The Best Fall Color Drives

On The Road In The West

If Winter is an etching…

Spring a watercolor…

And summer an oil…

Autumn is a mosaic of them all.

Autumn shows how beautiful it is to let things go…and to let go gracefully.

The canopies of golden aspen in Colorado go hand in hand with a hot thermos of coffee and your favorite sweater as you travel the Peak To Peak Scenic Byway that includes stops at Rocky Mountain National Park and Golden Gate Canyon State Park…a trip that almost feels cinematic.

It’s a vista of pure gold anywhere from mid September to mid October as you round bend after bend of wonder.

It has been said that when an aspen grove is alive and the wind blows, it reveals 1,000 whispered secrets. Aspens are the shimmering sentinels of the Rockies…it has also been said they are ‘like a sunset poured over the forest.’

One of the most iconic Colorado sights is the Dead Horse Mill…actually this is a nickname from its original name, the Crystal Mill, that is precariously perched on an outcropping of rock above the Crystal River. Built in 1893 to harness the river below, it’s reached by a one lane, 4 wheel drive road 6 miles east of Marble, Colorado, and is a favorite fall ‘calendar scene’ to photograph.

One of the most dramatic fall trips in the West, is to travel to the five National Parks In Utah.

A wonderful place to begin is Zion National Park, known for its majestic cliffs and long foliage season, due to the varying elevations. Peak season can run anywhere from September to mid November.

Vibrant hues of color are stunning set against sunset colored canyon walls that can tower over 1,000 feet.

As you approach Capital Reef National Park, the old West comes into focus.

Surrounded by towering cliffs, scenic drives look down on rustic barns and ranches… old Western buildings set against a kaleidoscope of changing colors.

A sign in a Moab bar…a wonderful base camp for the parks: “As the leaves spark their wild colors, they have more attitude than a saloon full of outlaws.”

It’s hard to leave the parks of Utah…in any season of the year. But the golden hues against the sandy canyon floors and mighty towering walls, leave an indelible memory.

It’s time to point the car in the direction of my own backyard…The Pacific Northwest.

Tree lined roads in the Cascade Mountains lead to beautiful Mt. Rainier…

as the forest floors began to turn into a colorful tapestry. Autumn has come to the trails of this iconic park.

Mid September marks the unofficial start of fall at Reflection Lake. The area’s Stevens Canyon Road is a wonderful byway and offers colorful scenic hikes in every direction.

Our very own stands of Quaking Aspen trees beckon you to hike the trails of the Cascades. Known for their dazzling fall colors and unique characteristics, these dramatic trees greatly contribute to the biodiversity of the entire region.

An area not to overlook is the high desert country of Yakima, Wa. The Yakima Skyline Trail offers breathtaking views of the high desert landscape…a unique opportunity to take in the contrast between the arid desert and the lush valley below.

A productive agricultural region, noted for its apple, wine and hop production…the name Yakima originated from the Yakima Nation who first inhabited the valley when Lewis and Clark discovered it in 1805.

With its crisp air, vibrant leaves, and an abundant harvest, this is a great bucket list destination as there are over 3,000 farms providing ample opportunity for U Pick Apples and pumpkins…along with an afternoon of wine tasting.

Similar to Napa Valley when the vineyard leaves turn a brilliant yellow, the valley is known for its diverse range of wines due to its unique climate and soil combination. From popular Cabs to Merlots and Syrahs…from Chardonnays to Rieslings…the wines are often pared with regional cuisine to further enhance your tasting experience. A perfect fall color trip!

The entire region was voted to be included the Top Ten Travel Fall Destinations by USA’S Best Reader’s Choice Awards!

Heading north to visit our Canadian neighbors is always a wonderful decision…

the contrast of the yellow hues against a background of pine as you head towards the Canadian Rockies makes for a stunning getaway.

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” Anne of Green Gables

But as exhilarating as a fall color trip can be…

the road that leads to all of the colorful sights in your own hometown cannot be overlooked.

What is called ‘a welcome oasis’ on the shores of Lake Washington, the Washington Park Arboretum celebrates trees and nature like no place else in Seattle.

A vast 230 acres, the park features a diverse collection of trees and plants and is perfect for a weekend stroll or drive. Founded in 1934 the arboretum was designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers…famous for designing New York’s Central Park. Plantings from 107 countries make it a unique living museum…alive with color during the month of October.

A leaf strewn path leads through the Japanese Garden…one of the oldest Japanese Gardens in North America, and regarded as one of the most authentic.

Traditionally the Japanese word wabi-sabi is reflected in the design of all Japanese gardens…where natural elements are integrated to create a serene and tranquil environment. Included in the word wai-sabi is the transient nature of life…brought to life and beautifully reflected by the fall colors in the tranquil lagoon.

It was Vincent van Gogh who said: “As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint all of the beautiful things I see.”

The highways and byways of beauty lie in every direction this time of year…

and there’s something about fall that weaves a thread between the past and the present.

I’m beginning to think that October is my favorite color.

I think one of the best descriptions of this time of year is what someone said the other day: ‘ ‘This time of year offers a real spirit of transformation.’

It’s Autumn leaves…

It’s pumpkins… please!

For life comes alive,

In a pile of leaves!

There is an old saying that a beautiful autumn tries to fill you with enough colors to hold you through the winter months.

And so, before we leave today, it’s time to take a ferry to the Olympic Peninsula and visit Lake Quinault…one of my favorite destinations…where crisp nights come with sunsets that match the colors of the day…

where October paints with fiery delights, and fall whispers in hues of gold and crimson…when evenings are cooler and days are filled with sunshine and warmth…

beautiful Lake Quinault! There is something very renewable about fall. It’s as if we are all allowed to start over again. So, even if you need to leave something undone or unfinished today…take the time to take a fall color drive.

Oh that I could savor fall

And make the season last…

But soon the colors start to fade,

The leaves will fall too fast.

But then the snow is lovely,

And summer’s rich with green.

Maybe we should treasure each

And every step between.

Photographed On Location…The cover shot was filmed in the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle…a wonderful place to shuffle through the leaves.

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