Fall is one of my favorite seasons of the year (tied with summer) and our trails truly turn magical this time of year. We are blessed to have some of the most colorful hikes in the U.S.A and the weather is also perfect in early fall (and there are less bugs!). Unfortunately my outdoor fall adventures this year weren’t as plentiful because I was out of the country for October and I also always tend to get very sick during this time of year. That being said I still was able to get a few beautiful hikes in so I hope you enjoy another yearly seasonal recap of my favorite adventures! Be sure to check out my other hiking recaps under Categories; Hiking if you’re looking for more inspiration and ideas in the Pacific Northwest!
(*Disclaimer: I want my opinions and photos to inspire you but please still do thorough research on your own before heading out to the trails. Most of my fellow Washingtonians know this website but for anyone who doesn’t and those who are not from Washington and are visiting the area, I highly encourage you to look up all of these hikes on the Washington Trails Association website or All Trails and always try to read several of the most recent trip reports you can find to get a feel of the most current conditions! Also remember to practice Leave No Trace principles! *)
Silver Falls Loop
This is a great hike for beginners, families, and those wanting to stretch their legs during the cold rainy months in Washington. The trail is easy and short with great pay-off which means it’s a very popular summer hike. If you go in late fall like we did you’ll be blessed with no crowds and get to experience the iconic wet lush green forests that Washington is known for. The waterfall is quite large and there are other little trails in the area that you can combine to make the trail even longer (i.e. Eastside trail and Grove of the Patriarchs Loop). You’ll also get great views of the Ohanapecosh River which has a stunning shade of incredibly clear blue water and I’d highly recommend coming back here in the summer to swim at the Blue Hole! The parking lot is also within a campground area and we only saw 2 people camping during this time of year so this would also be a great place if you’re seeking some camping solitude with amenities. The flushable bathrooms were still open when we went in October. Also it’s important to note that Cayuse Pass closes in early winter so try to get to this hike in October/November before the snow comes and the roads close! A National Park Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is required.
Hurricane Ridge/Hurricane Hill
I’ve mentioned this area a couple times in past hiking recaps but that just goes to show it’s a great place to explore in all seasons! Each season brings something different whether it be snow capped mountains and ridge lines or endless views of lush green hilly terrain. Fall can be a toss-up with weather but that’s what makes it a great time of year to visit! We went here in early November hoping to beat the rain that was forecasted for most of Western of Washington. As we drove to Hurricane Ridge it was rainy, cloudy, and foggy, however as we kept winding up the long road the rain stopped and the views became clearer. Once we hopped on the Hurricane Hill trail and kept climbing up, we were soon above the clouds and were blessed with warm sunshine. We even had to shed off a couple of layers because of how hot it got! The cloud inversions also made for some pretty cool photos! The added bonus was that there was hardly anyone else around! In the summertime and after heavy snow falls you can guarantee running into some crowds on trail and around the Visitor Center but not on a cold random fall day in November! You will need a National Park Day Pass or America the Beautiful Pass to park here.
Suntop Lookout
Washington has a variety of awesome fire lookouts that you can hike to and even sleep in if you’re lucky with timing! This is a very popular lookout because it is super easy to get to. Most days you can drive right up to the lookout if the gate is open but even if the gate is closed it’s just a short 2.1 mile round trip hike to the lookout and back to your car. You can also make the hike into a longer 16-mile adventure utilizing trail directions on the WTA website. The Suntop Lookout is best on a clear day where you can get a great view of Mt. Rainier and the surrounding forest. I’ll admit that it’s not my favorite lookout hike and I’ve definitely been to cooler ones with even better views but you really can’t beat the pay-off of this trail for how easy it is! In fall and early winter you might even get to enjoy some snow during your hike! We also got to enjoy it all to ourselves that morning. A Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass, or day fee is required here. There is a bathroom here as well although I’m not sure if it’s usually locked in fall and winter months. When we went the bathroom was open and well maintained!
Naches Peak Loop/Tipsoo Lake
We actually did not complete this trail and just opted to walk around Tipsoo Lake and enjoy the recent snowfall. We combined this with our trip to Suntop Lookout listed above which is approximately 30-40 minutes away. We intend to do this short and popular trail in the summer when views of Mt. Rainier combined with Tipsoo Lake are more likely, however this is a great hike in the fall as well. In early fall there is an abundance of vibrant fall colors while late fall usually brings a healthy dusting of snow. This is a great hike for families and hikers of all levels and it is also a popular spot for photography, particularly engagement and family photos. This trail is usually accessible until late fall but once the snow really gets heavy this portion of HWY 410 closes. A Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is needed.
