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Bright orange maple trees stretch out over (and reflect in) a calm pond.
The Japanese Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum.
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Where to see fall foliage in Seattle

Take in the autumn scenery

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The Japanese Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum.
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While the Evergreen State is known for its—what else?—evergreen trees, we have plenty of deciduous plants to let you know the fall season is on its way, and Seattle’s temperate climate makes for crisp, but comfortable, autumn walks.

With those prime seasonal conditions, it’s a good thing that we’re densely packed with places for autumn enthusiasts to take a stroll through the changing leaves, whether you’re looking for a classic maple leaf or the unique shape of a larch tree.

So grab your gloves and an apple cider—or your Birkenstocks and an iced latte, fall weather is truly unpredictable here, bring layers—and plan a few walks through some of Seattle’s prettiest parks and other crunchy-leaf destinations. We’ve mapped out some of our favorite suggestions.

Need more ideas? Try one of the area’s many gorgeous botanical gardens, including some on this list.

Craving more leaves? Get that full immersive experience on the region’s essential hikes.

Map points are ordered north to south.

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Carkeek Park

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Carkeek Park is popular year-round for both a great beach and the Piper’s Creek Trail, which feels like a backwoods hike even though it’s not far from a major arterial. Enjoy the autumn leaves from the upper picnic area, on a nature walk, or as a view from the train-track overpass.

Bloedel Reserve

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Bainbridge Island’s Bloedel Reserve a collection of 12 gardens spread out across 150 acres, and that kind of variety means plenty of leafy diversity—and its stunning landscape design provides many an opportunity for that perfect fall Instagram shot. It’s also one of the few places you can see larch trees without driving hours out of the city.

Ravenna Park

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The half-mile ravine connecting two more wide-open parks feels like strolling through a deep forest right in the middle of the city, and is a popular spot for jogging over bright fall leaves.

Woodland Park

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Woodland Park is known for the adjacent zoo, but it’s also one of Seattle’s most amenity-rich—and foliage-dense—parks, covered with a blanket of warm-colored leaves during the fall months. It’s also one of a few places on the list to see larches without making a day of it.

Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden

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No trip to the Locks is complete without this beautiful botanical garden, featuring clear and well-paved paths past picnic-ready lawns and water views.

Discovery Park

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Seattle’s biggest park by a landslide—more than 500 acres—has a robust network of trails for any skill level, all perfect for crunching through fall leaves. If you’re not up to a hike, its recreation and picnic areas (save for the beach) are largely nestled in among the trees, too.,

University of Washington

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The University of Washington campus is known as a go-to place for cherry blossoms, but come fall, all those beautiful deciduous leaves turn into an autumnal wonderland—surrounded by all that stately collegiate brick architecture for the full effect.

A wide, paved path is lined with trees, including a dramatic one with orange foliage on the right. The path has been partially covered in autumn leaves. Shutterstock

Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens

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One of Seattle’s most beautiful botanical attractions is designed to have something to see year-round—including the Woodland Garden, which has one of the largest Japanese maple collections on the continent. The iconic Japanese Garden also boasts some bright fall colors.

Freeway Park

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You don’t even have to leave downtown to get a satisfying walk through autumn leaves. Choose your own fall foliage adventure—cut up through the park to First Hill, hang out by the field and iconic brutalist fountain on the south side of the park, or take a lunch break by the Convention Center. Whichever way you experience this urban park, you’ll have some great autumn scenery along paved paths.

Bellevue Botanical Garden

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53 acres of garden make for plenty of long stroll through Bellevue’s local wetlands at Bellevue Botanical Garden, winding through both forests and carefully-planned gardens. Nothing screams “fall” quite like a very pretty swamp.

Schmitz Preserve Park

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Leave it to Seattle to have an old-growth forest within the city limits, and there’s no nature walk like an old-growth nature walk—you can feel fully immersed in the forest as you walk through the fall colors.

Seward Park

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Whether you’re headed to the playground and picnic tables or taking a walk or ride along the Seward Park Loop, you’ll be surrounded by trees—and their changing leaves—in this waterfront park.

Lincoln Park

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This West Seattle park’s many recreation areas are connected by densely wooded trails, including a hillside trail connecting to a beach, all lined by plenty of foliage. It’s right by the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock, and worth a visit if you’re stuck in the line to Vashon Island.

