If you’ve never experienced “Larch Madness” in Washington before, I fear you are not quite ready for the insanity that is larch season. Larch hikes in Washington become swarmed with people hoping to experience these gorgeous deciduous conifers as their needles turn to a stunning yellow color in the fall.

Hiking in Washington State during larch season is a bucket list item. But where should you go? After hiking some of the best larch trails in Washington, I’m ready to share some of the best spots to hike through these golden yellow trees.

In this blog post, I will share the best larch hikes in Washington, as well as how to time your larch trip so they are at their peak.

Why this blog? Hi! My name is Sarah, and I have been exploring Washington since 2018. I was lucky enough to have a friend share larch hikes with me my first fall in Washington, and I’ve been returning every year since. Which means, I know the popular trails and the hidden gems.

Just a heads up! This post contains affiliate links, which means I could earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks in advance for your support!

Best Larch Hikes Near Seattle

Larch Season is one of the most popular hiking times in Washington. It beats out the first sunny day of spring and sunsets past 10 pm in Summer. While it is one of the most anticipated events of the year for Washington hikers, it is also known as the “Larch March” and “March Madness” due to the large number of visitors hitting up the trails with larches.

Beginning on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, the scraggly-looking pine trees start shifting from their standard green hue to a bright golden yellow.

Some of the standard trails you will see listed as the “Best Larch Hikes” include Maple Pass, Blue Lake, and Lake Ingalls. And while these trails are incredible, there are many other trails out there that are just as spectacular, albeit with fewer crowds (kind of).

If that sounds good to you, let’s get into it!

Popular Larch Hikes in Washington

1. Blue Lake

• Distance: 4.4 miles, round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,050 feet
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
• Area: North Cascades
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly: Yes – On Leash

The Blue Lake Trail is one of the most popular trails along the North Cascades Highway, as it offers incredible views without requiring a long hike. The trailhead is right off the highway, so no off-roading is required on a Forest Service Road, and the trail is short enough that if someone wanted, they could do another larch hike directly before or after.

Blue Lake is a brilliant blue color, and while I was too chicken to jump in, my partner had no problem swimming with the fish…literally. You could see large lake trout narrowly avoiding my partner as he swam around in the lake.

You can see in the photo above that there are plenty of people on the trail. This trail is a prime example of what the “larch march” really is. On a weekend, you will likely be hiking in a line up to the lake.

Read the full trail guide for Blue Lake here!

2. Lake Ingalls

• Distance: 9.0 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Area: Snoqualmie Region
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly: No

Lake Ingalls is one of the most popular trails in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area for the larch season! I’ve done this hike multiple times before, during, and after the larches have changed color.

This trail has phenomenal views of Mount Stuart, the Esmeralda Peaks, and sometimes, if you’re lucky, Mount Rainier.

While this trail is on the longer side with plenty of elevation gain, there is only one section of the trail that is truly challenging. That is the last scramble up and over the pass to get to the lake basin. Once you’re there, though, you can take a long break and enjoy the beautiful lake views.

Lake Ingalls Full Trail Guide.

3. Cutthroat Pass

• Distance: 10.0 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Area: North Cascades
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly: Yes- On Leash

If you’ve ever hiked on a trail that overlaps with the PCT, then you know you’re in for a well-groomed, level trail with a reasonable grade. That is exactly what you can experience while hiking the Cutthroat Pass Trail located off Highway 20.

The Cutthroat Pass Trail brings you deep into the North Cascade Mountain Range as you climb shallow switchbacks surrounded by larches.

This trail is still extremely popular, and the proximity to the Maple Pass Loop means parking can definitely be an issue. When we completed this trail, we had to park about a half mile from the trailhead.

As a longer trail, there aren’t quite as many people, and you can typically spread out a little better, so you’re not hiking in a single file line. This trail is also one of the 100 Classic Hikes of Washington, and it is just as beautiful in the summer with its wildflower displays as it is in the fall with the larches.

Alternative: A shorter option at the same trailhead is the Cutthroat Lake Trail, which is less than 4 miles round-trip with 400 ft of elevation gain.

Read my Trail Guide here!

4. Heather – Maple Pass Loop

• Distance: 7.2 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 2,020 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
• Area: North Cascades
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly: No

Arguably, “the larch hike”, we have the Heather-Maple Pass Loop trail. It is not only one of the best larch hikes, but it also showcases some of the best views Washington has to offer.

You get gorgeous ridgelines, spectacular views of Lake Ann, and dramatic views of the surrounding cascades. You can hike to Lake Ann for an additional 0.6 miles round-trip, but the true views of Lake Ann come from above.

There is a small picnic area in the parking lot, perfect for enjoying a packed lunch before heading out on your next larch hike.

Read the Complete Trail Guide for the Heather-Maple Pass Loop Here!

5. The Enchantments Core Zone

• Distance: 18.0 miles, one-way
• Elevation Gain: 4,500 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Area: Central Cascades
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass and Backcountry Camping Permit (if camping)
• Dog Friendly: No

Colchuck Lake is en route to the infamous Aasgard Pass, the gateway to the Enchantments. Completing the Enchantments Trail as a thru-hike is extremely challenging. If you have the opportunity to complete the trail as a multi-day backpacking trip, you’ll be able to experience the magic of the area.

