7 great places to see fall colors in Spokane

Autumn might just be my favorite season in the Pacific Northwest, and Spokane, Washington has some beautiful places to see fall colors! Whether you’re looking to take a relaxed stroll in a park or to enjoy a more challenging hike, the below list of 7 great places to see fall colors in Spokane has something for everyone. One of the hikes even features larches, which are a deciduous conifer that turns a brilliant yellow and inspires the annual ‘larch madness’ that grips the state (and social media) each fall. The timing of fall colors can vary year to year, but is generally mid to end of October.

Manito Park

Located in Spokane’s Manito/Cannon Hill neighborhood, the 78 acre Manito Park is one of the city’s most iconic fall locations. I think the Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden is at its most beautiful in fall, with lots of stunning red and orange maples. The Ferris Perennial Garden, duck pond, and formal Duncan Garden are also a treat in fall! 

Manito Park is free to visit.

The Ben Burr Trail

Running from Liberty Park to Underhill Park along an old railroad track converted to a multi-use path, the Ben Burr trail offers a haven for bikers and walkers in the South Hill and East Central neighborhoods of Spokane. It’s also a beautiful spot for fall colors, which blanket the trail in a colorful (and sometimes slick!) mosaic! It’s a true hidden gem of Spokane in that it’s a beautiful area that many locals don’t seem to know about, or visit.

The Ben Burr Trail and Liberty Park are free to visit.

Riverside State Park

Located along the river near downtown Spokane, Riverside State Park has beautiful fall colors! There are lots of hiking trail options, but I’m partial to the 2.1 mile Bowl and Pitcher Loop Trail, which is an easy walk. While the area has a lot of evergreens, you’ll see patches of fall color along the trail and along the water.

Note: you’ll need to purchase a Discover Pass to recreate here. You can buy a $10 day use pass or $30 annual pass.

Iller Creek Conservation Area

I’ll let you in on a little secret… this hike lets you see one of the Pacific Northwest’s most coveted fall trees: larches! I honestly didn’t think we had larches in Eastern Washington, but you’ll find larches along the Iller Creek Conservation Area Trail in Spokane Valley. 

At 5 miles long and 1,200 feet of elevation gain this hike will give you a workout. You’ll also encounter several patches of larches along the trail. Because they’re at a lower elevation, these larches also tend to remain beautiful long after the iconic larches of Leavenworth and the North Cascades have lost their color. In 2024 the larches were still looking great during the last week of October.

Iller Creek is free to visit.

Lincoln Park 

Formerly known Rockwood Park, the 50-acre Lincoln Park in the city’s Lincoln Heights neighborhood has beautiful colors in fall! Enjoy yellow aspen near the duck pond in Upper Lincoln Park, and lots of colorful trees in Lower Lincoln Park. There are several crisscrossing trails within the park popular with birders, mountain bikers, and walkers. We love walking along the 1.6 mile Lincoln Park Loop.

Lincoln Park is free to visit.

John A. Finch Arboretum

Occupying 65 wooded acres in Southwest Spokane, the John A. Finch Arboretum is absolutely stunning in fall. The arboretum has a wide variety of plant collections, ranging from dawn redwoods and ginkgo trees to rhododendrons and maples. I honestly think this is one of the best places to see fall colors in Spokane.

The gardens are peaceful, and have many places to picnic, or to sit and enjoy the view. The only thing worth noting is that the arboretum is adjacent to the highway, which can be a bit loud. 

John A. Finch Arboretum is free to visit.

Dishman Hills Natural Area

The Dishman Hills Natural Area offers more subtle fall colors than many of the other locations listed here, but it’s still well worth a visit in fall! There are abundant hiking trails that take you through this forested area, and you’ll encounter patches of stunning fall colors. Hiking trail maps of the area can be found here.

Dishman Hills is free to visit.

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