For family fun, scenic drives, comfortable hikes, and fantastic wildlife viewing, you need to experience fall in Southwest Washington. Head south of Seattle to explore a region that’s home to Mount St. Helens, coastal beaches, part of the Columbia River Gorge, and bustling Vancouver.
Fall in Southwest Washington
Enjoy Fall Foliage
Fall is a great time to hit the trail or enjoy a scenic drive to see vibrant foliage. Northeast of Vancouver, Moulton Falls boasts a photogenic footbridge and an easy out out-and-back trail along the Lewis River. For vibrant hues paired with history, head to the Cedar Creek Grist Mill near Woodland. Come autumn, the historical water-powered, grain-grinding mill is surrounded by gold and yellow leaves. The mill is open to visitors on weekends, and during October it hosts a special apple cider pressing event. Fall is also the perfect time to drive scenic Highway 14 through the Columbia River Gorge or visit Mount St. Helens for hikes. For fall color, Loowit Trail at Mount St. Helens rewards visitors with swaying autumn grasses in a range of golden hues.
Also See: Gorge to Coast Road Trip Itinerary
View Wildlife
From waterfowl to white-tailed deer, there are plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities in Southwest Washington. Head to Willapa National Wildlife Refuge near Long Beach for 17,000 acres of tidelands, temperate rain forest, and ocean beaches home to migrating shorebirds and threatened species such as the marbled murrelet. To the east, the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer protects habitat that supports its namesake as well as Roosevelt elk, birds, and river otters. North of Vancouver, Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge boasts marshes, lakes, and grassland habitat for the dusky Canada goose and other species. In fall, the refuge is especially scenic thanks to maples decked out in hues of red, orange, and yellow.
Visit a Farm
Fall in Southwest Washington is the perfect time to head to a local farm for pumpkin patches and harvest festivities. At Bi-Zi Farms near Vancouver, visitors can pick pumpkins, meet farm animals, sample fresh cider, and get lost in the nighttime corn maze. To the north, Pomeroy Farm in Yacolt is home to Pumpkin Lane during weekends in October, where families can enjoy hay rides, farm animals, a hay maze, and a pumpkin patch. At Huntting’s Pumpkin Patch and Haunted Forest in Cinbar, test your navigational skills in the corn maze or brave the haunted forest as evening falls.
Hunt for Mushrooms
Fall in Southwest Washington is the perfect time to try your hand at guided mushroom foraging. While independent mushroom collection is prohibited within the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, you can learn mushroom identification and enjoy guided foraging with the Mount St. Helens Institute. The institute offers several short mushroom foraging hikes each fall for visitors.
Attend an Event
Fall in Southwest Washington brings a robust calendar of events highlighting everything from nature to food. On the Long Beach Peninsula, don’t miss the Cranberry Harvest Weekend at the Cranberry Museum. Learn about this crop’s history with bog tours, cranberry-themed treats, and live demonstrations. Farther up the coast, Grayland and Westport host a Cranberry Harvest Festival with bog tours, a cranberry cook-off, and more.
In Lewis County, hop aboard the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum’s Pumpkin Train. Dress up, pick a pumpkin, and enjoy fall décor during the 75-minute train ride on select dates. The city of Vancouver also hosts multiple fall events, including Dine the Couve throughout October and historian-led Haunted Walking Tours with the Clark County Historical Museum. North of Vancouver in Ridgefield, the BirdFest & Bluegrass Festival celebrates the return of sandhill cranes to the wildlife refuge with birding events paired with bluegrass bands, food, and shopping downtown.