Swauk Forest Discovery Trail — Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025

We got to the trailhead around 7:30am. The road is a bit rough but we expected that with the recent fire nearby it would be a good place for vehicles and equipment to be parked or moved around. Some potholes - more than usual but nothing awful. There was a bit of patchy snow left but no need for spikes. It was really windy today and very cold at the viewpoint but the color was worth the chill. The larches are mostly golden now although a few are still that pale lime green so made for great color along with the pinks, reds and yellows of the brushy vegetation. It snowed on us for a hot minute but otherwise just a little drizzle this morning. This is a nice wander if you want to see some larches and are on the east side of the cascades since all the larch hikes nearby are unavailable due to fire.