The golden aspen groves and blazing fall color in the Rockies are a spectacular sight. And catching those leaves at peak color can be a transcendent experience. But that’s the challenge. When are the golden aspen going to reach their peak fall color? And where are the best spots for leaf-peeping during the ever-changing weeks of fall?
Last winter’s record-low snowfall followed by above-average heat and continuing drought will all have an effect on this fall’s seasonal change.
“The drought conditions will likely impact the fall colors this season. This will likely lead to a less vibrant fall foliage season than usual, though good colors will still be found,” says Sam Collentine, COO and meteorologist at OpenSnow, a Colorado-based weather platform that specializes in snow and mountain forecasts. (The animated Fall Colors map on OpenSnow is updated twice per week; it can be viewed by creating an account on OpenSnow and upgrading to the Base plan.)
“Lack of water can often mean a little shorter show when the trees are stressed,” says Matt Meister, founder of the Peaks2Plains weather platform and longtime Colorado Springs meteorologist. “I’d expect a little ‘below average’ show as a result — but it’s always great in Colorado!”
It appears peak color in Colorado is trending earlier this year, especially in higher mountain elevations.
“The drought conditions are also likely leading to early tree and brush color change,” Collentine says. “I’m already seeing this in my neck of the woods around the Roaring Fork Valley.”
Gold color is already visible in the high country. We have observed it firsthand in and around Buena Vista and Cottonwood Pass as early as Labor Day weekend. Patchy color is also already starting to appear in Colorado Springs and along the Front Range.
As usual, we should see the beautiful, layered spreads of yellow and orange cascading from the higher mountains down the valleys as the season unfolds.
When will Colorado’s first fall color appear?
OpenSnow’s Fall Colors map shows low color appearing in Colorado as of Sept. 6 stretching from Grand County in the north central part of the state southward along the Continental Divide through Clear Creek County, Summit County, Chaffee County, Gunnison County, Ouray County and San Miguel County.
Peaks2Plains Fall Color Forecast is another helpful tool for tracking color and planning leaf-peeping It offers a specific location-based Colorado map that includes peak color recommendations for trip planning. Selections for the Pikes Peak foothills and Teller County/Mueller State Park are especially helpful.
A lot of color is already on display in higher areas around Breckenridge, such as Boreas Pass. The Town of Breckenridge has launched the Breckenridge Leaf Brief this year to keep track of the changing color. The site provides photo and video updates twice a week at BreckLeafBrief.com.
Breck is encouraging visitors to use the new Aspen Alley Shuttle from Sept. 13 to Oct. 3 to ease parking overloads at the popular and beautiful Aspen Alley trail. They also are recommending other trails for fall hiking and leaf-peeping that include Pence Miller, Hikes Gold / Mineral Hill, Minnie Mine and X10U8, Reiling Dredge and Boreas Pass. Find leaf-peeping advice and guides at the GoBreck leaf peeping guide.
When will Colorado reach peak color for leaf peeping?
“Colorado will peak in mid to late September, starting with the higher elevations and moving down,” Collentine says.
Meister’s forecast is similar.
“Things will start to go fast over the next few weeks and mid- to late-September is the time to go in the northern and central mountains with some areas south stretching into that first October weekend,” Meister says.
Moderate to high color will be on display throughout Colorado’s high country by Sept. 20, according to OpenSnow. Plenty of gold should be showing on Colorado Springs’ Westside and upward toward Pikes Peak and Rampart Range by then too.
