Autumn in the Pacific Northwest
Off-Season in Cascade Mountains Offers Stunning Views and No Crowds
Oct 19, 2008
The Cascade Mountains are not the first place many think of when it comes to autumn travel, but the Pacific Northwest, with its mountainous spine stretching through central Oregon and Washington, offers incredible scenery without the mad rush of tourists that accompanies other fall destinations.
The Cascades’ western slope provides a lush landscape of shimmering ferns and low-hanging mosses set beneath a canopy of Douglas fir, red cedar, and western hemlock. Amid this vibrant terrain, travelers can also find wide stands of broadleaf trees such as red alder and black cottonwood, often lining the rivers and streams that climb the steep draws up the mountainsides. Come autumn, these trees mark the approach of winter with their warm golden hues set against the deep green of the forest.
Avoiding the Fall-Color Crowds
During the fall - after the summer tourists have left and before the ski season has begun - the Cascades provide a peaceful escape for those whose schedules can accommodate off-season travel.
The main highways can still be busy, particularly weekends, but most tourists don’t wander far. On a Saturday or Sunday, roadside stops can be overflowing, as sightseers dart across highways and park precariously on shoulders. But solitude can indeed be found, and often just a short distance away.
U.S. Highway 2, for example, which connects Everett, Washington to the Cascades, Stevens Pass, and points beyond, provides easy access to national forests, BLM land, and the Alpine Lake Wilderness Area. A web of service roads connects rivers and hiking trails and fertile valleys that offer incredible scenery without hordes of people.
Northwest’s Weather in Autumn
For good reason, the Northwest is usually associated with rain. However, the fall can be a surprisingly dry time of year - though not always. Because of prevailing weather patterns, clouds often get stopped up against the mountains, leaving the western slopes wetter and grayer than the low-lying areas to the west. Even a sunny afternoon can quickly turn cold and wet.
Still, in September, much of October, and sometimes into November, the weather can be relatively dry in the mountains. Even if there’s a little cloud cover or mist, the views and the serenity are well worth the trip. Of course, if the temperature gets too cool and visitors are at too high an elevation, there’s an increased risk of snow, but astonishing scenery can just as readily be found at elevations as low as 500 feet above sea level, where abundant valley floors are filled with crystal-clear rivers and golden columns of broadleaf trees.
Preparation for the Cascades
If trekking off the beaten path, travelers should be prepared not only for inclement weather, but should also have a good set of maps. The DeLorme Gazetteer series, each of which is a book of topographical maps for a specific state or region, is a good place to start. In addition, countless books have been written about hiking and traveling in the Cascades.
Visitors should also know what to do if they encounter wildlife, such as bears or cougars. Although such encounters are rare, they can occur, and anyone setting out to less-populated areas should first check in with local forestry or park resources for information. For example, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife provides a good online guide about such encounters.
Travelers should also keep in mind that during the fall, hunters are out in force, so care should be taken when out in the woods, particularly when wandering off main trails. Again, visitors should contact local state or federal offices for details about when and where there might be hunting.
Aside from taking these precautions, fall visitors to the Cascades need only show up to enjoy the golden-green valleys filled with gurgling streams and splashing rivers and towering mountain peaks. With some of the most astounding scenery in the country, the Cascades offer a warmth and serenity that will indeed help to nourish the soul into winter.
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