Fall Colors 2010 (Golden, Aspen, Vail: best, park, areas)

[moonpeep]

Hi all...

Wondering how this timing would do in regards to coinciding with peak fall foliage in the mountains. Golden seas of aspen in particular...

Any ideas how they ought to look this season? Heard late Sept is a good time for mountain colors... would this date work very well?

Thanks.

[jim9251]

Here ya go:

Colorado Fall Color Drives

Might be of some help.

[jazzlover]

It can vary by location and conditions. I've not seen much turning yet, but some areas have already had some really hard frosts. That can often mean the leaves just turn black and fall with little color. People mistakenly think that the leaf change is driven by frost--generally it is not. It is driven more by the shortening of daylight hours and by moisture conditions in the trees.

So far, it seems the aspen are little late starting to turn--that may or may not mean the third and last week of September typical color "peak" holds this year. There can also be a week or more of variation between the northern and southern areas of the state--again some of that driven by moisture condtions.

[ragerunner1]

I couldn't find a fall 2010 thread, so I thought I would start one. I know many of you keep track and know what locations are nearing peak fall colors.

Any place getting some good color yet and/or how many weeks are we out to peak in different locations?

Of course pics are always welcomed. I will try and post some pics soon as well.

[jim9251]

Posted some photos on this thread:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/15952199-post404.html

[Neditate]

https://www.city-data.com/forum/denve...n-viewing.html
That thread was started in August. I was on the Peak to Peak Hwy. last Thursday (9/16) and about half of the aspen had turned. There were a lot of them that were still green -- and some with leaves already gone. There were high winds yesterday so don't know what is left today. I hope to drive it again on Thursday.

[ZeroTiger]

Usually a great time to see the aspens. I was in Vail last weekend and they were just about to peak in color. This week will be prime as long as the winds don't pick up too much.

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by moonpeep

Hi all...

Wondering how this timing would do in regards to coinciding with peak fall foliage in the mountains. Golden seas of aspen in particular...

Any ideas how they ought to look this season? Heard late Sept is a good time for mountain colors... would this date work very well?

Thanks.

I was up in Golden Gate State Park about 4 days ago, and in some spots that aspens were at their peak, while in other areas they were barely turning.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by moonpeep

Hi all...

Wondering how this timing would do in regards to coinciding with peak fall foliage in the mountains. Golden seas of aspen in particular...

Any ideas how they ought to look this season? Heard late Sept is a good time for mountain colors... would this date work very well?

Thanks.

The third weekend in Sept. is supposed to be the best Aspen viewing time. Last weekend we were up around Nederland, Gold Hill, etc and I'd say about 33%-50% had turned. Mostly gold, a few red.

[Chaffeetrekker]

I drove to Bassam Park, near Buena Vista, and hiked up to Aspen Ridge last Friday....The colors were the best I've seen there for 20 years...I would think that now there are only a few days left for colors in that area...