[Maples: The Genus Acer in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Bigleaf Maple

Acer macrophyllum

Pendant inflorescences of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

Bigleaf maples in bloom above the Crawford Oaks Trailhead at Columbia Hills Historical State Park.......April 1, 2024.

Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

A bigleaf maple blooming and leafing out immediately downhill from the arch at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge...........April 8, 2014.

Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

Big-leaf maple with the pendant racemes and newly emerged leaves visible in the photo at left. Photographed along the old Highway 8 which is directly below the Labyrinth in the middle Columbia River Gorge...........April 10, 2010. The photo at right shows bigleaf maples blooming on rocky hillsides above Interstate 84 near the mouth of Rowena Dell..........March 31, 2016.

Simple-palmate leaf of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Fall color on leaves of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

The photo at left shows the leaf of big-leaf maple as taken at a logging landing at the end of Road K6300 at approximately 3030' on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Adams.........June 19, 2005. The image at right shows the beautiful fall color on a leaf of bigleaf maple along Eightmile Creek, Columbia Hills Historical State Park......November 8, 2024.

Simple-palmate leaves and pendant floral racemes of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Pendant inflorescences of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

The photo above left shows a close-up of a young leaf and the drooping inflorescences of big-leaf maple as seen at Catherine Creek in the Columbia River Gorge...........April 14, 2007. The photo at right shows a close-up of the pendant inflorescence as seen along Eightmile Creek in the Columbia River Gorge..........April 4, 2010.

Fall foliage of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Fall color on Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

The photo at left shows the attractive fall coloration of the foliage of big-leaf maple as seen at above 3700' along forest road #23 at the Mt. Adams Viewpoint on the southwestern slopes of Mt. Adams........October 14, 2005. This is about the upper edge of the elevational range that big-leaf maple may be found on Mt. Adams. The photo at right shows the fall color of bigleaf maples as seen along Eightmile Creek above the Crawford Oaks trailhead, Columbia Hills State Park..........October 21, 2016.

Inflorescence of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Terminal flower bud opening in Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

Close-up of the pendant inflorescences of bigleaf maple as seen beginning to flower along the lower switchbacks of the Cherry Orchard Trail about one-half mile east of Lyle, Washington...........April 2, 2014.

Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

Bigleaf maples showing fall coloration as seen along the road above the falls at Crawford Oaks, Columbia Hills State Park...........October 26, 2014.

Terminal and lateral buds of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

The terminal and lateral buds (left) of bigleaf maple swelling in preparation of opening to provide the inflorescence and first new leaves within a month's time. Photographed along the road above the falls at Crawford Oaks, Columbia Hills State Park...........March 3, 2015. The photo at right shows the inflorescence of bigleaf maple as seen at the Dalles Discovery Center, April 5, 2016.

Inflorescence of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

Bigleaf maple in bloom at Columbia Hills Historical State Park......April 9, 2018.

Flowers of Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Bigleaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum

Pendant flower spikes of bigleaf maple as seen at left along the Memaloose Trail east of Mosier, OR..........April 21, 2017. The photo at right shows a bigleaf maple at Beacon Rock State Park.....May 2, 2023.

Paul Slichter