It’s no secret that New England has epic fall color locations, but to many, it may be a secret that Clark County is home to some incredible locations with fantastic pops of color in autumn.
While there may be little to no color in most places right now, signs indicate that the pumpkin spice, spooky season of Halloween, and orange leaves are near. Leaves of bigleaf maples and Oregon white oaks are starting to fall, and football is back in full swing, as well. Since the signs are here that fall is near, now is a good time to start planning where to go to see the very best that Clark County has to offer.
According to the Fall Foliage Map on explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map, the Battle Ground area will see colors peak around October 18, Yacolt is destined for an Oct. 20 peak and the Ridgefield area not until Oct. 23. But fall colors will start to appear in higher density as early as Oct. 8. However, it is best to keep an eye on the roadside trees to know when exactly to head out to the scenic spots.
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 also available. 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 be accessed at 29643 NE Hantwick Road, Yacolt. This trail offers 2.6 miles of a riverside trail each way, featuring a variety of leafy trees that change color in autumn.
At Moulton Falls Regional Park, the historic Moulton Falls Bridge and a short hike on a dirt trail to Yacolt Falls offer visitors a variety of landscape-filling fall colors. The dense and damp forest along this section of the East Fork Lewis River features numerous color-changing trees, including many trail-side vine maples that burst into bright reds. Moulton Falls Regional Park is located at 27781 NE Lucia Falls Road, near Yacolt, and offers three parking lot options.
Near Woodland, the Cedar Creek Grist Mill provides a great opportunity to see fall colors in a short window and a 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.
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. Although Oregon white oak may not turn magnificent colors like maples and other trees, the grasses in the marsh and meadow of the wildlife refuge turn a burnt orange color, enhanced by the evening light. Along with fall color opportunities, the auto loop offers bountiful wildlife viewing opportunities, especially near the end of October and into November, as the rut for deer species at the refuge begins. The auto tour loop is accessed from Hillhurst Road in Ridgefield.
