Golden larches in Washington: when they turn and where to go

Larches are conifers that lose their needles. In fall the needles turn gold first, and the color lasts a few weeks. Here is when that happens, which hikes to start with, and where to see one without leaving Seattle.

What a larch is

A larch is a pine-family tree that grows new needles in spring, turns them gold in fall and drops them for winter. Washington has two native kinds, and Washington Trails Association describes both.

Western larch grows up to 170 feet tall on north-facing slopes at 2,000 to 5,500 feet. Subalpine larch tops out around 70 feet and grows higher, at 5,800 to 7,500 feet, in cold, snowy spots on bedrock and talus. Both grow mainly on the east side of the Cascades. The high-elevation color is subalpine larch, which is why most of these trails are long and steep.

When they turn

WTA puts the gold in late September into early October, and says the color usually lasts only a few weeks. It varies by year and by elevation. Higher trees turn first and lower ones follow. Wind or early snow can end the season early.

Look at recent trip reports on the hike you pick before you drive. A report from the last two or three days tells you more than any calendar.

Hikes to start with

These are listed by WTA as larch hikes. Distances are round trip.

• Maple Pass loop, off Highway 20 at Rainy Pass. 7.2 miles, 2,020 feet of gain, highest point 6,650 feet. WTA describes lakes ringed with golden larches and names Black Peak and the Liberty Bell group in the view. WTA page.
• Easy Pass, Highway 20. 7.0 miles, 2,800 feet of gain.
• Tatie Peak and Grasshopper Pass, Pasayten. 9.4 miles, 1,200 feet of gain.
• Sullivan Lakeshore, Selkirk Range in the northeast corner of the state. 8.2 miles, 250 feet of gain. The least climbing of the four.
• Cutthroat Lake and Cutthroat Pass, Highway 20. WTA's larch feature lists both.

Source for the numbers: WTA fall color hikes. Maple Pass and the other Highway 20 trailheads need an America the Beautiful Pass or a Northwest Forest Pass. Maple Pass is best before the highway closes for the season.

Maple Pass is also the busiest of these. If the lot is full, the other Highway 20 trailheads are the same drive.

Other east-side larch hikes

WTA's feature also lists Carne Mountain near Stevens Pass, Tronsen Ridge near Blewett Pass, Esmeralda Basin and Lake Ann in the Teanaway, and Clara and Marion lakes near Wenatchee. Check each one's recent trip reports first.

A larch in Seattle

WTA lists larches in the Washington Park Arboretum, Ravenna Park and Woodland Park in Seattle, at Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island and at Silver Lake Park in Everett. These are planted trees, and they turn on their own schedule. If the pass is closed or the day is gray, they are an hour away at most.

The mountain behind the larches

Gold larches against a summit is the picture most people drive for. Cloud decides whether you get it. See where to see the mountains in October, and check the visibility forecast for the peak you are headed toward.