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YOUR COMPLETE FALL FOLIAGE GUIDE
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The changing leaves of Southwest Colorado - Photo by Matt Inden/Weaver Multimedia Group
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The quintessential Colorado tree is, of course, the aspen. We've named towns, streets, dogs, even our beer after this glorious tree. In the summer, the aspens provide shade for our favorite flower, the columbine, and in the fall, Coloradoans rejoice when the aspen’s quaking leaves turn brittle and gold.
The month of September is the ideal time to witness this gilded spectacle, but you have to time it right — the color only lasts about a week in most places. Unfortunately, it's difficult to predict when exactly the leaves will turn in any given location. The best strategy: select your travel dates in advance, then go wherever the color is. Here are a few road-tripping routes, sorted by region, that have become fall-color pilgrimages for aspen lovers:
Southwest | Northwest | South Central | Front Range | Southeast | Railways
Southwest
- Dallas Divide and Lizard Head Pass: Begin your journey in the town of Ridgway, located south of Montrose. Head west on Colorado 62 over Dallas Divide. Lining the route are unimpeded views of the gnarly yet grand Sneffels Range, and the apron of aspens at its feet. At Placerville, head southeast towards Telluride on Colorado 145. All the way to Lizard Head Pass you’ll drive through dense groves of the white-barked beauties, with frequent panoramas of Wilson Peak.
- Kebler Pass: Head west out of Crested Butte over this improved dirt road (County Road 12) and you’ll be inundated with autumn glory. The ruddy colors of the Ruby Range make for a radiant contrast with the golden aspens below. At Colorado 133, you can head north toward McClure Pass for more, or return via the way you came to relive the magic.
- Other favorite routes:
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Northwest
- Maroon Bells: Quite possibly the most photographed mountains in North America, the Maroon Bells southwest of the aptly named town of Aspen are an ideal spot to capture the glory of fall color on film (or in pixels). On weekends in September, access to the Bells is limited to shuttle buses that leave Aspen on a regular basis. But if you reserve a campsite along Maroon Creek Road, you can drive your vehicle all the way to the scenic Maroon Lake, where the flaxen trees frame a perfect reflection of the purple-and-white-striped peaks.
- Grand Junction to Grand Mesa: This route boasts spectacular stands of aspen along with other varieties of turning trees. From Grand Junction , head east on I-70 through Palisade and along the Colorado River, where riverside cottonwoods slowly phase into yellow-leafed splendor. At Colorado 65, head east and then south through more canyon country and up to the top of Grand Mesa, where glowing aspens stretch for as far as the eye can see. Stop at Island Lake to fish for trout or continue on over the mesa to Cedaredge.
- Other favorite routes:
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South Central
- Cottonwood Pass: As you head down Cottonwood Pass Road west of Buena Vista, you’ll experience the distinct feeling of humility. Rising on all sides are the massive Collegiate Peaks — namely two behemoth 14,000-foot peaks, Mount Princeton and Mount Yale. As you pass beneath the two giants, you’ll enter one of Colorado ’s most aspen-laden valleys. Here you will see the fickleness of fall color. One slope will be all gold while another patch will remain green. What cues the aspens to turn is a complex mixture of climatic conditions, with colder, shadier slopes turning first, followed by the sunnier patches a few days later. In some cases, an early frost will transform all the aspens at once — it just depends on the weather.
- Colorado 17 from Antonito to the New Mexico border: One of Colorado ’s most scenic areas happens to be one of the state’s best-kept secrets for aspen viewing. As you head up the serene Conejos River Valley, stands of piñon give way to the bulky white trunks of aspen. Some of the oldest and tallest aspens in the state can be seen, photographed and enjoyed near La Manga Pass. For an even more unique experience, ride the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad for views not seen on any highway.
- Other favorite routes:
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Front Range
- The Peak-to-Peak Scenic and Historic Byway: From Black Hawk to Estes Park, this serpentine highway meanders through valleys and skims the top of ridges, taking the route most scenic at every turn. Take Colorado 119 from Black Hawk north to Nederland, and then follow Colorado 72 to Raymond. From here, proceed on Colorado 7 past the 14,255-foot Longs Peak to Estes Park. Quaking aspens pop up in surprising places along the entire route.
- Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway: Take this rambling route south out of the historic town of Georgetown, and you’ll not only find pockets of blazing aspen, but high-altitude nirvana atop the 11,699-foot Guanella Pass. Note: the aspens are more prevalent on the southern side of the pass. Once you reach the town of Grant, you may as well hang a right on US 285 and take the highway for 15 minutes to the top of Kenosha Pass, where the aspen thrive on the rim of the gentle slopes that encircle South Park.
- Other favorite routes:
- Colorado 14 through Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins to the top of Cameron Pass.
- Fall River Road from I-70 (Exit 238) to St. Mary’s Glacier
- Boulder County Road 130 from Nederland to the Fourth of July Trailhead (dirt road)
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Southeast
- Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway: Head west out of Pueblo on Colorado 96 to begin this aspen-gazing odyssey. The route climbs into the Wet Mountains and descends into the Wet Mountain Valley, passing aspens blazing in autumnal color along the way. Return via the way you came until you reach McKenzie Junction. From here you should head south on Colorado 165 to see two other Colorado fall favorites, cottonwood and scrub oak, as they turn brilliant colors beneath rugged rock formations.
- Highway of Legends Scenic and Historic Byway: This route wraps around two of Colorado ’s burliest mountains, West and East Spanish Peak. Along the way, the highway passes beneath ancient volcanic walls that rise over tracts of pine, scrub oak and aspen. Nearly the entire route from La Veta to Trinidad on Colorado 12 begs to be photographed.
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Scenic and Historic Railways
As mentioned earlier, to experience a view of aspens that is totally unique, you might have to go where only the rails can take you. These scenic and historic railroads can swing you by some of Colorado ’s most remote and rugged scenery, where the September air is brisk and the golden aspens are ubiquitous:
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To locate the strongest hues, consult:
US Forest Services: 800-354-4595 (nationwide hotline) or http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/colors
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