Each fall the lush greenery along Chinook Scenic Byway slowly turns to amber and gold as the local plant life welcomes the changing of the seasons. The optimal viewing times are from early to mid-October to first snowfall, as this is when colors are most vibrant and vivid. Plants such as the vine maple, huckleberry bushes, and larch and willow trees provide a beautiful array of gold, amber, and crimson colors stretching as far as the eye can see and contrasting with the abundant evergreen cover.  Excellent viewing areas can be found at the Chinook Pass summit (pictured above), and in the Paradise area, Reflection Lake, and the Grove of the Patriarchs.

For more information on Mount Rainier National Park, visit:

National Park Service - Mount Rainier National Park
Visit Rainier

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