PORTLAND -- Autumn is upon the Pacific Northwest as trees turn shades of oranges and golds, while people and pets walk amongst the red and brown leaves falling on sidewalks and streets.

Colors are here, there and everywhere, from Washington to Westmoreland parks and in-between. Fall foliage peaks in late October and this year looks promising.

Slideshow: Fall Foliage

“On a fall scale I'd give it about 75 instead of a hundred,” says Lynn Snodgrass, owner of Drake’s 7 Dees Nursery and Landscaping Co. “If we'd have had a nicer spring, we'd probably have 100.”

Dry days, cold nights and Indian summer sunshine around Oregon for the last week have been perfect for bringing out the best of fall’s colors.

Delpy

Fall foliage along the Santiam River

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“This year spring came a little late; in fact, some people would say it never came because it was so cool. But we did make up for it with a great summertime,” Snodgrass said.

Make sure you get out to enjoy the sights and sounds of autumn before it’s too late. Rains are on the way and they’ll wash away all the beautiful colors.

Looking to take a nice drive to enjoy the colors? Here are a few good bets, according to a travel companion for AAA:

Historic Columbia River Highway

-- Leaves are only part of the allure to this road. It was completed in 1922 and made famous for its ornate stonework. The highway follows the Columbia as it cuts a steep canyon through the Cascades. Expect towering cliffs, waterfalls, and memorable views.
-- From Portland, take I-84 to Troutdale, then follow the Historic Columbia River Highway to Dodson. Return to I-84. Loop back to Portland via Oregon 35 and U.S. 26 through the Hood River Valley.

Central Cascades

-- Driving through Washington's wild mountain forests, you're guaranteed wonderful fall colors. Especially lovely are the maples and butter yellow larches of the Tumwater Canyon, named for its waterfalls, west of the Bavarian-theme town of Leavenworth. By the time you get to Wenatchee, you're in apple country.
-- From Portland, head east on I-84 to City of the Dalles, then take U.S. 97 north toward Yakima and Washington. Connect to Hwy 82 toward Skykomish, Wash.

-- Be sure to use a map to guide this trip. You can also use Interstate 5 to return to Portland.

KGW-TV

Late October proves the best time to get out and see Oregon's fall foliage, before winter's rains.

Other scenic drives around the state include Salem to Sisters, the Silver Creek Falls Highway, Newport to Florence and Portland to Hood River.

KGW Meteorologist Joe Michaels contributed to this report.