RHH's photos with the keyword: subalpine larch

These are the autumn needles of a Subalpine Larch, a species of Larch that has a disjunct range in the North Cascades.

Supalpine Larch is a deciduous conifer that grows in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta with a small disjunct population in the Cascades of Washington. It grows at high altitudes (1,800 to 2,400 m, 5,900 to 7,900 ft). We went to see the larches at Cutthroat Pass mid-October and they were at their peak. We did not see them, though, until we reaches those higher altitudes at which they grow.

Yesterday we hiked Cutthroat Pass in the North Cascades. Cutthroat Pass is on the Pacific Crest Trail north of Highway 20 and Washington Pass. We hiked through some snow and the weather was quite cloudy and cold, though it cleared as we returned to the car. We started early, though, and missed most of the sunshine because we still had four hours of driving to get back home. The larches were near their peak and made the rather cold and sunless hike worthwhile. We hiked around eleven miles (18 km) and did about 2200 feet (670 m) of elevation. Our highest point was 7000 feet (2133 m).

Larches near Cutthroat Pass in the North Cascades.

If we are able, we hike in October in the North Cascades east of North Cascades National Park to see the Larches in color. They are the Subalpine Larches, Larix lyallii, found at high elevations in Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta with a small disjunct population in the North Cascades. Last autumn we nearly missed them due to an early season, but did manage these photos.

One of our favorite hikes in autumn is the Heather/Maple Pass loop in the North Cascades. There is a disjunct population of Subalpine Larches there and in autumn they are glorious in the golden colors. This photo was taken near Maple Pass last autumn.

Anyone who has seen Larches in autumn knows how beautiful they are when they change color. We have a small population of Subalpine Larches in the North Cascades and go to see them nearly every autumn.

Taken in 2016, this photo is of the Subalpine Larch. The photo was taken near Heather Pass in the North Cascades, one of our favorite hiking destinations in the autumn.