Fall Color - GPNF

2002 Archived Narrative Reports

Cowlitz Valley Ranger District - October 15, 2002 Final Report
- To see fall colors with the greatest variety and contrast in colors, take a drive into the blast zone on Forest Road 99. The Pearly Everlasting covers the slopes with a creamy white, then mixed with rich browns and oranges of ferns, and deep wine red huckleberry . Also, there are orange mountain ash with bright red clusters of berries, orange and red vine maple, dark green conifers, and stark white snags. It doesn't get any better than this!
- For the intrepid traveler who wants to give their sport utility a good workout, try driving Forest Road 77 over by Pole Patch and Pinto Rock to Forest Road 28. This drive provides incredible color and on a clear day great vistas of the surrounding mountains and peaks. These would include views of Mt. Rainier, Adams, St. Helens, and perhaps of Mt. Hood. The road is passable and not muddy, but it is just badly rutted. Furthermore, this is a loop drive so you only have to go one way. You may wish to drive this loop from north to south.
- Forest Road 23 from Randle to Trout Lake provides a nice variety of fall color and nice views. Individuals may make a loop drive by taking Forest Road 60 from Trout Lake to highway 30, (Wind River Highway) then back to the north on Forest Road 51 to Forest Road 90, and finally to Forest Road 25 heading north to Randle. Nearly all of this is paved.
- Two areas that are always good for fall color are Cat Creek and the Upper Cispus. Forest Roads 21, 2160, and 56 offer a loop drive above Adams Fork Campground and is a good route.
- Forest Road 52 out of Packwood offers fantastic colors of the bigleaf maples. Their browns and golds shimmering in the breeze coupled by the lush background of ferns and huckleberry bushes. Forest Road 45 above Packwood is usually good, too.

Mount Adams Ranger District - October 08, 2002 Final Report
- The fall colors are at their peak on the Mt. Adams District this week. Some of the best locations for fall colors are Forest Road 66 along the Big Lava Beds, Forest Road 60 from 4-corners north, Forest Road 41 around the Lookout Mt. area and Yacolt Burn, and Forest Road 24 around the Surprise Lakes area.
- The high elevation fall colors should last another 2 weeks before they start to fade. The lower elevation colors are not as spectacular and normally do not come on until late October or early November.

Mount St. Helens Ranger District - October 08, 2002 Final Report
- The 830 Road is ablaze with color from the spectacular vine maple and gorgeous huckleberries. For a lovely drive in the forest, take the 81 Road to the 830 Road to see our beautiful countryside.

