As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter (much shorter, our 5 PM sunsets are only one month away); Colorado’s landscapes begin to shift. From our deep greens to bright reds, and everything in between, if you’ve never witnessed the fall foliage in Colorado, it’s showtime. From late September to early October, our state offers some of the most stunning views of autumn leaves. But if you’re planning accordingly, you can cover both the fall-nature changes and seasonal activities to round out your day trips.
Fortunately, the transition is an event for all of Colorado and there are fall foliage maps to help you keep track of the current reports.
Key Spots to Visit
First, let’s cover some spots that “bloom” or should we say… scream: “Just one more photo.”
Estes Park
photo credit Quick-Set Auto Glass
Only an hour outside of Denver, Estes-Park is full of trails and activities for this season. Looking to take a drive? Trail Ridge Road is one of the most popular mountain roads, spanning 48 miles. You’ll see not only an unbelievable view of the Rockies, but a gradient of fall colors. If you’re lucky, you’ll see local wildlife: elk, moose, black bears, oh my!
Interested in the leaves and a spooky activity? Estes Park is home to the Stanley Hotel, location and inspiration behind the movie The Shining. Where you can go for a ghost tour! Check out Estes-Park’s blog for weather patterns to look out for before making the drive.
photo credit The Stanley Hotel
Beaver Creek
photo credit StudioNow
Beaver Creek is surrounded with aspen trees, which change the entire area from green to vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold. If your soul is called to the mountains, it’s nearly time to head outdoors.
- Hiking: You’ll not want to miss the Aspen Glade Trail, Allie’s Way, or Sylvan Lake if you’re wanting to get up close and personal with the color gradients in the trees.
- Mountain Biking: Interested in taking your mountain time up a level? Ride the trails at Beaver Creek Resort or explore the area’s winding trails before the snow comes pouring down.
- Lift Ride: Not into all the climbing, huffing, and puffing? Take a scenic lift ride up and down the mountain for top-views of the mountain range. The Centennial Express Lift offers rides on weekends through September 25th.
Crested Butte
I’m sure you’re catching the theme of mountain activities being the best thing to plan for leaf peeping. In Crested Butte, the best places to hike are Beaver Ponds, Tony’s Trail, and Snodgrass Mountain. These three are under 3 miles, and aren’t too challenging to complete.
If you’re more experienced, look into 3 Lakes Loop, The Woods Walk, and Deer Creek Trail. Of the three, Deer Creek will shift you into a moderate difficulty zone since it’s just under 7 miles. Keep an eye out for Gothic Mountain!
You can check for updates for Crested Butte’s Fall Colors on their tracking site!
photo credit Colorado Outdoors Magazine
Interested in fishing? Fall fishing in Crested Butte on the Kokanee salmon run on the Gunnison River is a unique reason to plan a fall fly fishing trip! The river is docked as a unique trip due to it being the only place in the US to experience a salmon run outside of Alaska.
Kenosha Pass
Located at exactly a 10,000 ft elevation, this pass is a renowned and prominent stop along the Colorado Trail. If you’re not looking to hike the 486 mile hiking trail (or even part of it), you’re in luck! Nearby cities like South Park City, Fairplay, and Breckenridge are all within a reasonable driving distance and have several fall festivities – including festivals, pumpkin patches, and hayrides!
Kenosha Pass is famous for leaf peeping and for good reason. Peak season starts slightly earlier here, when the Colorado community is buzzing for the fall season transition. Because of this, it can be incredibly busy on the weekends. So if you’re able, try to check it out on a week day to avoid the possible crowds.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
With state parks, and some trails, there are a cost of admission. If you don’t have a state park pass, check for day passes before you head out. This includes an awareness of crowds, parking lines, and traffic on the way up.
Now that our warning is out of the way, start early and bring your patience! It’s leaf peeping time! There are several hiking trails, all scattered with colorful aspens and cottonwoods.
Golden places quite an emphasis on the fall festivities outside of their state park. From Autumn Fest, Oktoberfest, Goldenfest, Harvest Haunt, and more – you’re bound to be in your best festive state.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The sound of fall arriving can be identified with the elk bugle. If you haven’t heard it before, it sounds like a mix of a scream and something that would come out of Bigfoot. Every fall, the Elk Rut takes place which is just another way of saying mating season. It’s likely when visiting the aspen trees, you’ll hear these love song battles, too.
Similarly to the other locations, you’re able to properly plan to hike, backpack, fish, and bicycle, all while having a wildlife viewing. The Rocky Mountain National Park is packed with ways to have memorable moments this fall season.
Just to list a few that all have 4+ stars in their experience ratings. Towards the end of October is when the crowds tend to die down, if you’re looking for the serenity these beautiful Coloradan favorites offer.
photo credit Pixels
As the season approaches, plan out your trips now so you don’t miss out on Colorado’s seasonal spectacle. We promise you’ll be taken aback on the bright colors of the trees, and leave the day trip feeling inspired with a full camera roll.
Only visiting Colorado, but interested in your options to relocate? We’ll connect you with a local professional that can help make the inquiry, turn into a plan.
