The beloved Boardman Tree Farm is gone, but that doesn’t mean there’s nowhere for Portlanders to see mesmerizing rows of poplar trees. After a lot of reconnaissance en route to hikes around Oregon and Washington and sleuthing on Google Satellite View, I’ve found another regional poplar farm with fall colors: the Chehalis Poplar Tree Farm.
Chehalis, Washington is right on the I-5 corridor between Portland and Seattle. It’s closer to Portland than Seattle, but not by much. This poplar tree farm is easily in range for leaf-seekers from either major metro or anywhere in between. And if you’re one of the many people making the journey between Portland and Seattle, this is a shoe-in place to stop, particularly in the fall.
In today’s post, I’ll share the highlights of the Chehalis Poplar Tree Farm and everything you need to know to visit it yourself. For a video tour, check out our Chehalis Poplar Tree Farm video below.
Where is the Chehalis Poplar Tree Farm?
This may seem like an obvious question—I mean, it must be in Chehalis! But it’s surprisingly difficult to find online. I knew it existed only because Bryan and I drove by the poplar tree farm incidentally last December en route to see family for the holidays.
“Look! A poplar tree farm!” I exclaimed at the time, adjusting the pom-pom on my Santa hat so I could see properly. The December rain on the passenger window distorted the rows of skeletal trees as we sped past, but there was no mistaking what they were. We had found a poplar tree farm.
I’d been hoping to find one ever since seeing photos of the Boardman Tree Farm. That farm, with its rows and rows of vibrant trees extending hypnotically out of sight, is now cow pasture and cropland.
The Chehalis Poplar Tree Farm isn’t exactly close to Portland—it’s a 1.5-hour drive—but the Boardman Tree Farm was even farther away, at 2.5 hours.
When October rolled around, I spent 45 minutes or so digging online for the Chehalis poplars. They were surprisingly elusive. A search for “Chehalis Poplar Tree Farm” yields nothing on Google Maps. After comparing vague search result descriptions to Google Satellite View, I at last pinpointed the telltale rows of trees in the aerial photo (see below).
To find the poplar tree farm, I’d recommend navigating to WA-6 & S Scheuber Rd in Chehalis, WA. This intersection is just after the poplar tree farm, so you’ll see the poplars on the right side of the road just before you get to this waypoint.
Are Visitors Allowed at the Chehalis Poplar Tree Farm?
Yes and no—A fence runs along the boundary of the poplar tree farm, so it doesn’t look very inviting at first glance. However, the City of Chehalis notes that it’s fine to photograph the trees from the fence. Unfortunately, visitors aren’t allowed to actually go in and walk among the trees. The photos in this post were taken from the fence line.
Since you can’t walk among the trees, and this poplar tree farm is smaller, it’s not the same experience as the Boardman Tree Farm. But, given that one no longer exists, I’m psyched to find a place that still captures part of the magic.
There isn’t an official parking lot, but there are a couple of pull outs along WA-6 that can each fit a couple of cars. Despite the lack of parking, you’ll likely not have any trouble finding a spot. I was the only person photographing the trees the day I went! It takes some focus to hone in on the trees and ignore the busy road and gas station behind you, but if you do, there’s a lot of beauty to appreciate.
When Do the Fall Colors Peak at the Chehalis Poplar Tree Farm?
This is, of course, the central question. It’s actually a bit complicated. Per the City of Chehalis, there are nine kinds of poplar trees planted at the tree farm. Different varieties show fall colors at different times. I took a guess in 2022 and turned up on October 17. I found a section of poplars that were totally green (no fall colors yet!), one that had already lost most of its leaves, and one that was just deepening from yellow to amber.
Since there are so many poplar varieties on site, the window of fall color is wider than if the trees were all the same. I only have mid-October confirmed so far, but I think if you’re in the area any time from October through mid November, you’re likely to catch some fall color at the Chehalis Poplar Tree Farm. Let us know in the comments how the leaves are when you go!
Other Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
For more travel ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out our PNW Trip Planner. You can find adventures near you and filter by season and difficulty level. There are weird and wonderful things to explore any time of year. The trip planner links to blog posts to help you plan your next adventure.
Happy exploring!
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