by the vivid turning leaves.

The rainforests aren't the only place to get up and personal with the fall foliage in the Olympic National Park. The reserve also boasts 73 miles of undeveloped coastline whose moody allure especially comes alive in the fall. While the deciduous trees may not be as numerous as in other parts of the park, there is still enough fall color sprinkled along the coast to act as a perfect backdrop as you wander the wide sands and watch storms roll in from offshore.

Other good spots to catch the turning of the colors include the Elwha River, which you can access on foot or two wheels (part of the road iss washed out, making it inaccessible to cars), gazing down at the blazing cottonwoods and willows lining its banks. Afterwards you can soak your weary bones in the Olympic Hot Springs — just a 1.5-mile hike from the end of the road. The park's iconic Lake Crescent also displays dazzling fall foliage, and if you're in the mood for a proper overnight trek, head up to the High Divide Trail. This challenging 20-mile loop takes you up onto some of the highest ridges in the Olympics, but rewards hikers with epic views of mountainside shrubbery so bright it lights up the slopes.

The Olympic National Park occupies 922,600 acres of the northwestern corner of Washington state. The beach town of Port Angeles acts as the park's perfect gateway and is just a two hours from Seattle, with plenty of restaurants and accommodations. The park itself is home to 15 developed campgrounds, along with over 1,000 undeveloped backcountry sites. The weather can be unpredictable in the Olympics, so make sure to check the forecasts and pack accordingly.