The Best Things to Do in Spokane in the Fall

If you want to be convinced that Spokane is the greatest place to live, just visit Spokane in the fall! Spokane in the fall is absolutely gorgeous, from colorful red, orange and yellow leaves falling to pumpkin-spiced donuts on a farm and so, so much more. Before winter hits and everyone goes into hibernation, you must take advantage of fall in Spokane.

Here is a list of the top 7 things to do in Spokane in the fall!

Looking for more fall events happening in Spokane? Check out our Events calendar!

What is Fall Like in Spokane?

If you want to see just a little peek of what Spokane looks like in the fall, take a look at the photos below.

You can also watch this gorgeous YouTube video, which was shot around Spokane.

Wondering when is the best time to see fall colors in Spokane? This year, in 2021, the peak times to enjoy fall colors in Spokane will be the first week of October!

Best Things to Do, See and Eat in Spokane in the Fall

1) Visit Green Bluff in the Fall

It goes without saying that a visit to Green Bluff is a ‘must do’… and must eat and must see! I’ve covered what you should do at Green Bluff if you only have an afternoon to spend, but you could spend hours upon hours visiting all the family farms, apple- and pumpkin-picking, visiting goats, drinking cider, and more.

Truly, fall is the time to visit Green Bluff. It’s great in the summer, but it really picks up in the fall and even a bit in the winter. Many places in Green Bluff, including High Country Orchard and Beck’s Harvest House serve breakfast and lunch, so it’s easy to plan a whole day on the Bluff.

Some highlights include:

• Tons of fresh produce, including apples, peaches, squash and pumpkins at High Country Orchard from 9 am to 6 pm daily. On the weekends, High Country Orchard will also have pony rides, music, vendors and more.
• It’s apple season in the fall at Sunset Orchard! Get apples, peaches, plums, corn, tomatoes and more. Sunset Orchard is open from 8 am to 5 pm daily. Sunset Orchard is now having its Fall Festival, which goes on until November 1. 

• Get your ‘world famous’ pumpkin donuts from Beck’s Harvest House this fall! Seriously, Beck’s always has a ton going on and it’s so centrally located in Green Bluff, it’s a don’t miss! During the Fall Festival, you will be able to get pumpkin donuts from 10 AM – 5 PM. You will need to make a reservation for Beck’s Fall Festival. At the Fall Festival, you’ll find a cow train, giant corn maze, tire mountain and more! 
• Do you LOVE apples? You probably should if you live in Spokane! Walter’s Fruit Ranch (one of my favorites) hosts a Fall Festival until October 31, and Walter’s has a ton of apples! This year, enjoy apple and pumpkin picking, the Press Plate Bar, live music, a corn cannon and so much more! 
• Siemer’s Farm – Siemer’s is having an exciting Apple Festival this year, which lasts until October 31. This year, they’re joined by local bakery favorite Mi Flavour, which will be running Siemer’s sweet shop! This year, you can enjoy a corn maze, castle, train ride, and more at Siemer’s Farm. 

Finally, if you really love squash during the fall (and who doesn’t, there are so many ways to cook and eat it!), you definitely want to visit Eleven Acres Farm. You can find all of their produce listed on their Today’s Produce page, and just trust me when I say they offer a lot of squash!

2) Spooky Fun in Spokane

We’ve covered some of the best haunted houses (and scary stories) around Spokane, but there is even more you can do to get into a spooky frame of mind!

Possibly the most frightful place to observe the Halloween season, Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho transforms into Scarywood at night. Scarywood is back for 2021! Buy your tickets online to save a few bucks, and remember: Scarywood ends on October 31 and reverts back to traditional Silverwood, so go sooner rather than later!

Not sure if Scarywood is too scary for you? Take a look at this video footage of Scarywood from 2017:

 

Another spooky place to visit this year? The King Family Haunted House is famous in Spokane, and for good reason. As of September 2021, the King family hasn’t announced if the haunted house will be a walk-through or drive up, so keep an eye on their Facebook page!

As the King Family Haunted House describes it:

Those faint of heart may drive by for a glimpse of the EVIL WITHIN! Those with braver souls may explore on foot to experience a closer brush with TERROR!!

Next, don’t be misled by the name of the next haunted house on our list, Sparky’s Fun House! Sparky’s may be fun… for the undead. As of September 2021, Sparky’s hasn’t announced yet if they will be open, but make sure to bookmark this page or follow Sparky’s on Facebook!

Want to get away from Spokane for haunted fun? We’ve rounded up some of the best ghost towns in Washington!

