We recently took a drive on the north side of Hood Canal and are now looking for other places in Western Washington or the Columbia River Gorge which still have good fall colors.

A recent NY Times article suggested driving WA 14 from Vancouver to Stevenson and then on the historic highway on the Oregon side of the river.

Are the colors still good there? Any other ideas?

Do you mean "foliage"?

I'm on the other side of Portland from the gorge, htty, but there is still plenty of good color around where I live. Wouldn't wait too long though.

Thanks, beachbum. We will hurry.

HTTY

Good work madgirl. "Fall colors" helped you figure out I meant foliage. A gold star for you. HTTY

"A gold star for you."

I hope that's a gold FOIL star!!!

I think that should be Autumnal color ...

Hey you guys, you're kicking my brain's arse!

In years past we've really enjoyed the autumnal hues (not to mention the vernal verdure) of the Hood River/White Salmon neck of the woods.

I'd agree on WA 14 but I'd start out at Ilwaco or Astoria and work east on SR 4 on the WA side - plenty of nice scenery and some interesting old towns over that way too.

Go down or come back to the Seattle area on the east side of the mountains - US 97 over Satus Pass can have some nice poplars or dry-country fall color too.

Thanks for the suggestions and for answering the question I had in my mind but didn't ask: What might I expect in the Simcoe Mountains.

Where there are trees it's mainly a dry pine forest - Lodgepole, Ponderosa, etc., but also some birch, aspen and vine maples here and there, and of course cottonwoods along the creeks. The Klikitat River canyon, if you haven't seen it, is one of Washington's hidden gems.

Gardyloo, When we get to Goldendale we are torn between the Klickitat River Canyon and the drive on WA 14 between Maryhill and Bingen, for the spectacular views of the Columbia River Gorge and, on a clear day, Mt. Hood. Recently, we arrived at Hood River from the west and, in the afternoon, did a loop on 142 to Goldendale and then back to Hood River on WA14, which gave us great views of Mt. Adams as well as Mt. Hood. HTTY