Alvord Desert Adventure
This was hands down my favorite fall adventure of 2019! I had been wanting to visit the Alvord Desert in Southeastern Oregon for a very long time and we finally made it happen! If you’re seeking solitude and epic unique landscapes then this is the perfect location to escape to. The Alvord Desert was once a large lake and is now a very dry flat playa with the Steens Mountain range as its backdrop. I saw so many amazing photos of this place and it reminded me of the salt flats in Bolivia. The stargazing in this area is also incredible and the hiking trails are very unique. This area doesn’t get much rain but the most likely chances you’ll encounter rain/wet conditions would be in the late fall, winter, or spring (I’ll get back to this in a bit). There are also 2 hot springs in this area that you can soak at as well as other small hot springs you can visit that are not soakable. Please remember to practice hot springs etiquette and leave no trace principles if you do visit any in the area. You can find hot springs info and coordinates in Oregon by visiting the Soak Oregon or Oregon Discovery websites. I personally really enjoyed the Willow Creek Hot Springs for total privacy, especially in the fall and winter time. Access can be muddy and sketchy in the late fall and winter though so be careful since getting stuck is more likely.
The hot spring that most people go to is the Alvord Hot Springs which I highly recommend because you can control the heat of the water and it stays super hot and toasty during your whole soak! The springs are more on the rustic side with two different pools to enjoy. They also offer camping sites and little metal containers with heating units and cots to sleep in as well. There is also a flushing toilet onsite, camp fire rings, and you can access the playa through their well maintained access road. If you pay to camp here the fee allows you to have an unlimited amount of soaking time in the hot springs at any hour. You also get free access to the playa. If you just want to soak in the springs the daily fee is $8 per person and I believe there are posted hours for access. Access road to the playa can also be purchased individually for $5 per vehicle per day. Here is their website for more information below:
It’s best to visit the Alvord Desert in the summer and early fall when rain is scarce and the playa is guaranteed to be dry so that you can camp on it. We visited the desert during Thanksgiving weekend because it’s about a 9 hour drive from our home so the long holiday weekend made the drive worth the time. We had been keeping up with the weather and social media photos and the weather was still dry and clear with some snow fall on the Steens which made for a very gorgeous backdrop. We were so excited to go and camp on the playa…but of course the weather took a turn for the worst during Thanksgiving week. This was the week a pretty gnarly snow storm hit Oregon and California! We were so bummed since just the week before it was dry and clear! We decided to push on anyways but the snow did turn our 9 hour drive into a 13 hour one! We didn’t get to camp on the playa due to the snow fall. Snow and rain will make the playa incredibly muddy and your car will most likely get stuck out there so it’s not advised. The manager at the Alvord Hot Springs informed us he already had to call a tow for someone that day and it was very expensive.
We decided to camp at the Alvord Hotsprings that night. It was actually still very private because we chose a camping site in the back against the playa and there were only 3 other small camping groups who all camped way up front near the office and bathroom. We also got to soak at the hot springs for a long time surrounded by beautiful snow during golden hour. It made the hot springs that much more enjoyable and incredibly peaceful! It was a very cold night though in our tent and super windy so if you do end up at the desert when it’s snowing I would recommend one of their metal containers instead which had heat. Even though our adventure didn’t go quite as planned it was still fun to walk down to the playa and see it covered in snow as well as drive around the surrounding area to see all the landscapes, abandoned stone houses, and roads covered in snow. It was absolutely gorgeous but also very eerie. The golden pink desert sunsets were also spectacular and not to be missed.
If you’re fortunate enough to come during good weather, camping on the playa is free although some of the surrounding land is privately owned. I did see on some blogs online that there are some free access roads that you can use to get to the playa but they are not always in the best condition or can be hard to find. There is a “Frogs Hot Springs” sign you’ll pass just a mile or two before the Alvord Hot Springs and I believe that access is free. It was a little steep though and with the snow and ice we opted out. The easiest way to access the playa is using the private access road at the Alvord Desert Hotsprings. There are also some BLM campgrounds in the area that you can utilize as well (the Willow Creek Hot Springs has a few BLM campsites near it). Don’t forget to pack out all your trash! Also, I don’t think you are allowed to burn on the playa so keep this in mind when it comes to cooking. Be sure to fill up your gas at the Fields Gas Station or in Burns depending which direction you are coming from. These will be the last stations you pass before entering the desert.
