Looking for fall colors in Seattle?
Fall has always been a great season in Seattle. Despite its reputation as the land of evergreens, Seattle has a lot of fall color to offer. No matter where you live in or around the city, you can find the beauty of autumn and some great spots to snap a few photos of your kids.
Fall color in the Pacific Northwest runs throughout September and into November with the peak week in mid-October. However, later in the season, it provides another fun family activity: playing in the leaves.
The best fall colors in Seattle
1. Arboretum and Japanese Gardens
Photo: Aleksandra Monk
The Arboretum is the star of Seattle during the fall months. With miles of hiking trails with pops of color everywhere and open spaces for making piles of leaves, the Arboretum is always a safe bet for soaking in some fall beauty and burning off some kid energy. The Japanese Garden inside the Arboretum is simply a gorgeous place during the fall. There is a fee to enter ($10 for adults, $6 for youth, seniors, and students, and free for kids five and younger) and food is available for purchase for feeding the koi.
Address: 1075 E Lk Washington Blvd, Seattle, WA 98112
Hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday with seasonal schedule changes in hours. Check here for each season.
2. Kubota Garden
Kubota Garden is a hidden gem of Seattle. The legacy of Fujitaro Kubota, this formerly private garden, is now open to the public. With many maples, it’s a great spot for fall colors and photos. This garden is free of charge and has free parking as well.
Address: 9817 55th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Hours: Open year-round, every day. Sunrise to sundown.
3. Discovery Park
Sporting 534 acres of space, Discovery Park has a little of everything. The meadowlands and forest groves are the best areas to spot fall color and find a great photo spot.
Address: 3801 Discovery Park Blvd., Seattle, WA 98199
4. Saint Edward State Park
With great open spaces and miles of trails, Saint Edward State Park has always been a family favorite (bring your Discover Pass, or, if you don’t have one, buy one in the parking lot). Some of the best color at Saint Edward happens along the entrance drive before you get to the parking lot. Color along some of the trails can be spotty, but you only need one great tree for a memorable photo. The massive play structures are sure to delight the kids as well.
Address: 14445 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, WA 98028
5. Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is a great multi-purpose park in West Seattle. Its 135 acres include more than 4.6 miles of walking paths. The best fall color is found deeper in the park, away from the water.
Address: 8011 Fauntleroy Wy SW, Seattle, WA 98136
6. Bellevue Botanical Garden
Photo: Bellevue Botanical Garden/Facebook
The Bellevue Botanical Garden is spectacular in the fall, with the best spots being the Perennial Border, Waterwise Garden, and the Yao Garden. Bring your family in for a beautiful, peaceful visit. The Visitor Center is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee.
Address: 12001 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98005
Hours: The garden is open every day from dawn until dusk.
7. Blyth Park
Located in Bothell, Blyth Park is 40 acres of nature bliss. The giant oaks provide a wonderful filtered light for photographs, while small trees provide the pops of color.
Address: 16950 W Riverside Dr, Bothell, WA 98011
