Photos: Autumn colors begin to pop in Southcentral Alaska

The bright yellows, oranges and reds of autumn are sweeping through the region as the fall equinox approaches.

By Marc Lester, Bill Roth, Loren Holmes
Updated: October 2, 2023 Published: September 20, 2023

A cow moose grazes on vegetation near Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School in Anchorage on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Eklutna Lake is surrounded by colorful foliage and snowy peaks on September 19, 2023. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Autumn colors are becoming vibrant, high and low, around Southcentral Alaska as fall equinox approaches. Friday, Sept 22 is when the nights and days are equal all over the globe. It also marks the time when nights grow quickly for Alaskans on their way through autumn and into winter.

Michael Spohn who is visiting from Louisville, KY walks through fall colors while fishing at Little Campbell Lake in Kincaid Park on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. (Bill Roth / ADN)

An angler in a kayak nets a fish while fishing in the rain at Little Campbell Lake in Kincaid Park on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Charles Steinhipert and Cole Cabalbal of Jeffco Grounds Maintenance move leaves along DeBarr Road in Muldoon on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, before raking them into a pile for removal. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Vehicles travel the Hatcher Pass road alongside the Little Susitna River on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Crab apples ready for picking hang on a tree at the Delaney Park Strip near downtown Anchorage on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. The first day of fall begins with autumnal equinox on Friday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Berries grow beneath a colorful stand of trees near Eklutna Lake on September 19, 2023. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Devil's club in Kincaid Park is backlit by the sun on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Frost clings to colorful fireweed leaves near Eklutna Lake on September 19, 2023. (Marc Lester / ADN)

The Little Susitna River flows through Hatcher Pass on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Fall colors surround the Palmer water tower on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Some snow collects in the high reaches of Twin Peaks near Eklutna Lake on September 19, 2023. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Red and yellow fireweed leaves catch late-morning sun along the Twin Peaks Trail near Eklutna Lake on September 19, 2023. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Ornamental trees along Ship Creek Avenue display fall colors on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Late sun highlights the golden tundra of Chugach State Park on September 18, 2023. (Marc Lester / ADN)

The upper ridges of O’Malley Peak are shrouded in fog on September 17, 2023. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Rose hips glisten in the sun near Ship Creek on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Colors of autumn brighten the ground along the ridges near McHugh Peak in Chugach State Park on September 12, 2023. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Fall colors surround the South Fork of Campbell Creek on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Chugach State Park near Anchorage. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Mushrooms poke through the mossy forest floor on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Chugach State Park near Anchorage. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Marc Lester

Marc Lester is a multimedia journalist for Anchorage Daily News. Contact him at mlester@adn.com.

Bill Roth

Bill Roth is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News.

Loren Holmes

Loren Holmes is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News. Contact him at loren@adn.com.