But backpacking permits for the Enchantments are hard to come by! So, thru-hiking is really the only option for many people.

If you’re going to be thru-hiking the Enchantments for a larch march, try to camp at the trailhead the night before or at least stay in Leavenworth so you can get started as early as possible!

This is probably one of the best larch hikes in Washington. You won’t experience heavy crowds past Colchuck, and you’re in for incredible views the entire way.

Read the complete Enchantments Guide here.

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Lesser-Known Larch Hikes in Washington

It is important to note that “lesser-known” doesn’t always mean “less-traveled”. Many of these trails are considered lesser-known because people tend to stick with the big hitters: Blue Lake, Maple Pass, and Lake Ingalls.

However, hikers who want to avoid those trails often find them in a sometimes fruitless attempt to find peace on a trail with larches. No larch hike is foot-traffic-free, but these are more likely to be tourist foot-traffic-free.

6. Carne Mountain

• Distance: 7.3 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 3,600 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Area: Central Cascades
• Pass/Permit: None
• Dog Friendly: Yes – On Leash

Carne Mountain is best known for its fall foliage and golden larch display in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. At the lower elevation portion of the trial, you will hike through red and orange blueberry shrubs and some maple trees.

As you gain elevation, you will hike into the larch portion of the trail, which becomes more exposed. Since the trail averages 1,000 feet of elevation gain per mile, it is considered very challenging. However, the challenge is worth it for the views of Glacier Peak, Mount Maude, and Clark Mountain.

Read the Carne Mountain trail guide here!

6a. Ice Creek – Ice Lakes

If you’re looking to make an overnight of the Entiat Mountain and Lake Chelan area for a larch march, may I suggest the Ice Lakes? Take the Leroy Basin is Freezer Pass. From Freezer Pass, you hike up to Mount Maude for views of Buck, Dakobed, Chiwawas, and Eastern Washington.

You can drop down into the basin for Upper Ice Lakes before hitting up Lower Ice Lakes.

The difficulty and remoteness of the trail mean you will likely find yourself in a fairly secluded area.

Get the FULL Washington Larch Guide Here!

7. Navaho Peak

• Distance: 14.0 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 4,200 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Area: Snoqualmie/Teanaway
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly: Yes- on Leash

The Navaho Peak Trail is a challenging, like really challenging, hike in the Wenatchee Mountains of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. In the Teanaway Region, you will find gorgeous golden larches as you climb away from Stafford Creek.

One of the challenges you will experience on this trail for finding larches is that by the time larches begin to turn, snow is starting to fall.

Many people will just hike to Navaho Pass, but Navaho Peak is worth the extra time and effort to get the 360-views of the area.

Alternative Trail: An easier trail in the same Teanaway Ridge Area is the Iron Bear Trail.

Trail Guide for Navaho Peak!

8. Golden Lakes Loop

• Distance: 24.0 miles
• Elevation Gain: 4,200 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Area: Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly: No

I completed the Golden Lakes Loop Trail in 2024 for the larch season, and OMG. If you’re looking to get off the beaten path, this one is for you.

While this trail is multi-sport, after you pass Cooney lake, you will not run into mountain bikers or dirt bikers.

We did this trial as a two-night, three-day trial, and it was perfect for the difficulty. The positive side of sharing the trail with mountain bikers is that the grade is relatively shallow.

The evenings can get frigid this time of year, so I was very grateful for my Sea to Summit Either Light SR Pro sleeping pad, which kept me significantly warmer than my low R-value sleeping pads.

8a. Cooney Lake

While I highly recommend you complete the Golden Lakes Loop as an overnight, immersive experience, you can also day hike to Cooney Lake.

Cooney Lake as a day hike would be 19 miles round trip and 3,500 feet of elevation gain, which seems INSANE to do as a day hike. However, the shallow grade of the trail (remember the mountain bikers) makes it feel longer than challenging.

8b. Upper Eagle Lake

Just like you can complete Cooney Lake as a day hike, you can also complete Upper Eagle Lake as a day hike. Upper Eagle Lake is a gorgeous alpine lake surrounded by mountains and golden larches.

One of the women in my backpacking group stayed one night at Upper Eagle Lake before hiking out, while the rest of the group completed the full Golden Lakes Loop.

Either way, this area is filled with golden larches and should not be overlooked!

9. Esmeralda Basin

• Distance: 7.0 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 1,750 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Area: Snoqualmie
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly: Yes – On Leash

While Esmeralda Basin shares a trailhead with the popular Lake Ingalls, the actual trail is not nearly as busy as the Lake Ingalls trail. However, you still get a fantastic display of larches.

This trail is also easier than Lake Ingalls, but that is not to say it is easy. The rocky trail is hard on the feet.

Part of this trail is also shared with an ORV route, which means you could be sharing the trail with a bunch of Jeeps. Not a big deal, but it was a little irritating after the 20th Jeep passed us.

