This Beginner-Friendly Hiking Trail In Washington Is Perfect For A Scenic Autumn Escape

Drive 1.5 hours from Seattle, and you'll arrive at the Sauk River, which winds its way through the backwoods of Washington State. The Sauk is about 40 miles in length, and feeds into the longer Skagit River. This is a landscape of mountains and evergreens, roiling waters and misty mornings. You can visit any time of year, but the region is especially beautiful in the fall. Many visitors delight in the quilt of coniferous nettles and blazing leaves; the moist atmosphere has left layers of moss on the rocks and branches. Out here, it's easy to imagine the pre-Columbian woods, long before roads, railroads, or pioneers. Near the waters of the Old Sauk is the Boulder River Wilderness, a verdant trove of old-growth forest.

This region can seem remoter than it is, and rookie hikers may feel out of their element in the imposing labyrinths of Douglas firs. Visitors often think of Washington State as an urban playground of coffee houses and concert venues, with the Space Needle jutting out of the skyline. These folks are often shocked to realize how large Washington is; the state is mostly undeveloped, a patchwork of mountains, timberland, and even deserts that stretch 360 miles from east to west.

How to enjoy this autumnal sanctuary? Take a walk on the Old Sauk River Trail. It's peaceful, beautiful, and easy on beginners. While it's not technically located in a national park, you could easily add this route to a list of scenic beginner hiking trails across America.

True to its name, the Old Sauk River Trail follows the banks of this riffled waterway; if you walk the whole way and back, you'll cover a respectable 6 miles. The trail is well marked and considered easy, though there are a few decent rises for a total elevation gain of 232 feet. What starts off as gravel eventually turns into a dirt path, about 3 feet in width. When the water is low, as it tends to be in the fall, clusters of smooth rocks emerge from the river. The forest floor is already dense with ferns and underbrush, and falling maple and huckleberry leaves add another layer of color and texture. Washington's glorious fall foliage is a sight to behold, and not just at famous locales like Olympic National Park. Hikers should budget two to three hours to walk the full out-and-back Old Sauk River Trail.

Summer visitors are welcome to wade out and cool off in the Sauk River, although the current can be strong, so swimmers should use caution; other sections of this river are used for whitewater rafting. The river will get too frigid in the fall for most people, so you'll probably decide to admire it from the land. This area also has an ADA loop, which is 1.6 miles and suited to wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Regardless of skill level, note that cell service can get patchy out here and GPS may not always work.

Getting to the trailhead is fairly easy: Drive State Route 530 northeast of Seattle until you reach the town of Darrington (pictured above), then follow the Mountain Loop Highway south along the Sauk River. Darrington is nestled in a spectacular alpine valley surrounded by jagged peaks. It's also a logical place to stay the night thanks to the Darrington Motor Inn, a smattering of rental properties, and a handful of campgrounds nearby. Darrington is pretty small, with a population of around 1,400, but you'll find a few places to grab a meal and maybe a beer when you return from your woodland excursion.

Another way to explore this district is by bicycle. The Whitehouse Bike Trail extends 27 miles through nearby forest, and it's based on a former railroad bed, so the topography is fairly level and straight. If you do try to ride this route, make sure to bring or rent a bike with decent tires; this isn't exactly mountain biking, but the way is fairly rugged. More experienced hikers can first warm up on the Old Sauk River Trail and then take on Whitehorse Mountain, a non-technical peak with a 7,000-foot prominence. Whitehorse is no walk in the park, but it's considered one of the most beautiful mountains in Washington State and can also be lovely to attempt in the fall. You can weave all these activities and so much more beautiful Pacific Northwest scenery into this must-do road trip.