While the West Coast tends to bring beaches and palm trees to mind more readily than fall foliage, this region of the U.S. offers several fantastic fall driving experiences.
California, Oregon, and Washington present visitors with a wondrous mix of scenic gold, red, and yellow panoramas, as well as excellent opportunities for wildlife sightings. Here are some of the best fall foliage drives on the West Coast:
Big Sur Highway
Snaking along the California coast, Highway 1 is a superb drive any time of the year, but the addition of vibrant red, gold, yellow, and purple color during the fall makes it even more dramatic and impressive. With its rocky cliffs, bridges, stunning ocean views, and lush foliage, the Big Sur Highway is one of America’s most scenic drives. Make sure you have lots of space on your camera’s memory card, because there’s a magnificent photo opportunity just about everywhere you look.
Avenue of the Giants
For nature lovers, the sight of towering redwoods is one of America’s most alluring natural wonders. Stretching more 30 miles through the 53,000-acre Humboldt Redwoods State Park in California, the Avenue of the Giants offers views of ancient redwood groves, riding trails, camp sites, and biking areas.
Historic Columbia River Highway
Located near Portland in the northwest part of Oregon, this 70-mile drive offers views of the Columbia River, dozens of waterfalls, and winding roads. The journey starts in the town of Troutdale, about 17 miles east of downtown Portland. Key spots along the way include Crown Point State Park, Multnomah Falls, which has a 620-foot drop, Tom McCall Preserve, and the historic town of The Dalles.
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
With its brilliant red sumac accented by rock formations and aspen, ash, and greasewood offering red, yellow, and purple hues, the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway in Oregon is a spectacular drive. Stretching nearly 220 miles through the Payette National Forest, Umatilla National Forest, and Wallowa-Whitman in the northeast corner of the state, this drive also offers tours of galleries, museums, and foundries. Among the towns along the way are La Grande, Wallowa, Oxbow, and Richland.
This 440-mile scenic byway in Washington State starts 28 miles north of Seattle weaving through the North Cascades mountain range, along the Columbia River Valley, past Lake Chelan, through the North Cascades National Park, and into the Puget Sound. One of the highlights is Washington Pass on the North Cascade Highway, which offers phenomenal views from 5,477 feet. The best way to immerse in the experience is to take a short hike on one of the paths near the highway.
