When to catch Washington'snatural highlights

When is the best time to see nature in Washington?

The peaks we can name in Washington each belong to a place, not the whole state. Subalpine wildflowers at Mount Rainier: late July to early August; Waterfalls in autumn: autumn.

Each card below gives the source's own words and where they apply.

Checked Sep 30. Sources: National Park Service, Mount Rainier waterfalls ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Discover Mount Rainier's wildflowers ↗ (opens in a new tab) National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.

The peaks through the year

Named places, in their sources' words; not statewide dates

Usual peakSubalpine wildflowers · Mount Rainier
late July to early August
The subalpine meadows; snow can linger well into July
“Patches of snow can linger well into July, but by late July to early August, the subalpine meadows are usually in peak bloom.”
Source: National Park Service, Discover Mount Rainier's wildflowers ↗ (opens in a new tab)Wildflowers at Mount Rainier →
Best viewingWaterfalls in autumn · Mount Rainier
autumn
The park's waterfalls as autumn rains fill the streambeds (and again in early summer with snowmelt)
“Mount Rainier’s numerous waterfalls are best viewed in early summer as melting snow feeds the streams, and again in autumn as the rains fill the streambeds.”
Source: National Park Service, Mount Rainier waterfalls ↗ (opens in a new tab)

On one calendar

Approximate months; the cards above give the timing

Subalpine wildflowersUsual peak: late July to early August
Waterfalls in autumnBest viewing: autumn (the source gives no months)

Solid: a usual peak, the best viewing time or when animals are most numerous. Hatched: a broader season, never a peak.

Pick a part of Washington

10 places we follow

Cascades

Mount RainierFall foliage · Wildflowers
Wind RiverFall foliage
Mountain Loop HighwayFall foliage
North CascadesWildflowers
Washington PassFall foliage

Puget Sound

SeattleCherry blossoms
Nisqually RefugeWinter wildlife

Lower Columbia

Ridgefield RefugeWinter wildlife

Eastern Washington

Hanford ReachWildflowers
Turnbull RefugeWildflowers

Washington on one map

Every place we follow here; tap one for its events

Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Browse by season and event

Cherry blossoms · 1 place hereEverywhere →
Fall foliage · 4 places hereIn Washington →Everywhere →
Wildflowers · 4 places hereIn Washington →Everywhere →
Winter wildlife · 2 places hereIn Washington →Everywhere →

Park guides and towns to stay in

Towns: straight-line distances on their own pages

Park guides

Mount Rainier: when to catch its peaks

Towns

Washington in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions

A calm river reflecting pale cliffs above two smaller photos of anglers holding large fish on a boat — Fishing on the Columbia River at Hanford Reach National Monument: the river below pale bluffs, and two anglers with their catch (three photos, various dates). Photo: Top photo: USFWS; bottom photos: Bruce Hewitt/USFWS · public domain · resized

Yellow and purple wildflowers among rocks below the snow-covered mountain — Wildflowers on a ridge in front of Mount Rainier. Photo: Sarah Dunn / USGS · public domain

Closeup of wildflowers with tall yellow arrowleaf groundsel and deep blue lupine — Wildflowers at Tipsoo Lake, Mount Rainier National Park. Photo: NPS Photo · public domain

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages

Sep 26Park ServiceIn September, meadows start to turn red, orange and yellowSource (opens National Park Service, Discover Mount Rainier's wildflowers in a new tab)
Sep 30Park ServiceWaterfalls are best viewed in early summer with snowmelt and again in autumn when rains fill the streambedsSource (opens National Park Service, Mount Rainier waterfalls in a new tab)
National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.