.. Fall Color Narrative Reports - Gifford Pinchot National Forest
2008 Archived Reports October 29, 2008: Color is peaking on the Forest. According to the forecast rain will be returning to southwest Washington by Friday. Between now and then the Gifford Pinchot will be a great place to visit and soak in the splendor of autumn. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - October 23, 2008: Driving down Forest Roads 83 this week, visitors will find mostly yellow colors from the Norway Maples. Foxglove is also blooming in the ditchlines along Road 83. Continuing east on Road 83, there are stunning views of Mount St. Helens in the background where vibrant red huckleberry bushes are nestled on the Lahar. Cowlitz Valley Ranger District - October 29, 2008: Fall colors are still great down in the Cowlitz and Cispus valleys below 2500 feet, particularly beautiful are cottonwoods and maples. This coming weekend should still be good for fall foliage at lower elevations, weather depending of course. The following are a couple of driving options to see fall color on the northern part of the Forest and near Mt. Rainier. Start at Randle - take Highway 12 east to Johnson Creek Road, Forest Road (FR) 21, near Packwood. Go south on FR 21 to FR 23 and then back to Randle. Forest Road 21 is mostly gravel and can be a bit "washboardy," but FR 23 is paved. There may possibly be a little snow at Hugo Lake, which is the high point of FR 21 at about 4200 ft. Start at Packwood - take FR 52, Skate Creek Road west to its junction with State Route 706. Go right, and enter Mt. Rainier National Park at Longmire. Go north to Paradise, and take the Stevens Canyon Road south and east to Hwy 123. Go right on 123 to Hwy 12, and go west back to Packwood. This loop would require an entrance fee to Mt. Rainier National Park. Mount Adams Ranger District - The fall colors are advancing rapidly. The 24 road west of Trout Lake, the Berryfields with the fiery red huckleberry brush, and any of the roads north of Carson where there is vine maple, huckleberry brush or a variety of other decidious brush and trees will offer lots of viewing for the Fall Color enthusiast. 2005 Archived Narrative Reports Mount Adams Ranger District October 04, 2005 Fall Color is peaking. Brilliant reds and yellows of big leaf maple, vine maple and huckleberry can be seen along roads throughout the district. Forest Roads 23, 24, 30, 60, 66, 88,and 80 and 8040 near Wicky Creek Shelter provide good viewing opportunities. If you have a high clearance vehicle the 8031 road also has beautiful reds and yellows. Mushrooms should be topping up this week with the recent rains. September 28, 2005 Fall Color is peaking on the Mt. Adams Ranger District. The next couple of days will be your best color viewing opportunity. Brilliant reds and yellows of big leaf maple, vine maple and huckleberry can be seen along roads throughout the district. Forest Roads 23, 30, 66, 88,and 80 and 8040 near Wicky Creek Shelter provide good viewing opportunities. If you have a high clearanc vehicle the 8031 road also has beautiful reds and yellows. Rain forecast for later in the week may turn some of these brilliant colors to brown. Stop in at the Ranger Station for directions and any needed passes. Mount St. Helens Ranger District September 29, 2005. There are reports of good color on the trails near Forest Roads 41 and 42 in the East Fork Lewis River drainage and near Cougar Rock on Forest Road 42, the colors were a brilliant mixture of reds, golds and rust. There area also reports of spectacular fall colors on Forest Road 99 Road to Windy Ridge. 2004 Archived Narrative Reports Cowlitz Valley Ranger District September 15, 2004 On the Cat Creek end of Forest Road 21, there is plenty of fall color to be seen. To reach this area, take Forest Road 23 south of Randle; this will take you to the junction of Forest Road 21 about 16 or 17 miles out from Randle. Keep following Forest Road 21 to Forest Road 2160 and go up into the Walupt Lake area for more color. While in the area continue to drive north on Forest Road 21 and turn right on Forest Road 2150 and check out the Chambers Lake area. The area near Takhlakh Lake offers a pretty display of color too. Drivers may take Forest Road 23 south of Randle and turn left on Forest Road 2329. More fall color viewing can be found by heading east from Randle on US Hwy 12 through the town of Packwood. Continue driving for a few miles and watch on your left for Forest Road 45. Turn left off the Hwy and follow the signs Forest Road 4510 and to Soda Springs and Summit Creek Campgrounds. This area has some great fall color. You will have to drive to reach these areas, but the reward of seeing some of Cowlitz Valley Ranger District's most beautiful areas makes it well worth while. Mount Adams Ranger District September 22, 2004 The shorter days and cooler weather are bringing the fall colors on a little eariler than usual. The higher elevations areas are beginning to provide some outstanding viewing opportunities. The Indian Heaven Wilderness is now offering a wide range of color, but this won't last long beacause of the early snow that fell last week. Roads 41 and 54 are also providing some good fall color displays Mount St. Helens Ranger District September 22, 2004 Fall colors will begin to make their visual presence throughout the Mount St. Helens area as September goes out and October rolls in. Lower elevation (under 1000 feet) will begin changing later in the month and early October. The following is a list of roads and or trails where you can go to enjoy these fall colors. Forest Road 8123: Drive to Blue Lake parking lot, take the #238 Trail; either direction, to Butte Camp or Sheep Canyon. Forest Road 83: The eleven miles of this road on both sides of road. At the end of road on trail #234 Ape Canyon (five miles one-way). Forest Road 8303: Past the Ape Cave entrance, two miles to the top of the ridge and beyond. Forest Road 90: From the Pine Creek Information Station (16 miles east of Cougar) to Forest Road Junction 88 and 23. The entire length of the 90 Road probably has some of the finest fall color variation due to elevation and species growth on both sides of the road. Road will remain accessible until snow depths make it impassable. Some trails which offer a close and personal observation include; Lewis River trail #31, Curly Creek/Miller Creek Falls #31A, Big Creek Falls #28, at Lower Falls Campground, and Cussed Hollow #24. Curly Creek Road: Five miles (one way) from the 90 Road junction to the 30 Road junction, this includes the McClellan Viewpoint.
