Where to see fall colors (Denver, Delta: cars, best areas, trees)

[Brill]

Found this article about spots for viewing the fall colors. Anyone know of any more?

Where To See Colorado's Fall Colors 2011 - Denver Weather News Story - KMGH Denver


I don't think I am going to have a ton of time of time to venture out, so I might try to check out the spot listed on CO67 near Cripple Creek.

[Idunn]

The article has a good list of suggestions. A fine reference.


Having recently seen some of the country mentioned, I can report that the aspen are only beginning to turn. At the moment, those wishing to see the fullest color should probably head to the highest elevations.

A good drive and view of the aspen is along the Peak to Peak road running from basically Black Hawk to Estes Park. It affords an often good view of the front range mountains, and a few days ago one would have seen signs of the new skiff of snow on the highest peaks, such as west of Rollinsville.

During the height of color stretches of this route, such as north of Nederland, are popular and one is apt to see lines of parked cars and photographers at the side of the road, particularly on weekends. But that moment has not fully arrived yet. There is some autumn color, with pleasant juxtaposition between the yellows and greens of aspen leafs turned and yet to. The peak of far fuller color is likely two or three weeks distant.

Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park is always a beautiful drive, although as a good portion of it is above timberline aspen will only be found along the lower approaches on either side, or in view from a long distance somewhere along the top.

The 16th suggestion, of the drive between Gunnison and Crested Butte, probably nice. But it only mentions the possibility of continuing past Crested Butte on Kebler Pass as an afterthought, while that should probably be the focus of your trip there. The route, as far as I know still a good dirt road, travels through a number of large and lovely aspen groves. From the far side one could swing around through Aspen and over Independence Pass.

[Neditate]

The Colorado Tourism site has a great fall foliage guide that covers the best areas in the state: Your Complete Fall Foliage Guide | Colorado.com
The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is one of my favorites but there is not much happening in the way of color quite yet.

[jazzlover]

As noted above, the fall colors are very late this year. Often, the coming weekend is the peak of fall colors in a normal year. Not this year. When colors are late like this, quite often either a freeze or snowfall will simply cause the aspen leaves to turn black and fall with very little color display at all. We'll just have to wait to see if that happens this year, but it is a possibility.

[Mike from back east]

There may be some indication available by looking at CDOT's highway cameras along the I-70 corridor. I don't see much color showing yet.

[Neditate]

Last night 9News showed a photo taken on Boreas Pass over the weekend, the leaves are changing up there. Fall Colors | Weather Network | Denver | Colorado's Online Weather Leader | 9NEWS.com

[Snikt]

Going to venture out on the weekend of Oct 1/2, hoping it will be good by then

[wanneroo]

Probably my favorite places are around Aspen. Independence Pass and a few of the roads out of Aspen, towards the ghost town of ********, as well as Snowmass. The Vail area is pretty good as well.

Also one place I have gotten good pictures is Gore Pass on Hwy 134. That road is not well traveled and it is pretty quiet through there.

Carbondale to Marble is also another excellent place.

[jim9251]

HWY 62 from Ridgway to the Dallas Divide. Also Last Dollar Road off HWY 62, HWY 65 on Grand Mesa, HWY 92 at McClure Pass, HWY 133 from HWY 50 to HWY 92, HWY 550 through Red Mountain Pass.

[Melanzana92]

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.