3) Fall Colors in Spokane

Almost anywhere you go in Spokane during the fall is going to be beautiful, particularly if you’re able to go up to the South Hill or 5 Mile, where you’ll climb the hills and look down at all the lovely, changing colors and fall leaves. But if you really want some dedicated places to see Spokane fall colors, you won’t want to miss:

• Finch Arboretum – the Arboretum offers a self-guided walking tour and encourages guests to visit at any time of the year, but particularly the fall! According to Finch Arboretum “the Mountain Ash, Maple and Oak trees are the most well-known for their berries and leaf colors. The artistry of these fall colors create incredible photographs and backdrop for beautiful wedding events.” This is a free fall in Spokane event – it’s definitely a ‘can’t miss.’
• Manito Park – almost all of Manito Park is perfect for seeing the fall colors, but my favorite place to really get some gorgeous, deep reds is the Japanese Garden. You can learn more about Manito and get their free walking tour brochure here. 
• Dishman Hills Conservation Area/Iller Creek – on the edge of Spokane Valley, you’ll have a nice 5 mile loop around Iller Creek in the Dishman Hills Conservation Area. There’s a reason why Dishman Hills offers ‘fall foliage hikes’ – it’s gorgeous here!
• Riverside State Park – Want to stay closer to Spokane to see the fall colors? Head over to Riverside State Park, which offers plenty of options for hardcore hikers to those who just want to stroll. You will need a Discover Pass to park here.

According to this interactive fall foliage prediction map, we can expect Spokane to see peak fall colors around October 11 – so head out there then!

4) Halloween Activities in Spokane

Beyond handing out candy to trick-or-treaters (or visiting your neighbors for candy), there are a ton of fun Halloween activities in Spokane, and lots of ways to enjoy fall in Spokane:

• King Family Haunted House – open from 7 to 9 pm on weekends and the whole week of Halloween (this is still TBD for 2021 but we will update when the times are confirmed!). Located at 15604 N Freya Street, Mead, WA. Free.
• Greenwood Cemetery – Walk this haunted staircase, located at 211 N. Government Way, Spokane, WA – if you dare! Legend has it that this staircase at the Greenwood Cemetery is haunted. If you walk at night, you may see the faces of men, women and children – plus hear their shrieks and cries. 
• Awesome Octoberfest at Kids Quest at Northern Quest – need something a little less creepy and more fun? Head over to Northern Quest Casino with the kids for kid-friendly Octoberfest! Octoberfest at Northern Quest in 2021 will offer kids a pumpkin smash, haunted scavenger hunt, ghost tag, and more.

Looking for more haunted fall fun around Spokane? Here are some of the best haunted houses around Spokane!

5) Enjoy Pumpkin French Toast, Cupcakes, Donuts and More

So many places around Spokane are getting into fall flavors right now, with delicious things to eat and drink. A few of the standouts:

• Old European – Old European is serving up pumpkin donuts, peach mimosas, and more!
• Sweet Frostings has a ton of delicious goodies, including pumpkin cookies, pumpkin spiced cupcakes, pumpkin cake and more!
• Green Bluff tasty treats – of course, Green Bluff also has a lot of tasty treats this year, including their famous pumpkin donuts, sweet apples, and more. 

Really, you can’t go wrong with anything fall-flavored this time of year! From pumpkin donuts to pumpkin spiced coffee at local roasters and coffee shops in Spokane, there’s something for everyone!

6) Pumpkin Patches in Spokane

If you’re looking for amazing pumpkin patches in Spokane to get fun fall photos or to pick out your perfect Halloween pumpkin, there’s no better place to go than Green Bluff. Some of our top recommendations for pumpkin patches in Spokane include:

• High Country Orchard
• Beck’s Harvest House
• Eleven Acres
• Sunset Orchard

If you’re looking for even more pumpkin patches a little outside of Spokane, you have options! Prairie Home Farm in Coeur d’Alene has you covered with their fun pumpkin patch. Simply grab a wagon and head to the patch! In addition to the pumpkin patch, Prairie Home Farm also has family photo ops with old time tractors, sunflowers, and a picture station!

7) Corn Mazes around Spokane

This year, visit the corn maze at Beck’s! For the 2021 Fall Festival, Beck’s is hosting a giant corn maze that you can enjoy Fridays – Sundays, September 25 through October 31!

Head over to Carver Farms at Newman Lake for a corn maze – plus pumpkins, including pink pumpkins! In addition to the corn maze, you can also enjoy pumpkin donuts, kettle corn and more. 

As you can see, there is so much to do in and around Spokane in the fall! Spokane in the fall is gorgeous and, in my opinion, the best time to visit Spokane.

Which fall activities are you going to participate in this year? Let us know over on our Facebook page!

Want to enjoy more of Spokane and Washington in the fall? Check out our fall-related articles below:

• Learn more about the best ghost towns in Washington
• Where to find the best haunted houses in Spokane
• What to do during Gonzaga’s fall family weekend