According to the Colorado State Forest Service, Aspen trees cover five million acres or 20 percent of the state’s forested land. Aspens are Colorado’s only widespread native, deciduous tree and can be found from 6,500 to 11,500 feet in elevation, particularly along the Western Slope.
The Aspen’s vibrant colors are, to many, a symbol of Colorado itself during this season. As summer ends, the changing colors of the mountain trees can be the most anticipated time of year. To walk or sit among the fall foliage can be a little getaway that offers tranquility and a time to marvel at the wonders of nature.
Get a Good Look at This Season’s Changing of the Leaves:
Check out Colorado’s Western Slope, home to the Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat top mountain, and Colorado wine country. Grand Junction and Palisade during this season is a cacophony of color. At Powderhorn Mountain Resort, leaf peepers can see the scrub oaks and majestic aspens along the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway.
Golden-based Big Sun Photo Tours offers single-day photography outings in the central Rockies between Denver, Vail and Aspen. Along with gorgeous leaves, visitors may even come across a few elk.
Trail Ridge Road winds through Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park in the east to Grand Lake in the west. With more than eight miles above 11,000 feet and a maximum elevation of 12,183 feet, Trail Ridge Road offers a unique view of the changing leaf colors and is popular with photographers. The Rocky Mountain Conservancy provides guided hikes and tours along with volunteer opportunities in the park.
The Telluride gondola offers an eagle-eye view of autumn colors, where you can also see the town below, its box canyon and valleys lined with spectacular Aspens and evergreens.
The Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad offers a scenic adventure through the Aspen groves of the San Isabel National Forest, up into the Continental Divide. Visitors can reserve a coach, engine, or caboose seat.
Granite Mountain Outfitters near Poncha Springs offers horseback riding where visitors can enjoy a gentle and sure-footed excursion, crossing trails that showcase breathtaking views of the Sangre de Cristo and Sawatch mountains and San Luis Valley.
Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway is Colorado’s oldest, established in 1918. The byway starts in Boulder and offers stunning views of the Continental Divide and its dramatic fall colors. Though the byway is less than 60 miles in length, there are numerous stop-off points along the route, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, and the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, all of which offer their own unique views.
Gunnison is home to Kebler Pass, which boasts the largest Aspen grove in North America. Ohio Creek Road is a good starting point, as it passes some unique natural landscapes, including a series of ranch buildings marking the abandoned site of Castleton and the spires of “The Castles” — remnants of volcanic ash and mud that erupted from the West Elk Volcano some 30 million years ago. Note: The pass is unpaved.
San Juan Skyway, a panoramic 236-mile loop through the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, offers visitors an array of fall colors and includes a 70-mile stretch known simply as the Million Dollar Highway. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad offers rides that coincide with optimal fall foliage. Another unique way to experience Colorado’s fall colors is with Soaring® Tree Top Adventures, home to 27 zip lines that pass by numerous Aspens.
Maroon Bells, two towering 14,000-foot mountains nestled in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, are the most photographed peaks in North America. Located in the 2.3-million-acre White River National Forest, the Maroon Bells tower over many hiking trails that offer unbeatable views of golden Aspen trees. Accessible by car, Aspen Highlands buses also run on weekends after Labor Day through early October.
Buffalo Pass is a dirt road just west of Steamboat Springs. Lined with rows of glowing Aspens, it winds eight miles up toward the Continental Divide and Summit Lake. As the fall colors become more robust, locals recommend a hike to the pristine Zirkel Wilderness Area’s Three Island Lake Trail, which takes hikers through coniferous forests and high meadows, past glacial lakes and vistas. The 6.1-mile (round trip) trail is moderate in difficulty.
La Veta Pass peaks at over 9,400 feet on U.S. Route 160 in southern Colorado, and right now is one of the most scenic drives in the state. The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad (open May through October) passes through mountains, canyons, and colorful foothills, otherwise inaccessible by cars.
Colorado Hwy. 62 over the Dallas Divide represents an epic fall season drive. Starting near Ridgway, visitors can get a majestic view of Mount Sneffels, one of Colorado’s 58 fourteeners, and the Sneffels Wilderness Area, which offers several adventurous hiking trails. The route eventually connects with Hwy. 45 and Lizard Head Pass, which offers views of Wilson Peak, the very mountain that inspired the iconic Coors logo. Be sure to read more about other famous Colorado mountains.