Colorado fall color should be on full display by Sept. 27, especially in and around Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, Breckenridge and Summit County, Leadville, Buena Vista, Monarch, Crested Butte, Telluride, Ouray and Ridgway. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of high country counties at or nearing peak color by then:
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- Larimer County: Fort Collins, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Loveland, Berthoud
- Grand County: Grand Lake, Granby, Winter Park, Fraser, Kremmling
- Clear Creek County: Georgetown, Empire, Idaho Springs, Guanella Pass, Grays and Torreys Peaks, St. Mary’s Glacier
- Summit County: Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, Copper Mountain
- Eagle County: Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Edwards, Eagle
- Lake County: Leadville, Twin Lakes, Turquoise Lake, Tennessee Pass, Mount Massive, Mount Elbert
- Chaffee County: Buena Vista, Salida, the Collegiate Peaks
- Gunnison County: Gunnison, Crested Butte
- Pitkin County: Aspen, Snowmass and the stunning Maroon Bells
- Boulder County: Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Nederland, Lyons
When can I see fall color in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region?
In the Pikes Peak Region, low and patchy color should be spreading through Teller County, Park County and Fremont County in the Sept. 6-20 range. Those areas should be near peak and at peak color by Sept. 21 through to Oct. 1, according to Peaks2Plains. Those areas include:
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- Teller County: Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, Victor, Divide, Florissant
- Park County: Lake George, Wilkerson Pass, the Tarryall region, Fairplay
In Southwest Colorado, Durango and Pagosa Springs should see color peaking from Sept. 23 to Oct. 4.
As for Colorado Springs and the southern Front Range, Peaks2Plains forecasts peak color in town from Oct. 5 to 19. But color around the higher Pikes Peak foothills, such as Cheyenne Canon and Westside open spaces should reach peak color by Sept. 28.
Where to Find Fall Color in Colorado
As for where to head for prime leaf-peeping, we have no shortage of options in Colorado. You can read about our Favorite Fall Color Drives and 12 Creative Ways to Experience Fall Colors. To get out on foot, check out our 10 Favorite Fall Color Hikes In and Around Colorado Springs.
Here are some more of our favorite spots.
Cripple Creek to Cañon City
Sure, the Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway is named for the gold mining around Cripple Creek and Victor, but you’ll find plenty of gold on the trees on the west side of Pikes Peak between Florissant and Cañon City.
In the same area, Mueller State Park makes a colorful day trip from the Springs for easy hiking, picnicking, horseback riding or even camping.
Buena Vista and Salida
Cottonwood Pass is close enough for a beautiful day trip or easy weekend getaway in Buena Vista or Salida. With a summit of 12,126 feet, Cottonwood is Colorado’s highest paved road crossing the Continental Divide. The Denny Creek Trailhead, right along the road, will lead you — steeply — up 14er Mount Yale or to the beautiful, high alpine Hartenstein Lake. And Cottonwood Hot Springs makes a refreshing stop after a hike. You can read about it in 15 Hot Springs Closest to Colorado Springs.
Breckenridge and Summit County
Boreas Pass provides a golden path to Breckenridge, Frisco or Lake Dillon for a fall festival, day trip or Summit County getaway — Oktoberfest anyone? The grades on this unpaved, historic stagecoach route are plenty passable for 2WD vehicles. And you can stop and linger on pullouts and trails, such as the historic Bakers Tank, where steam locomotives once took on water to stay cool over the 10,850-foot pass.
Pueblo and Westcliffe
To the south, the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway offers a gorgeous, and potentially less crowded, route between Pueblo and Westcliffe. You’ll enjoy glowing aspen groves as you pass through the Wet Mountains and take in majestic views of the Sangre de Cristo range from Westcliffe.
Crested Butte and Aspen
Kebler Pass between Crested Butte and Paonia is one of the most stunning spots in Colorado when its vast aspen groves — arguably the world’s largest living organism — are at peak color. And Independence Pass glows with gold as it tops out at 12,095 feet between Twin Lakes and Aspen — before it closes for the winter due to its heavy snow.
The Rest of the United States
If you’re venturing farther afield, OpenSnow’s Fall Colors map displays the entire U.S. You can also read their national fall color outlook here.
Whether you’re hiking, biking, running, camping, soaking, riding horses or taking a scenic drive by car or ATV, you don’t want to miss nature’s annual color show in Colorado. And when you strike aspen gold, you’ll be richer for the experience.
What’s your favorite spot for Colorado fall color?
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