Best Fall Foliage in Seattle

Ok, so we all know that New England thinks they hold the award for prettiest foliage in the fall. Granted, they have some reason to believe that with all the botanical tourism they get in the autumn for what has become known as “leaf-peeping.” However, the Pacific Northwest in the fall is nothing to scoff at. Washington is known as “the Evergreen State” and we have one of the only temperate rainforests in the world. Basically, what I’m saying is that we’ve got plenty of trees and crisp weather around these parts too. So instead of feeling left out of all the East coast autumnal activities, I’m sharing some of the best spots for leaf-peeping around Seattle.

Time of Year for Best Leaf Viewing in Seattle

The best time of year for leaf viewing in Seattle is October, hands-down. Summer can often push into September and November just gets way too wet, so October tends to be the golden time for leaf viewing. Autumn in the PNW can be both sunny and crisp but also very wet and grey. It really depends on year-to-year and day-to-day. If you want better weather, earlier in the month is your best bet but I’d still recommend packing a pair of rain boots just in case.

Best Locations for Leaf Viewing in Seattle

Below are the top traditional locations for leaf viewing in Seattle. I’ll go into the different neighborhoods with the best leaf-peeping potential in the next section.

Washington Park Arboretum

It’s home to the UW Botanical Garden and a great location to see all sorts of trees in every color. You can park at the main entrance or anywhere along the west side of the park and walk around and enjoy the different scenes at your leisure. It is another popular spot, especially on the weekends for locals and tourists alike.

Seattle Japanese Garden

The Seattle Japanese Garden is across the street from the Arboretum on the far south end and also a great spot for some pretty foliage viewing. These are a more formal garden with water features and that sort of thing. The Japanese Maple trees turn bright red and almost a deep purple in the autumn.

The Quad at the University of Washington

The UW Quad is a great spot to start a leaf-peeping walk around the campus. The Quad has giant cherry trees that bloom in the spring but also look beautiful in the autumn. The entire campus is quite picturesque in the autumn and becomes a riot of colors.

Discovery Park

Located on the far western side of Seattle, Discovery Park is a beautiful spot three seasons out of the year (winter not so much). I use to run in this neighborhood all the time because the homes in this area are beautiful and the Park has a ton of trails. There’s also a lighthouse and beach access depending on which trail you pick.

Kubota Gardens

Another formal Japanese garden where the trees turn bright red is the Kubota Gardens in Ranier Beach (south Seattle). It’s a little off the beaten path so you’ll have a much more quiet calm time to enjoy the views and water features.

Woodland Park

Woodland Park is another big park that is popular with local families. The zoo is located on the western side of it but the eastern side of the park has a bunch of different amenities like picnic shelters, playgrounds, playfields, tennis courts, off-leash dog areas, beach volleyball courts, and a rose garden. As you wander or drive through the different sections of the park, you’re treated to all sorts of autumnal beauty.

Neighborhoods with Great Foliage

The city of Seattle is really special and different from other major cities I’ve visited because it’s so green. It’s a giant metro area but is also covered with trees and parks. Because of the density of trees, you can just drive around certain neighborhoods and see some spectacular foliage. Here are some of the top Seattle neighborhoods for leaf sighting.