Twenty-twenty is the year of the road trip – no one can deny that. And if you are one of my faithful readers, you will know that I looooove road trips. What better way to usher in the coming of Autumn than to explore the open road in Oregon and Washington.
Here are my best picks for indulging in some beautiful spots in the Pacific Northwest during the autumn season.
Explore Bainbridge Island
A peaceful oasis from the hustle and bustle of Seattle, this quaint island is an easy ½ hour ferry ride from downtown Seattle. My ultimate guide to Bainbridge Island makes for a wonderful one- or two-day trip. You have the option of either staying in the village just off the ferry landing or making a weekend of it and exploring the island in its entirety.
Hike Part of the Pacific Crest Trail
If you’re not up for the gargantuan endeavor of hiking Mexico to Canada west coast style, then there are plenty of super-scenic sections you can do, lasting from just a couple of hours to a multi-day hike. The PCT offers such an incredible array of landscapes, just in Oregon and Washington alone. Here’s a handy dandy resource for hiking the OR and WA sections of the PCT.
For PCT Oregon hikes, go here.
For PCT Washington hikes, go here.
I myself have had the privilege of hiking the PCT on a tiny section in southern Oregon and let me tell you, it was AMAZING. Go. Do.
Sunset Beach Trail, OR
I cannot believe that after nearly twenty years of visiting the Oregon coast, I have only just discovered this incredible trail. It is a 7-mile trail, beginning (or ending) at Sunset Beach, a few miles south of Astoria, and leading you through different landscapes to ending at the historic Fort Clatsop near the end of the Lewis & Clark trail.
Called the Fort to Sea hike, if you want to do the full length of this hike, it’s best to begin in the early morning – that way you will finish by noon or early afternoon. Here is a good resource for doing this tremendous hike.
Apples and Foliage Central Washington
Leavenworth is a tiny town with a big German theme and is a great way to spend the day. In the morning, hike the trails just outside of town, and in the afternoon, browse the shops and galleries. Then stop and tuck into a nice Kielbasa sausage and cold German beer.
This is also a prime spot to catch the fall foliage. Nearby Tumwater Canyon and the Apple Capital Loop Trails has some of the most stunning displays of gold, orange, and red.
This is primarily apple harvest season, so you may find lots of opportunities to buy apples fresh off the tree from a nearby apple farm. Roadside fruit stands are aplenty here – buy them from friendly folks who have been at this for generations.
Or, if you’d rather get the full experience and pick them yourself, here is a great article on the various U-pick apple orchards around the area.
Wallowas in Eastern Oregon
Not many people consider Eastern Oregon as a destination spot – after all, it’s just a bunch of desert and sagebrush, right? Oh, that’s where you are mistaken!
The tiny town of Joseph, Oregon is nearby to one of the best geological landscapes in all of North America. Use Joseph as your home base for a few days as you explore the majestic Wallowa Mountain Range. Hells Canyon is a 10-mile canyon made possible by the Snake River. It is actually deeper than the Grand Canyon and is where outdoor enthusiasts flock for fishing, rafting a jet boating. The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a scenic route and not to be missed.