2003 Archived Narrative Reports Cowlitz Valley Ranger District September 24, 2003 - In the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, take a drive south from the town of Randle on Forest Road 25 to the junction of FR 99. Drive up the 99 for an early fall change of colors. Also, Forest Road 23 offers spectacular colors at higher elevations. The Cat Creek area along Forest Road 21 is now changing into its fall colors and offers a scenic loop drive for individuals to make. For a beautiful fall color hike, Trail No. 78, Packwood Lake Trail, is in its prime for fall colors. Trail 261 near Jumbo Peak (Sept 25 photos) October 23, 2003 - In the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, take a drive south from the town of Randle on Forest Road 25 to the junction of FR 99. Drive up the 99 for an early fall change of colors. Also, Forest Road 23 offers spectacular colors at higher elevations. The Cat Creek area along Forest Road 21 is now changing into its fall colors and offers a scenic loop drive for individuals to make. For a beautiful fall color hike, Trail No. 78, Packwood Lake Trail, is in its prime for fall colors. Mount Adams Ranger District September 2, 2003 - A great fall color trip is roads 30, 24, 60 loop. From Carson take the Wind River road until it turns into road 30 (just pass the Carson National Fish Hatchery), continue to road 24 and follow this road until it joins road 60 and then back to Carson, this will take about a half a day. The fall colors are just coming into their prime in this high elevation loop. Photos September 28, 2003 - A great fall color trip is roads 30, 24, 60 loop. From Carson take the Wind River road until it turns into road 30 (just pass the Carson National Fish Hatchery), continue to road 24 and follow this road until it joins road 60 and then back to Carson, this will take about a half a day. The fall colors are just coming into their prime in this high elevation loop. Mount St. Helens Ranger District October 10, 2003 - Looking for a nice Sunday drive to investigate the fall colors? Try the Forest Road 54, just a short drive from Battle Ground off of Hwy 503 or (Yale Bridge Road). You'll be led to several forest roads leading to a variety of colors like the yellows, golds and plums of huckleberry bushes, vine maples and alder. If you are feeling a little adventurous, continue on Forest Road 54 to Carson, Wash., and follow the Columbia River Gorge for more views of glimmering golds.
2002 Archived Narrative Reports Cowlitz Valley Ranger District - October 15, 2002 Final Report To see fall colors with the greatest variety and contrast in colors, take a drive into the blast zone on Forest Road 99. The Pearly Everlasting covers the slopes with a creamy white, then mixed with rich browns and oranges of ferns, and deep wine red huckleberry . Also, there are orange mountain ash with bright red clusters of berries, orange and red vine maple, dark green conifers, and stark white snags. It doesn't get any better than this! For the intrepid traveler who wants to give their sport utility a good workout, try driving Forest Road 77 over by Pole Patch and Pinto Rock to Forest Road 28. This drive provides incredible color and on a clear day great vistas of the surrounding mountains and peaks. These would include views of Mt. Rainier, Adams, St. Helens, and perhaps of Mt. Hood. The road is passable and not muddy, but it is just badly rutted. Furthermore, this is a loop drive so you only have to go one way. You may wish to drive this loop from north to south. Forest Road 23 from Randle to Trout Lake provides a nice variety of fall color and nice views. Individuals may make a loop drive by taking Forest Road 60 from Trout Lake to highway 30, (Wind River Highway) then back to the north on Forest Road 51 to Forest Road 90, and finally to Forest Road 25 heading north to Randle. Nearly all of this is paved. Two areas that are always good for fall color are Cat Creek and the Upper Cispus. Forest Roads 21, 2160, and 56 offer a loop drive above Adams Fork Campground and is a good route. Forest Road 52 out of Packwood offers fantastic colors of the bigleaf maples. Their browns and golds shimmering in the breeze coupled by the lush background of ferns and huckleberry bushes. Forest Road 45 above Packwood is usually good, too. Mount Adams Ranger District - October 08, 2002 Final Report The fall colors are at their peak on the Mt. Adams District this week. Some of the best locations for fall colors are Forest Road 66 along the Big Lava Beds, Forest Road 60 from 4-corners north, Forest Road 41 around the Lookout Mt. area and Yacolt Burn, and Forest Road 24 around the Surprise Lakes area. The high elevation fall colors should last another 2 weeks before they start to fade. The lower elevation colors are not as spectacular and normally do not come on until late October or early November. Mount St. Helens Ranger District - October 08, 2002 Final Report The 830 Road is ablaze with color from the spectacular vine maple and gorgeous huckleberries. For a lovely drive in the forest, take the 81 Road to the 830 Road to see our beautiful countryside.