Crunch Quest
If a leaf falls in the forest and no one is around to step on it, does it still make a sound?
Nothing beats the satisfying "crunch" of a crisp autumn leaf underfoot— a sweet chorus singing "farewell" to scorching hot days and welcoming rain back into the forecast. This irresistible sensory delight is fleeting, but floods your body with dopamine, making you forget that you spent the last several hours staring at a screen and listening to your coworker clear their throat. Crunching leaves can be difficult to find in our wonderland of Douglas firs, but we know the places to go to get your fix. Listen closely, and we'll lead the way...
#4: Dorris Ranch
With the orchards now full of younger filbert trees, you'll have to travel a bit further to reach crunch-worthy territory. Head past the orchards and into the Gary Walker Trail System, then explore trails 3 and 5 through old-growth riparian woodland along a swift section of the Middle Fork Willamette River. To increase your CPM (crunches per minute), consider bringing a furry friend along, whose four paws can do a lot more crunching than your two feet. Just make sure they're on a leash and don't leave anything behind that could sound more like a "squish".
#3: Middle Fork Path
The Middle Fork Path will take you on four unbroken miles of riverfront path connecting Dorris Ranch all the way to Clearwater Park. On your journey, you'll encounter fallen leaves from black cottonwood, bigleaf maple, red alder, Oregon ash, and a variety of willows, all while enjoying stunning views of the river. It's best to seek crunching leaves on sunny days when the leaves are dry and stiff.
#2: Thurston Hills Natural Area
Less than half a mile up Mossy Maple Trail and you'll quickly understand how this forested trail got its name. As you climb gentle switchbacks, you'll find mature bigleaf maple trees dotting the hillside, whose vibrant yellow leaves stand out against the green, moss-covered Douglas firs. You won't have to look too hard— these leaves are bigger than your face.
#1: West D Street Greenway
Follow the Willamette River west of Island Park to our number one recommendation to get your leaf-crunching fix: Eastgate Woodlands. This magical riparian woodland area features towering cottonwood trees that hang over West D Street Greenway, creating a thick layer of crispy, crunchy leaves that fill the air with a sweet smell on a sunny day. If you're not susceptible to sensory overload, consider traveling by bike for a much higher CPM (crunches per minute).