DUFUR, Ore. — When fall rolls around in the Pacific Northwest, many head to the forest to search for gold. For those who know where to look, a rare yet splendid sight in parts of Oregon and Washington peppers the otherwise green landscape with sparkles of yellow.
The Western larch — which may look like a normal evergreen tree in the spring and summer — is a deciduous conifer tree, producing cones while also dropping its golden needles in the fall. The closest place to spot them from the Portland area is probably the east side of Mount Hood.
Hikers affectionately call this time of year "Larch Madness" for the increased traffic on the trails. People flock to these areas to catch a special glimpse of the changing seasons.
Our adventure took us to the parking lot of Billy Bob Sno Park in Dufur. From here it's a nearly 3-mile hike up to the Fivemile Butte Lookout, a now-retired fire lookout tower available for overnight stays. Reservations go fast though, so you’ll have to be attentive if that piques your interest.
The road up to the lookout is gated a half-mile from the top, so you can get that close by car as long as the road is open. On wheels or on foot, the roadside and viewpoints galore are littered with larches in varying levels of color. The peak change only lasts a few weeks every fall.
