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Trail Therapy: Because Life After 40 Deserves Fresh Air and Big Views
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items If you live in Washington, “larch season” is your Super Bowl of hiking.
Every fall usually late September to mid-October the subalpine ridges of the Cascades burst into glowing GOLD as western larches turn color. These magical “deciduous evergreens” ...
Cutthroat Pass sits just across the highway from the Maple Pass trailhead at Rainy Pass, making both trails easily accessible from the same area. You can even combine them into an 11-mile through-hike by shuttling a car—start at one trailhead and fin...
Cutthroat Pass via the Pacific Crest Trail
The Blue Lake Trail in the North Cascades is one of the best easy-to-moderate hikes for spotting golden larches. This 4.4–6.2 mile out-and-back route just off Highway 20 takes you through multiple larch groves and ends at a stunning alpine lake frame...
Blue Lake — Washington Trails Association
Carne Mountain is a challenging but incredibly rewarding hike that showcases the brilliant gold of western larches. Set against a deep blue autumn sky and the dramatic peaks of the Cascades, the display is absolutely dazzling.
Just shy of three miles...
Carne Mountain — Washington Trails Association
If you’re chasing golden larches in a quieter, more remote setting, Cooney Lake is a dream. This moderate-to-challenging hike in the Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness rewards you with glowing larch forests, wide-open basins, and a stunning alpine lake tucke...
Cooney Lake — Washington Trails Association
Grasshopper Pass is a high-elevation section of the Pacific Crest Trail near Harts Pass, and in fall, it turns into pure GOLD. This hike delivers nonstop views—wide-open ridgelines, rolling meadows, jagged peaks, and entire hillsides of glowing weste...
Tatie Peak and Grasshopper Pass — Washington Trails Association
There’s nothing quite like hiking Eagles Lake in the fall. Tucked in Washington’s Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, this 12-mile round-trip trail climbs through alpine forests, sparkling streams, and open meadows, gradually revealing panoramic moun...
Eagle Lakes — Washington Trails Association
If you’re looking for a short, stunning hike in the Wenatchee Mountains, Clara and Marion Lakes in the fall are pure magic. This 3.2-mile round-trip trail gently winds through pine forests and meadows until you reach the lakes, framed by glowing gold...
Clara and Marion Lakes
If you’re seeking a serene, family-friendly hike to immerse yourself in the golden hues of fall, the Swauk Forest Discovery Trail near Blewett Pass is a must-visit. This 2.45-mile loop trail meanders through a vibrant tapestry of golden larches, offe...
Swauk Forest Discovery Trail Trailhead
There’s a reason Lake Ingalls in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is one of Washington’s most popular fall hikes. From the parking lot, the trail follows the North Fork of the Teanaway River, weaving through forests, meadows, and streams before branching ...
Lake Ingalls — Washington Trails Association
For a golden autumn adventure, Esmeralda Basin Trail is pure magic. This 6–7 mile round-trip hike winds through alpine meadows, rugged peaks, and forests, gradually revealing vibrant golden larches.
As you climb, the landscape transforms—blue skies, ...
Esmeralda Basin (Esmerelda) — Washington Trails Association
If you’re craving serious hiking and a bucket-list larch moment, the Enchantments Trail is it. This hike isn’t for the faint hearted, it’s a challenge, but every step is worth it.
You’ll pass through boulder fields, sandy stretches, and alpine lakes ...
The Enchantments — Washington Trails Association