2025's Towns In Washington That Come Alive In The Fall
When autumn arrives, Washington transforms into a vast living canvas, brushed with fiery orange pumpkins, golden maple leaves, and shades of amber that draw travelers from near and far. The Pacific Northwest may be known for its gorgeous scenery, but autumn unveils an even more dazzling side to the state. While being nicknamed “The Evergreen State,” Washington is every bit as breathtaking when its forests trade deep green for gold and crimson. Read on to discover eight Washington towns that will inspire your autumn escape for 2025.
Mazama
Starting in late September, this tiny town within the Methow Valley is draped in a blanket of vibrant leaves. At an elevation of about 2,000 ft, the town sits just below alpine ridges, making it the ideal spot for walking through autumnal trails. From atop the ridges, hikers can see vast expanses of green valleys throughout the town below. For the best views of the crispy, colorful leaves, journey through Cedar Creek Trail, the 3.5-mile path that reaches 3,500 feet at its highest peak. This trail is perfect for sightseeing, offering views of Goat Peak and a waterfall that cascades over mossy boulders.
Winthrop
Not far from Mazama, and deep within the Methow Valley, Winthrop’s basin routes wind along colorful forests and across bridges over rushing crystal rivers, creating a scene that belongs on a postcard. Every year, the town welcomes the chilly seasons by filling the street corners with music, laughter, and the scent of fresh cider during the Winthrop Cidergrass Festival, held in late October. While the gathering turns the community into something just as lively as the season’s stunning palette, the foliage reaches its fiery peak a few weeks earlier, so plan your visit for late September or early October to catch the lowlands' most brilliant colors.
Stehekin
In the middle of October, Stehekin transforms into a radiant masterpiece full of crunchy leaf-covered pathways. Travelers who visit the town in early October have the opportunity to participate in the Harvest Fest. Join locals at this celebratory weekend and indulge in home-cooked, hearty meals at the potluck, dance to live music, and wrap up the weekend with a poetry night.
For harvest season fun that is calmer than the party at Harvest Fest, find Upper Stehekin Valley Trail, where tall Aspen trees, wild blueberry bushes, and orange leaves wrap around the pathway. The trail opens up onto a stunning River Valley where bright pops of gold and orange float atop the calm river water. In the distance, the twin peaks of McGregor Mountain seem to pierce the sky.
Leavenworth
Leavenworth celebrates its most beautiful month at Oktoberfest, a festival of delicious treats and delirious fun. While party attendees play games and drink pints, live music fills the air from singers, musicians, and even yodellers. Along with musical guests, dancers take the stage to share traditional Alpine dance as well as ballet performed to German music.
Oktoberfest reoccurs every weekend in the first half of October (through the 18th), which perfectly coincides with the town's mid-October peak seasonal hues. To get a close glimpse of the town's most spectacular trees, drive along Icicle Road, or head to Waterfront Park to have a picnic atop the fallen leaves.
Packwood
The first weeks of October show Packwood’s trees in their full harvest season glory. Travelers can immerse themselves in the glorious colors of fall at Packwood Lake Trail. The path is surrounded by breathtaking fauna, as well as the peaks of neighboring mountains such as Mount Rainier. This town has a unique way of celebrating this time of year, with the Gifford Pinchot Fungi Festival taking place from October 24 to 26, 2025.
The weekend is spent celebrating fungi in all of its fantastic forms with mushroom ID workshops, plenty of food, local art, and expert mycologists as guest speakers. This festival is a rare opportunity for nature lovers to learn more about fungi in a serene forest setting.
Roslyn
Mid-October shows Roslyn at its peak, when orange and red leaves cover the surrounding Cascade Mountains. Travelers who visit this mountain town during its peak crimson-gold season can attend the Fall Harvest Festival on the weekends of October 4th to 5th and 11th to 12th.
The festival takes place at historic Nelson Farm, a quaint farm surrounded by dreamy, leaf-strewn scenery featuring pumpkins and pine trees. The festival has a lot to offer to put visitors in the autumnal mood, including a harvest hay pyramid, face painting, axe throwing, and a pumpkin patch, which makes for great seasonal photos.
Port Townsend
Season’s blend in Port Townsend, with the snow-capped Olympic Mountains in the distance and tall trees that shed colorful leaves at every corner. The town is one of only three Victorian National Historic Seaports in the US, offering numerous waterside walkways. Walking along the Boat Haven Marina leads travelers to a forest escape. Olympic Discovery Trail is multi-modal, keeping hikers far from highway chaos and immersed in the peace of nature. For the optimum fall walk through the woodland, plan your Port Townsend trip for the middle of October.
Join locals in celebrating their local harvest at the annual Jefferson County Farm Tour. The tour offers more than just a chance to meet animals, but also the chance to learn from the farmers who nurture the land. The tour weekend is packed with food, fun, and educational experiences that teach attendees about the environment, sustainability, and much more.
Whether you want to jam to German music, pick pumpkins on historic farmland, or hike through woodland mountain trails, these towns are some of the best options for autumnal travel in 2025. With traditional activities and celebrations, each town adds its own unique twist on fall-time festivities. Scientific minds may be happiest in Packwood, where they can study fungi, while the most active travelers will love the trails in Winthrop. From the mountain top to the bayside, fall leaves will cover whatever path you choose in Washington State.