Along the route, in addition to plenty of larches, you will see views of Esmeralda Peaks, Hawkins Mountain, Mount Daniel, Hinman, and even Mount Rainier from two different passes.

Alternative Trail: You can hike to Lake Ann via Esmeralda Basin for a longer route!

Read the Esmeralda Basin Trail Guide!

10. Easy Pass

• Distance: 7.0 miles, round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Area: North Cascades
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly: No

Easy Pass is anything but an easy trail; however, it is one of the most stunning trails in the North Cascades National Park. The challenge with this trail in the Spring is the high-flowing water crossings, but by the Fall, the challenge is the lack of water access up to the pass.

Unlike the shallow grade switchbacks of Cutthroat Pass, the switchbacks to Easy Pass are steep and rugged.

Of all of the larch march hikes in the North Cascades Region, Easy Pass typically has fewer people, but you can still expect the small parking lot to be full of cars by early morning.

Check out the trail guide to Easy Pass!

11. Tronsen Ridge

• Distance: 8.0 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Area: Central Cascades
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly:

Similar to Esmeralda Basin, a portion of this trail follows a Jeep path. In the summer, you will find the area rich with wildflowers due to it being an old burn area.

This area is visually appealing due to the combination of old-growth forest and rock formations.

This trail is in the Blewett Pass area. If you’re looking for a shorter, more family-friendly trail, you can complete Blewett Pass via the Swauk Forest Discovery Trail.

Read the Guide for Tronsen Ridge

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Easy Larch Hikes in Washington

Don’t want to sweat on your way to see the larches? No problem. There are plenty of easy larch hikes in Washington!

12. Clara and Marion Lakes

• Distance: 3.2 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 900 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Area: Central Washington
• Pass/Permit: Non
• Dog Friendly: Yes – On Leash

Located in the Wenatchee area, you will find Clara and Marion Lakes. This trail is lined with ponderosa pine trees, but once you reach the lakes, you’ll find them surrounded by larches.

When you reach the Squilchuck trail, keep to the left to reach Clara Lake and then Marion Lake.

Even though this is an easier trail, it is still a less popular trail for the larch season.

Get the Guide to Clara and Marion Lakes

13. Swauk Forest Discovery Trail

• Distance: 2.7 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 410 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Area: Central Cascades
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass

Swauk Forest Discover Trail is an easy trail in Blewett Pass. You can actually see larches as you’re driving to the trailhead, so it is a great place to immerse yourself in this short larch season.

The Swauk Forest Discovery Trail is great for families because of the interpretive signs along the route.

Read the Swauk Forest Discovery Trail Guide

14. Red Top Lookout

• Distance: 1.5 miles, round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 350
• Difficulty: Easy
• Area: Blewett Pass/Central Cascades
• Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog Friendly: Yes – on Leash

Anytime I have an opportunity to visit a Washington Fire Lookout, I am so excited! This trail is easy; however, the road up to the trailhead is not for the faint of heart.

Since the trailhead starts at a lower elevation, the western larches will turn a little later than those at the higher elevations. However, this hike is still good for fall colors in general. You can expect to see golden larches here closer to late October.

Read the trail guide here!

15. Larches in Parks

If you’re looking to see larches, but without the hiking part, you’re in luck! There are four parks in the Seattle area where you can view larches.

1. Washington Park Arboretum
2. Seattle Ravenna Park
3. Seattle Woodland Park
4. Bainbridge Island Bloedel Reserve

While these areas might not be dense with larches, you can still see these golden trees without having to sweat.

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Best Larch Hikes in Washington

Here is a wrap-up of the hikes mentioned in this blog post.

1. Blue Lake
2. Lake Ingalls
3. Cutthroat Pass
4. Heather – Maple Pass Loop
5. The Core Enchantments
6. Carne Mountain
7. Navaho Peak
8. Golden Lakes Loop
9. Esmeralda Basin
10. Easy Pass
11. Tronsen Ridge
12. Clara and Marion Lakes
13. Swauk Forset Discovery Trail
14. Red Top Lookout
15. Seattle Parks

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What to Wear on Larch Hikes

For a full fall-hiking clothing and gear guide, check out this blog post.

1. Moisture-Wicking Base Layer – I like to wear Smartwool base layers.
2. Insulating Mid-Layer – My Arc’teryx Atom Hoodie is the perfect mid-layer.
3. Windproof and Waterproof Jacket – I like my Black Diamond Stormline Stretch Jacket because of its packability and breathability.
4. Wool Hiking Socks – I’m always rocking the Darn Tough bear socks.
5. Sturdy Hiking Boots – I’ve used Oboz Bridgers since 2020, and I’ll never switch.

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Pack It Up

Getting the opportunity to do a larch hike in Washington is an incredible experience. While you might have to fight for a parking spot and drive three hours to get there, it is a great way to spend Early October.

Before heading out, always check the trail, road, and weather conditions. For the most up-to-date trail reports, you can call the local forest service or check user-generated reviews on Washington Trails Association. With the increase in wildfires, a trail may be closed.

Have questions about hiking during larch season? Let me know in the comments!