If there was one blockbuster fall color hike, it's this high elevation trail with a color already in its name. Only a few miles south of the Canadian border, it's accessed via an unpaved road near Mount Baker Ski Area. The Cascade blueberry shrubs and heather plants put on a reliable show, and thanks to big views of rock formations and a lot of color-changing brush, it's a popular destination. Tip for escaping crowds: Nearby Hannegan Peak is often a lot quieter. 

A little easier than Yellow Aster Butte, this route begins at the Artist Point parking lot, no off-pavement driving required. Though a full trek out the trail toward Mount Baker will mean a bunch of ups and downs, some of the best fall colors come in the first mile or two. The hikes in this area benefit from the fact that they start at a high elevation—expect to see residual snowfields that hang on all year, and some of the first flurries of the season.

If you work for it, this hike will reward your effort with big views. Nestled into the middle of the Mountain Loop Highway east of Granite Falls, the trail first delivers only uphill miles through the trees. But once you break out, the meadows offer a full palette of warm tones with a backdrop of mountains. (Check out the Washington Trails Association's trip reports for up-to-date information, like the fact that the area has been overtaken by yellow jackets this fall.)

This lake tucked into the mountains across the street from Stevens Pass Ski Area secrets huckleberry bushes that fruit in late summer, and slopes of plants that turn gold and orange in fall. The best views are from the detour up Mount McCausland and open up to vantages looking down at Valhalla. Part of the route is a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, so look out for late-season thru-hikers.

With year-round road access and a big beautiful volcano to serve as backdrop, Mount Rainier National Park has plenty to offer, but its autumn displays still manage to fly under the radar. Skyline Loop, one of the most popular trails out of the Paradise visitor area, wraps around a basin that gets streaked with color—though the meadows visible from the parking lot can erupt in rich reds as well.

Okay, this one is about trees—but not those finicky high-elevation larches. The very gentle, flat trail in Tieton River Canyon is known for color-shifting cottonwoods, vine maple, and sumac. The route crosses the river over a series of bridges, all good photo stops. The area can get uncomfortably hot in summer, so shoulder seasons are a good time to explore the Naches area west of Yakima.