October is a magical time in Mount Rainier National Park! Subalpine foliage display shades of purple, pink, red, orange and yellow. Most notable are the color changes of Huckleberry plant leaves and Sitka Mountain Ash along with their striking, red clusters of berries. The best of nature’s colorful displays can be found at the Paradise Meadows at the 5400 ft level, a 19-mile drive from the Nisqually entrance of the park. Come back during mid-summer, and the meadows with be filled with a plethora of colorful wildflowers. Below is a sampling of eye-catching scenery I photographed October 1st.

All images property of Peggy A Thompson