Murali Narayanan Photography

Photographing fall foliage along the Skyline Trail between the Paradise Visitor Center and Myrtle Falls Bridge in Mount Rainier National Park is a stunning experience. In early to mid-October, this short but spectacular stretch comes alive with vibrant alpine color—scarlet huckleberry bushes and the deep greens of subalpine firs framing Mount Rainier’s snowcapped summit. The morning light casts a warm glow over the meadows, highlighting the textures and contrasts between foliage and rock. With the trail’s gentle elevation gain and panoramic viewpoints, every turn presents a fresh composition—perfect for wide landscape shots.

The best time to photograph fall foliage along the trail is early in the morning—just before sunrise and up to about 10 a.m., before the light becomes harsh. This year, we were fortunate that the forecast called for partly cloudy skies, which softened the light beautifully. With sunrise at 7:05 a.m., we arrived at the Paradise Visitor Center around 5:30 and began the short hike about an hour later.