Western U.S. Autumn Offers Foliage, Wildlife

North Cascades, Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone Boast Fall Color

Sep 3, 2009

They're not as well known as East Coast foliage, but western autumns shine with golden aspen, crimson huckleberries, blazing willows. Here are three western fall trips.

Residents of the western Untied States have a justifiable pride in the spectacular scenery of their regions, which offer Rocky Mountain vacations and North Cascades hiking, wildlife tours of Yellowstone, and every scenic superlative imaginable. Even in autumn, when the East Coast takes pride of place with its world-famous foliage, the Rocky and North Cascades mountains rise to the challenge. Bursts of color come from surprising places: dry washes where cottonwoods and willows burn orange, groves of quaking aspen, carpets of crimson huckleberry bushes, as well as vine maples, ferns, and a host of other brilliantly colored plants.

For brilliant fall color in the North Cascades, hike in the high country and look down to the bushes, not up at the trees. In late September, huckleberry bushes paint the ground a brilliant crimson. In the forests, look for ferns and vine maples turning orange, along with mushrooms that span the rainbow from yellow to deep purple.

Great autumn North Cascades hiking areas include Glacier Peaks Wilderness, Alpine Peaks Wilderness, and, of course, North Cascades National Park.

Rocky Mountain hiking trails are festooned with gold. The vibrant, shimmering yellow of a grove of quaking aspen, leaves a-quiverin the autumn breeze is unforgettable. It's like hiking through a grove made of 14-carat gold. The quaking aspen turn in September and October, depending on elevation, and provide a beautiful contrast to the dark green conifers and deep blue mountain waters.

Quaking aspen, also called trembling aspen, can be found throughout the Rocky Mountains, but in Rocky Mountain National Park, September and October visitors have another treat in store. This is the season when the elk will start their bugling, a mating call that fills the mountains with a sound something between a drunken flute player and an out-of-tune trombonist. Visitors can certainly hear, and sometimes watch, the elk in parks (open areas) at lower elevations.

Fall Foliage in Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park and Wind River Mountains

Crowds are gone after Labor Day, which means that Yellowstone reservations are easier to make, and Yellowstone lodgings, hotels, and campgrounds are likely to have last minute bookings available. But if the park loses some ot its population of human visitors, its animal population is still up and about. It’s possible to see moose, elk, buffalo, and bear (both grizzly and black bears are busy getting fat for the winter). Burnt orange willows line some of the creeks and streams, and aspen and cottonwood add color and contrast to the lodgepole pine forests.

Just to the north, the Wind River Mountains offer fantastic fall hiking for experienced backpackers and horsepackers. Those with a bit of cold weather experience and equipment can head to the high country, at about 10,000 feet, where the Continental Divide frames a high country decorated with grasses and willows that turn red and orange. There are plenty of aspens and cottonwoods to add a flash of yellow.

While some of the best autumn color is to be found in September and early October in the western mountains, be aware that early winter storms can move in quickly. When hiking in western mountains after Labor Day, always bring extra layers of clothing, rain gear, and a hat and gloves, along with the 10 essentials.

The copyright of the article Western U.S. Autumn Offers Foliage, Wildlife in Nature/Wildlife Tours is owned by Karen Berger. Permission to republish Western U.S. Autumn Offers Foliage, Wildlife in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.