With the changing fall colors, I wanted to return to Royal Basin to take in the scene. Last time we ran as much as we hiked but this time I went alone and spent a significant amount of time photographing the colors and the abundant small waterfalls and rushing creeks.

Trail

The trail starts through the woods along the Dungeness River. One mile from the trailhead the trail splits, across the bridge to continue on the Upper Dungeness River Trail or continuing along the trail to Royal Basin.

After a few miles of walking through the woods the trail opens up into the lower meadows. The fall colors were definitely beginning to show, primarily the yellows both along the trail and on the mountainside across the valley.

The reflections on Royal Lake were not so impressive from the north but as I walked along the lake on the way to the upper basin the wind calmed and reflection of the mountains appeared.

I’m always impressed with the upper basin and spent a leisurely lunch & coffee taking it all in before heading back down the trail to shoot more waterfalls I had spied on the hike up.