‘Larch Madness,’ more like bad parking madness as people chase view of changing leaves

You’re running out of time to catch “Larch Madness” along SR 20 in the North Cascades. But if you do head up there over the next few days, don’t act like a fool.

Thousands of people have been running out on SR 20 to catch the amazing turn of colors in the larch trees. So many people come to the area to photograph and hike; it’s affectionately known as “Larch Madness.” While we might be close to peak color change, it’s still a fun drive and a fun day in the North Cascades, especially with the continued good weather.

But please don’t just disregard the rules of civilized society and park all over the road just to get a glimpse. KIRO Newsradio listener Kurt told me things are getting a little crazy up there this year.

People continue to act foolish, parking all over the tiny state highway and walking in the middle of the road to get to the trailheads.

Stop doing this.

“On weekends like this, where we’ve basically exceeded the capacity of the system, we have hundreds of people all stacked up alongside the road, and they’re parking very illegally in different directions and over the fog line,” Summer Derrey, the communications manager for the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), said. “There is very limited parking at the trailheads. The shoulders are wide enough, in places, to pull over safely, but not everywhere.”

It’s gotten so bad over the last few years that WSDOT has had to install no-parking signs.

“We’ve put up ‘no parking’ signs on the side streets and the trailheads so we’re not blocking the intersections,” Derrey said. “People are still disobeying those rules.”

Washington State Patrol (WSP) sends troopers up there on the busiest days to hand out parking tickets and even tow cars. The troopers focus more on education than enforcement, but you run the risk if you park illegally.

Derrey’s advice is to be flexible if you’re heading up for the final few days of the color changes.

“If you can’t find a good place to park, then have a backup plan,” she said.

A parking ticket will run you $50.

Larches might look like evergreens, but they are conifers that turn colors before losing their needles.

They are quite spectacular this time of year.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Follow KIRO Newsradio traffic on X.

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