We definitely plan to go back this summer and camp on the playa ASAP as well as do all the hiking we had planned. I even found some lesser known gems about an hour and a half away from the desert so I’m very excited to explore again soon! Although it didn’t go according to plan, I’ll never forget our epic snow filled desert adventure and if you’re looking for something completely different I’d definitely recommend coming here in the fall and winter too. Just pay attention to the weather forecast. Driving in the snow and ice was fine enough but I don’t think I’d recommend it if it has been recently raining since the gravel road and other side roads could get pretty muddy.
**I know this Alvord Desert description was long but I felt all the information was necessary. Once we return to this area in the summer I’ll be doing a separate blog post on this area with information on summer and fall/winter conditions, updated photos, and also a lot of information on hiking trails and other gems in the area within 1-3 hours driving distance of the desert**
Staircase Rapids
(Technically we did this one in the winter but it was just a few days after the first “official” day of winter and is great in all seasons so I’m counting it in!)
Expect to see this trail again in my winter hiking recap in the next few months but I thought it would be great to add this one in since it’s a perfect all seasons hike. This trail is great for beginners, families, and anyone wanting to get out and stretch their legs amongst fantastic scenery in the low season. The trail is a nice walk through the forest where you’ll encounter large mossy green trees and beautiful views of the Skokomish River. There’s also a pretty cool bridge on this trail where you can take some cool photos and enjoy the beautiful blue tones of the river below. You can extend your hike by continuing on the Four Stream trail or finish the loop around back to the parking lot. There are plenty of other little trails in this area within walking and driving distance as well so you can definitely make a day out of this adventure if you choose to. Lake Cushman is also nearby and there is a nice camping ground in this area. A National Park Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is needed for this area. There are also bathrooms here and they are usually open throughout the year.
Skyline Trail Loop
This trail was featured on my summer 2019 recap however we did this hike just a couple days before the first “official” day of fall and there was plenty of fall color on this trail so I’m adding it into this recap as well! This is a very popular loop trail in the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier National Park and for good reason. The trail is very well maintained and has amazing views and changing scenery throughout. Of course you are also spoiled with wonderful views of Mt. Rainier throughout most of the trail. In the summertime the trail is bursting with wildflowers but since we went at the end of September the meadows were just starting to change colors and it was a delightful mix of summer meets fall. I would rate the trail difficulty as moderate and it does have a steady climb up. Also, if you’re looking for solitude then this isn’t the trail for you but to me it was definitely worth dealing with the crowds because every single step on the trail was filled with so much beauty. We started really early which helped us avoid the worst of the crowds and we were blessed with a very sunny and super clear day. A lot of people end up turning back around at Panorama Point but I highly recommend completing the whole loop if you can! Total mileage is approximately 5.5 miles round trip. A National Park Pass, America the Beautiful Pass, or paying the day fee is required.
Bench and Snow Lakes
This trail was also featured in my summer 2019 hiking recap like the one above but again same circumstances apply! This is a short hike that we added on to our day after we completed the Skyline Trail Loop. Much to our surprise it was actually harder than we had anticipated. The trail has a lot of steep climbs and the trail is constantly going up and down which got pretty tiring and was a bit hard on the knees so don’t let the short mileage fool you! You get to enjoy two lakes on this trail though so the pay-off is great for the short (but steep) mileage. We first went down to Bench Lake and the trail down is a steep drop and was pretty un-maintained, eroded, root-y, and muddy when we went. The lake itself isn’t super pretty but you get a great view of Mt. Rainier and the reflection of the mountain off the lake is just as good as Reflection Lakes and without the crowds. We were the only ones here that afternoon and it was very quiet and peaceful. We then went back up and proceeded to Snow Lake which in my opinion was much prettier than Bench Lake. There’s no view of the mountain here but the lake is a very beautiful turquoise color. There are a couple camping sites around the lake that you need a permit for and I feel like it would be a super quiet place to camp in the park. Total mileage for this trail is 2.5 miles round trip. A National Park Pass, America the Beautiful Pass, or paying the day fee is required.
I hope you all enjoyed my fall 2019 adventures recap and that it can help you plan some fun trips for fall 2020! My goal for fall 2020 is definitely more colorful hikes and larch marches! If you need other seasonal inspiration around the PNW be sure to check out my other hiking recaps on the blog.
Until next time,
Kelsie