Fall has finally arrived. Here are the best places to see fall foliage in Pierce County

There has been a shift in the Washington air. Mornings are chilly, scattered rain showers have begun, the days are shorter and cooler and the vibrant green trees that cover Washington are slowly beginning to change color. Fall is here.

About half of the state of Washington, or 22.5 million acres, is forested, according to the U.S. Forest Service. That makes it one of the best states to see fall foliage with plenty of scenic drives. Although the state is known for its evergreen trees, there are also plenty of deciduous trees like maple and aspen, which turn orange, yellow and red in the fall.

Although there are many scenic drives around the state to choose from, for some making a long drive could be too time-consuming. But luckily for folks in Pierce County, there are plenty of local places to visit to see the orange, yellow and red hues.

According to smokymountains.com , a Tennessee-based company specializing in vacation experiences in national parks, early signs of widespread fall foliage have already begun in parts of Washington. The site predicts that the most vibrant colors will peak during the first week of October.

Pierce County began to see the color of the leaves changing on Sept. 23 and the colors will peak by Oct. 21, according to the Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage Prediction Map .

So where are the best places to see fall foliage in Pierce County?

Best places to see fall foliage in Pierce County

Here are five local places to visit this fall to see fall colors:

Point Defiance Park - 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma

Point Defiance Park is 640 acres and consists of an old-growth forest that includes gardens, trails, historic buildings, a zoo, an aquarium and is surrounded by the Puget Sound.

Wright Park - 501 S. I St., Tacoma

Wright Park consists of 27 acres and has more than 600 trees that make it a great place to visit during the fall.

Wapato Park - 6500 S. Sheridan Ave., Tacoma

Wapato Park is surrounded by a forest and features a lake, a walking trail, a playground and a dog park.

Sehmel Homestead Park - 10123 78th Ave. NW, Gig Harbor

The park includes a 76-acre meadow, a naturalistic pond, wetlands, a forest conservancy area and about four miles of trails that go through the forest, according to PenMet Parks.

Sunrise Beach Park - 10015 Sunrise Beach Drive NW, Gig Harbor

Sunrise Beach Park is over 71 acres consisting of meadows and over 2,000 feet of shoreline which gives guests the best of both worlds. The park features trails, picnic areas and has access to a popular scuba diving destination, according to PenMet Parks.