As the leaves begin to flutter to the ground, fall colors are right around the corner in Clark County. Seeing the fantastic oranges, reds and yellows as a senior can be a challenge, but some places provide easier access.
The 2024 Fall Foliage Map by Smokymountains.com predicts some change to leaves in Clark County could begin as early as next week with colors peaking from the week of Oct. 7 through the week of Oct. 21. By the week of Oct. 28, the website predicts the majority of leaves and vibrant colors will be expired, leaving a relatively short window to view the annual natural painting of the trees.
In Clark County, seniors have numerous opportunities to view the changing leaves without a long drive or a trek on a narrow, steep trail. From county parks to state parks and a grist mill built in 1876, numerous opportunities dot the map.
In the Felida area, the Salmon Creek Greenway Trail, accessible for all abilities with a 3.9 mile asphalt trail with hardly any elevation gain, provides an opportunity to experience nature just north of Vancouver. The trail and meadow through which the Salmon Creek flows is dotted with leafy trees waiting to turn colors. The area also provides birding opportunities, dog walking and bicycle riding. The trail is easily accessible from the eastern end at the Salmon Creek Regional Park and Klineline Pond, 1112 NE 117th Street in Vancouver, and from the western end along Northwest 36th Avenue near Northwest 138th Street in Vancouver.
In Ridgefield, the auto tour loop at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge’s River S unit provides an opportunity to view nature from the vehicle. Though Oregon white oak may not turn magnificent colors like maples and other trees, grasses in the marsh and meadow of the wildlife refuge turn a burnt orange color enhanced in the evening light. Along with fall color opportunities, the auto loop provides bountiful wildlife viewing opportunities, especially near the end of October and into November as the rut for deer species at the refuge ensues. The auto tour loop is accessed from Hillhurst Road in Ridgefield.
Near Woodland, the Cedar Creek Grist Mill offers a good opportunity to see fall colors in a short window and small area. Roughly 25 minutes from Battle Ground proper and 15 minutes off the freeway from Woodland, the grist mill is nestled in a gorge along the Cedar Creek surrounded by old growth maple trees that turn to a vibrant yellow and orange in the fall. Visitors can park near the grist mill and walk onto a 1990s-built covered bridge for the best photo opportunity of the fall colors. The grist mill is located at 43907 NE Grist Mill Road, Woodland. The Cedar Creek Grist Mill museum and grain-grinding mill is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Visitors can still view the national historic site and the grounds every day of the year.
Near Battle Ground, parks such as Daybreak, Lewisville and Battle Ground Lake State Park offer bountiful fall color opportunities with easy access. Each park offers ADA parking and sections of flat trails.
The Lower Daybreak Park features a flat, paved, out-and-back style path that is 1.12 miles, round trip. A gravel trail is available, as well. The gravel loop trail passes near Manley Creek and is just over three-quarters of a mile long. Various leafed trees along the East Fork Lewis River provide picturesque fall views. The Lower Daybreak Park is located at 24601 NE Daybreak Road near Battle Ground.
Lewisville Regional Park, located at 24611 NE Lewisville Highway near Battle Ground, has plenty to offer. A large, mowed-grass meadow and forest are accessible by a section of flat, compact gravel paths with views of the East Fork Lewis River. Leafed trees dot the landscape among towering evergreen trees.
Visitors to Battle Ground Lake State Park with ADA parking permits can skip the short, steep walk down to the lake. Like Lewisville Park, a section of flat trail and a gathering area along the lakeshore offer easy access to view reflective scenes of fall colors popping out among the evergreen trees.
Near Yacolt, Moulton Falls Regional Park can be slippery when wet, so caution and proper footwear is advised, but fall color views are plentiful. The park also connects to the flat, easier accessible Hantwick Trail, which can also be accessed at 29643 NE Hantwick Road, Yacolt, and offers 2.6 miles each way of river-side trail with a variety of leafed trees changing color in autumn.
At Moulton Falls Regional Park, the historic Moulton Falls Bridge and a short hike on a dirt trail to Yacolt Falls offers visitors a variety of landscape-filling fall colors. The dense and damp forest along this section of the East Fork Lewis River includes numerous color-changing trees, including a lot of trail-side vine maple that can burst into bright reds. Moulton Falls Regional Park is located at 27781 NE Lucia Falls Road near Yacolt and includes three parking lot options.
