Where to see fall colors (move, distance, places)

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by TonyVaz1009

Already mentioned, but the Aspen area for sure.

Also the Lake City / Creede area. I forget the number of the state highway that goes through there... But it is beautiful.

One more: McClure Pass between Delta and Carbondale. I've gone through a couple times in summer, but never in fall. If I remember correctly though, there are a large amount of non-evergreen trees in that area. Perhaps someone who has gone through here in fall before can elaborate. I'm only assuming that it's spectacular.

McClure Pass can be spectacular if the colors are good--both aspen and oakbrush. This, however, may not be one of those years, depending on whether the late fall produces decent colors or the leaves just turn black and fall off, as I noted earlier.

[phetaroi]

Today I drove over route 50 from Pueblo to Salida. My purpose was sightseeing, but I knew it was a little early for fall color. Nevertheless, once I got to Salida until I descended toward Montrose. Mostly some yellows here and there, thick in a couple of pockets, but mostly still green.

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

McClure Pass can be spectacular if the colors are good--both aspen and oakbrush. This, however, may not be one of those years, depending on whether the late fall produces decent colors or the leaves just turn black and fall off, as I noted earlier.

And I'd say the northside is where it is at in terms of fall color, southside of the pass not so much.

[CosmicWizard]

Firstly, avoid disappointment but not expecting the fall colors of Colorado to include the vast array of reds and oranges typically witnessed in New England. The color show here is mostly yellows, very glorious yellows, but limited to yellow by the predominance of the Aspen hardwoods. Colorado route 12 over Kebler pass between Crested Butte and highway 133 passes thru one of the largest Aspen groves on the planet. Scroll down this page a bit to view some pictures taken along this route. This is a fantastically scenic drive in the fall.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

Firstly, avoid disappointment but not expecting the fall colors of Colorado to include the vast array of reds and oranges typically witnessed in New England. The color show here is mostly yellows, very glorious yellows, but limited to yellow by the predominance of the Aspen hardwoods. Colorado route 12 over Kebler pass between Crested Butte and highway 133 passes thru one of the largest Aspen groves on the planet. Scroll down this page a bit to view some pictures taken along this route. This is a fantastically scenic drive in the fall.

There can be some very nice oranges and reds in the areas where oakbrush (technically, Gambel Oak) occurs--either with or without aspen.

[CosmicWizard]

jazzlover wrote:

There can be some very nice oranges and reds in the areas where oakbrush (technically, Gambel Oak) occurs--either with or without aspen.

Yeah I know what you mean. I've seen that too, but the reds and oranges of Colorado do not dominate the autumn landscape like they do in New England and/or the Appalachians. But we do have red mountains and red rock canyons!

[jim9251]

Color Sunday is Octobr 2. I hope the guy at the Colorado Division of Trees is ready to flip the switch from green to gold. I get to go to Ouray and turn the waterfalls off, always a good time.

[Snikt]

That's the day I'll be at the Maroon Bells and around that area. Does anyone know if it's a zoo during fall like this? Supposedly the bus stops running 9/25 so I'm assuming you can just drive in

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

McClure Pass can be spectacular if the colors are good--both aspen and oakbrush. This, however, may not be one of those years, depending on whether the late fall produces decent colors or the leaves just turn black and fall off, as I noted earlier.

If those colors do come through though, it's worth the drive. Doesn't get any better than McClure!

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

If those colors do come through though, it's worth the drive. Doesn't get any better than McClure!

The drive back to Marble has a lot of Aspens as well.