Westcrest Park

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Tucked just inside the city limits in the Highland Park neighborhood, Westcrest Park is an underrated in-city hiking destination that even includes an off-leash trail around the dog park so your pup can feel free to frolic in the leaves.

Kubota Garden

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Kubota Garden is a unique Seattle destination—it’s the former personal garden high-profile gardener Fujitaro Kubota, who used Japanese gardening concepts to showcase Northwest plant life. This means stunning walks through a serene landscape with all the fall colors the region has to offer. Just be careful not to walk through anyone’s engagement photos.

Carkeek Park

Carkeek Park is popular year-round for both a great beach and the Piper’s Creek Trail, which feels like a backwoods hike even though it’s not far from a major arterial. Enjoy the autumn leaves from the upper picnic area, on a nature walk, or as a view from the train-track overpass.

Bloedel Reserve

Bainbridge Island’s Bloedel Reserve a collection of 12 gardens spread out across 150 acres, and that kind of variety means plenty of leafy diversity—and its stunning landscape design provides many an opportunity for that perfect fall Instagram shot. It’s also one of the few places you can see larch trees without driving hours out of the city.

Ravenna Park

The half-mile ravine connecting two more wide-open parks feels like strolling through a deep forest right in the middle of the city, and is a popular spot for jogging over bright fall leaves.

Woodland Park

Woodland Park is known for the adjacent zoo, but it’s also one of Seattle’s most amenity-rich—and foliage-dense—parks, covered with a blanket of warm-colored leaves during the fall months. It’s also one of a few places on the list to see larches without making a day of it.

Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden

No trip to the Locks is complete without this beautiful botanical garden, featuring clear and well-paved paths past picnic-ready lawns and water views.

Discovery Park

Seattle’s biggest park by a landslide—more than 500 acres—has a robust network of trails for any skill level, all perfect for crunching through fall leaves. If you’re not up to a hike, its recreation and picnic areas (save for the beach) are largely nestled in among the trees, too.,

University of Washington

The University of Washington campus is known as a go-to place for cherry blossoms, but come fall, all those beautiful deciduous leaves turn into an autumnal wonderland—surrounded by all that stately collegiate brick architecture for the full effect.

A wide, paved path is lined with trees, including a dramatic one with orange foliage on the right. The path has been partially covered in autumn leaves. Shutterstock

Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens

One of Seattle’s most beautiful botanical attractions is designed to have something to see year-round—including the Woodland Garden, which has one of the largest Japanese maple collections on the continent. The iconic Japanese Garden also boasts some bright fall colors.

Freeway Park

You don’t even have to leave downtown to get a satisfying walk through autumn leaves. Choose your own fall foliage adventure—cut up through the park to First Hill, hang out by the field and iconic brutalist fountain on the south side of the park, or take a lunch break by the Convention Center. Whichever way you experience this urban park, you’ll have some great autumn scenery along paved paths.

Bellevue Botanical Garden

53 acres of garden make for plenty of long stroll through Bellevue’s local wetlands at Bellevue Botanical Garden, winding through both forests and carefully-planned gardens. Nothing screams “fall” quite like a very pretty swamp.

Schmitz Preserve Park

Leave it to Seattle to have an old-growth forest within the city limits, and there’s no nature walk like an old-growth nature walk—you can feel fully immersed in the forest as you walk through the fall colors.

Seward Park

Whether you’re headed to the playground and picnic tables or taking a walk or ride along the Seward Park Loop, you’ll be surrounded by trees—and their changing leaves—in this waterfront park.

Lincoln Park

This West Seattle park’s many recreation areas are connected by densely wooded trails, including a hillside trail connecting to a beach, all lined by plenty of foliage. It’s right by the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock, and worth a visit if you’re stuck in the line to Vashon Island.

Westcrest Park

Tucked just inside the city limits in the Highland Park neighborhood, Westcrest Park is an underrated in-city hiking destination that even includes an off-leash trail around the dog park so your pup can feel free to frolic in the leaves.

Kubota Garden

Kubota Garden is a unique Seattle destination—it’s the former personal garden high-profile gardener Fujitaro Kubota, who used Japanese gardening concepts to showcase Northwest plant life. This means stunning walks through a serene landscape with all the fall colors the region has to offer. Just be careful not to walk through anyone’s engagement photos.