It’s time for comfy sweaters, pumpkin-spiced lattes, leaves changing colors, and kid-friendly larch hikes around the Seattle area! Living in the PNW, you may have heard of a “larch march” or “larch madness” once the cooler weather starts to roll in.
Photo by Godfrey Guerzon
What is a larch?
A larch is an unusual conifer tree. It’s unusual because most conifers with needles are evergreens and keep their green needles year-round. Larches, however, have needles that turn a brilliant golden color in the fall before tumbling to the ground. The window for viewing these golden trees is very short, typically between the end of September and mid-October. Be sure to check hiking reports for weather conditions and the gold status of the larches. We found it useful to read the comments for the latest trip reports.
Here are some kid-friendly larch hikes that will allow you to experience these natural beauties. Recommended hikes range from easy to hard and depend on you and your child’s hiking ability. Remember to check the weather before heading out, check trip reports, and pack the 10 essentials for your outing.
Photo courtesy WTA
Red Top Lookout
Co-ordinates: 47.2970, -120.7596
Distance: 1.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 350 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Parking Pass/ Entry Fee: NW Forest Pass
Ages: All
A short and steep hike through the forest will lead you to a functioning fire outlook and gorgeous 360-degree views of the Enchantments and Stuart Range. With a bit of luck and the right timing, those beautiful golden larches will also be in view during the fall months. This is a very kid-friendly hike and an excellent way for the whole family to view larches.
Tips: Some reviews have mentioned that the gravel road to the trailhead is a bit rough and bumpy. Please make sure your vehicle has the clearance for this before heading out for this hike.
Photo by Godfrey Guerzon
Swauk Forest Discovery Trail
Coordinates: 47.3354, -120.5790
Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 660
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Parking Pass: NW Forest Pass
Ages: All
This kid- and dog-friendly trail near the summit of Blewett Pass is a great hike for both larches and autumn color. The 25 interpretive signs offer information on forest ecology and tree identification. The loop trail can be taken in either direction, but I suggest going counterclockwise, which means the elevation gain is more gradual. The tree identification signs are worth checking out; my favorite was near a big Ponderosa Pine next to the trail, inviting you to smell the bark. The sign said that the bark smells like butterscotch or vanilla, and it really did! (I smelled butterscotch; my husband smelled vanilla.) We saw lots of “baby” larches (saplings) planted near the trail that had turned yellow. The highest point is marker 21, from which you can see a sweeping view of the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Rainier, on a clear day.
Here, there is a short section of a ridge trail where the trail narrows, and the ground slopes down on either side, so watch kids carefully on this section. There are several log benches along the way for resting or having a snack break.
Photo by Godfrey Guerzon
Though the larches weren’t in large groups, there was plenty to see, and when the sun shone through them, it was truly magical. Some other things to look for are bits of neon green moss clinging to many of the trees, quite different from the moss we see in the Seattle area. We even found some on the ground, and the texture was stiff and spiky, like a Brillo pad. Depending on when you go, you might see larches in various stages of turning. We saw larches that were lime green, bright yellow, golden, and in between. Also of note, there were so many pinecones on the ground and the variety in size was interesting. The Ponderosa pinecones were really big.
Tips: The port-o-potties were locked, and the toilets were very full and had no toilet paper. I recommend making a pit stop on the drive to this hike to avoid this bathroom if possible. The road is full of big potholes. Be careful if you are driving a car with low clearance. The kiosk at the trailhead was supposed to have guides but it was empty. Here is a link from which you can print the brochure to bring with you. There is a trail map on the kiosk at the trailhead. It’s a good idea to snap a photo of the map with your phone in case you don’t have directions downloaded and lose service.
Photo courtesy WTA
Blue Lake
Co-ordinates: 48.5191, -120.6742
Distance: 4.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,050 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking Pass/Entry Fee: NW Forest Pass
Ages: Upper-elementary, tweens, teens, adult
The Blue Lake Trail is another family-friendly hike to those golden larches but offers a bit more challenge. Some call this hike an absolute favorite and must-do for its ease of access and spectacular scenery. With the trailhead conveniently located right off Highway 20, you’ll be out of the car and climbing through the forest in no time. You’ll see an old log cabin near the lakeside after trekking through a meadow and maneuvering a small creek crossing. Watch for goats, as they have been seen wandering here occasionally.
Clara Lake Photo by Godfrey Guerzon
Coordinates: 47.2942, -120.3987
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 900 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking Pass: None
Ages: Upper-elementary, tweens, adults
Mission Ridge Ski area’s parking lot in Wenatchee is where this beautiful hike begins. Although it is only three miles and has 900 ft of elevation gain, that first half is a leg burner. The trail is dusty and often rocky and uneven. As soon as you step on the trail, you go up and up on steep switchbacks. But the incline is worth it as you wind through a dense forest of evergreen trees dotted with fall foliage in hues of yellow, russet, and orange.
Photo by Godfrey Guerzon
Keep an eye out for chipmunks. We saw several of these cute critters bouncing around both on the way up and at the lake. Once you reach the top, it flattens out into a meadow, and within a few steps, you arrive at Lake Clara. The view here is breathtaking. A small, clear lake surrounded by groves of bright yellow larches, perfectly reflected in the still water. Walk around and take in the view from different spots along the shore. This is a great spot to sit and snack or skip rocks. We saw a few chipmunks there, too.
You can go another quarter mile up to Marion Lake, but other hikers told us it was almost completely dried up, so we turned around and enjoyed Lake Clara some more.
Tips: We saw plenty of upper elementary-aged kids and tweens on the trail, but because of the climb, I wouldn’t recommend this trail for younger kiddos unless you know they are up for the challenge. I also recommend good shoes and poles for adults if you have them, especially for the way down.
There are a couple of forks in the trail, but these had good signs to point them in the right direction. That being said, we used AllTrails as a guide.
Photo courtesy of WTA
Heather – Maple Pass Loop
Co-ordinates: 48.5162, -120.7354
Distance: 7.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 2,020 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Parking Pass/Entry Fee: NW Forest Pass
Ages: Teens and adults
Heather -Maple Pass is where we start to get into the more challenging hikes to the larches. This hike is rated as moderate to difficult at 7.2 miles roundtrip and an elevation gain of 2,020 feet. However, the trail is well maintained and worth the challenge of seeing those larches. This hike is typically done counterclockwise, leaving from the trailhead. A few offshoot trails branch off the main trail to Heather Pass, so be sure to stay alert. About 1.25 miles in, a fork goes to Lake Ann. The detour is a relatively flat 0.6 miles and well worth the stop. Back on the main trail to Heather Pass, you’ll encounter mountain ridgelines, switchbacks, and stunning views that take your breath away.
Tips: Although this loop hike can be done in either direction, most hike it counterclockwise. This is because going counterclockwise allows you to have a more gradual accent with the best views of Maple Pass in front of you. Hiking this loop clockwise starts your hike with a pretty brutal climb, but it can absolutely be done this way if you want more of a challenge. Be sure to take advantage of being in such a gorgeous area and stop at the Diablo Lake Overlook to take in the breathtaking views of this turquoise lake.
