By Douglas Scott
Fall is a transition time for the Pacific Northwest. As each day passes, the sun rises a little later, and the sun sets a little earlier. In fact, we lose three minutes of daylight each day during the month of October. During the fall, gray skies become more frequent, helping show off the beauty of the leaves transitioning from green to orange seemingly overnight. Rain starts to fall, the wind starts to pick up, and the communities around Grays Harbor come alive with an energy that only fall can bring. As elk bugle and birds migrate south, salmon swim upstream and hikers enjoy the beauty of the region. For many, fall is the best time to be a local, and these five activities will help convince you of the same. Whether you are a mushroom hunter, enjoy beach combing or are just like to experience a leisurely drive to view the colors of autumn, these activities are sure to get you out exploring.
As crispness returns to the air, mushroom hunters around the state gather their buckets and head to the Olympic Peninsula and Grays Harbor. For mushroom hunters in the region, fall means it’s the time to find Chanterelles, Hedgehogs, Morels, Oysters, Boletes, and Chicken of the Woods, all of which are extremely delicious and can sell for quite lucrative prices. While mushrooms can be found almost anywhere, a good field guide is needed to help locate the best spots, as well as identify edible mushrooms. The best book to pick up or check out is the Field Guide to Edible Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest by Daniel Winkler. If you are looking for an event to learn more about mushrooms, head to the Quinault Lodge for the13th Annual Mushroom Festival – October 16 through 18. More information about this event and other events around the region can be found on the South Sound Mushroom Club website.
Fishing during the fall months in Grays Harbor is one of the most authentic local experiences you can have. Standing along the muddy banks of rivers like the Satsop, Wynoochee and Humptulips is the fastest way to become an official resident of the area. As the leaves start to fall from the trees, and the rain starts to fall, salmon work their way up the rivers of the region in a mass migration. With a proper permit and the right gear, you could be landing a salmon easily weighing over 15 pounds, with some 35+ pound behemoths rumored to be caught in the Humptulips River. For the best fall fishing in Grays Harbor, check out GraysHarborTalk’s fall fishing article.
Storm watching and beach combing during the fall are something that we, as residents of Grays Harbor, thrive on. While the weather in the early fall is downright enjoyable, in November the weather shifts, often violently. Strong winds and heavy rains blast the region, while huge storm swells and high tides wash up and uncover amazing treasures. As the storms approach, head out to Ocean Shores or Westport’s jetty to watch amazing wave action. Winds will rock your car as waves crash against the rocks, making for an amazing display of the power of nature. Once the storms end, from Moclips down to Grayland Beach State Park and every beach in between, beach combing is at its best. Once the weather clears and the tide starts heading out, hit the beach and keep an eye out for glass floats, agates, shells and even tsunami debris from Japan. Your best bet after a storm is to hit either Roosevelt Beach, just south of Pacific Beach, or Grayland Beach State Park.
During the summer months, millions of tourists from around the world head to the natural wonders of Grays Harbor and the Olympic Peninsula. As the crowds thin, locals know that this is the best time to go on a hike. Hiking during the fall months around Grays Harbor shows off the beauty of the region, and nowhere is this more evident than in the wilderness surrounding our cities. For hikes with the best fall colors, head into the Quinault Rainforest, especially where there are maples. The trail systems around Grays Harbor are spectacular, and most trails are both kid and dog-friendly. For many, the best hikes are out in Quinault or around Wynoochee, with the trails around Lake Sylvia and Schafer State Park coming in a close second. If you are looking for possible elk sightings on hikes, don’t miss the Quinault region. Elk are often seen near the golf course along South Shore Road or near the ranger station on North Shore Road.
Fall in Grays Harbor means the return of the bird watching season. Starting in October, migratory birds head south, giving those who head to Damon Point or Bowerman Basin an excellent opportunity to see the hundreds of species of birds that make a pit stop in Grays Harbor. While it is true that the fall migration isn’t as great as the spring migration, autumn gives dedicated birders a chance to see Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Shoveler, Canvasback, Mallard, Marsh Wren, and Canada Goose. In winter, Rough-legged Hawks and even Snowy Owls may be seen. For best birding along the water, arrive a few hours before high tide and bring a pair of binoculars.
Finally, no fall would be complete without experiencing the beauty of fall colors. While the majority of our trees are not deciduous, there are a few locations where the fall colors erupt in a cornucopia of beauty. The absolute best bet for amazing fall colors is along the Quinault Loop Drive In Olympic National Park and Forest. Starting along South Shore Road, make your way to the bridge, cross the Quinault River, and head right to the North Fork Trailhead. This route will ensure you see amazing colors from the car, as well as getting you into the wilderness of Olympic National Park. For those looking for a family-friendly hike, stop at the Quinault River Ranger Station and take the Kestner Homestead and Maple Glade Trail. If you are lucky, you will hear the bugles of elk as you stroll through mute, moss-covered maples – not a bad way to enjoy a fall day in Grays Harbor.
