Denver, CO (July 31, 2025) - It’s no secret Colorado is known for its historic Gold Rush –- but this fall, get ready to experience a different type of gold rush in the Centennial State with a bright and shiny lineup of awesome autumn activities, events and changing leaves. Enjoy crisp alpine temperatures, sunny days, and clear blue skies while hiking, biking, horseback riding or off-roading. Cruise along scenic roadways like Colorado’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways or along the relaxing Historic Hot Springs Loop, and add a little thrill to the journey with a visit to some of the state’s exceptionally “spirited” and spooky sites. Savor the season and taste the flavors at iconic fall harvest events, such as Pueblo’s spicy Annual Chile and Frijoles Festival or the sweet Palisade Peach Festival. Or admire Mother Nature’s beauty through a variety of fall festivals and animal migrations.
For more information on places to experience Colorado’s fall splendor, visit www.COLORADO.com.
Colorful Colorado’s Unparalleled Leaf-Peeping Production:
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Fall for Fall Foliage Fly Fishing (Almont, Crested Butte and Gunnison): The Gunnison Valley area offers some of Colorado’s best fishing thanks to two million acres of public land and the headwaters of a central river system. Whether embarking on a float trip or a multi-day fishing adventure, it’s likely anglers will land a lucky catch in this area.
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Peep the “Leaf Brief” to Track Alpine Fall Colors (Breckenridge): This alpine destination located above 9,600 feet is the “First to Fall,” featuring some of North America’s earliest fall colors in September. The “Leaf Brief” program is perfect for travelers who want to track the progress of fall leaves changing, predict peak colors and receive expert trail recommendations and tips to enjoy the season.
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Ride the Rails on the Georgetown Loop Railroad (Georgetown): This signature Colorado experience between Georgetown and Silver Plume boasts gorgeous fall foliage on a one-hour, fifteen-minute nostalgic train ride through the mountains from late September to mid-October.
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Soar Above the Leaves at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park (Glenwood Springs): For a sky-high leaf peeping show, visit America’s only mountaintop theme park and take in the fall colors from atop the highest looping roller coaster in the U.S. Then, visit the viewing deck on Iron Mountain.
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Hike the World’s Largest Flat-Top Mountain (Grand Junction): Marvel at the 11,000-foot Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain, which boasts more than 300 lakes. Try the Crag Crest Trail for a high-alpine hike atop the spine of the Mesa, perfect for viewing fall colors.
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Stand-Up Paddleboard and Boat on Grand Lake (Grand Lake): Launch from the historic local favorite Grand Lake Marina and embark on an autumn adventure, admiring the stunning fall colors with views of the Rocky Mountains on a rented stand-up paddle board (SUP), kayak or motor boat.
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Hike and Bike the Mineral Belt Trail (Leadville): Explore the Mineral Belt Trail, an 11.7-mile paved loop situated at 10,000 feet, for a chance to see the highlights of Leadville's historic mining structures. This gem of a journey travels through a lineup of local landmarks to see dramatic fall colors from a unique perspective.
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Admire Colorado’s Changing Leaves on Four Wheels (Vail): Whether it’s by guided ATV, Side-by-Side or a Jeep tour at 9,300 feet through the vibrant alpine trails near Vail, any ride with Nova Guides is an unforgettable way to experience autumn’s brilliance and spot wildlife.
For more Colorado fall adventure ideas, click here.
Scenic Drives Through Colorado’s Autumn Splendor:
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Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop (Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Ouray, Durango, Pagosa Springs, Saguache County and Chaffee County): This awe-inspiring, 800-mile highway throughout the Western part of the state explores opportunities to indulge in the ultimate combination of relaxation and admiration of the colorful fall foliage. The route traverses through eight premier Colorado geothermal destinations for a total of 23 unique hot springs soaking experiences amongst the changing leaves.
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Colorado Historic Opera Houses Circuit (Aspen, Leadville, Telluride, Ouray): This drive offers aspen-filled scenic views, charming mountain towns and lively concerts in historic venues. The Pure Prairie League in Aspen at the Wheeler Opera House on September 9 and 10, features sounds of country-rock. On September 20, hear The Young Dubliners play Celtic rock during Leadville’s Irish Weekend at the Tabor Opera House. At the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride on September 26, Niceness shares sounds of reggae. And the Movies & Art event in Ouray at the Wright Opera House in September is bound to be a colorful and creative way to fall for fall.
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Highway of Legends Scenic Byway (Trinidad to Walsenberg): An autumn adventure of a drive along Colorado’s Highway of Legends makes for unforgettable leaf-peeping opportunities. This National Scenic Byway winds through golden aspen groves, dramatic rock formations and charming historic towns like La Veta and Cuchara. Gaze at panoramic mountain views and learn about the rich legends that bring these storied landscapes to life.
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Peak to Peak Scenic Byway (Estes Park to Black Hawk/Central City): Spanning 55 miles between scenic Estes Park to I-70, the 3-hour drive along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway lights up in a variety of vivid colors in fall. Stops such as Lily Lake, featuring sights like views of Longs Peak and Estes Cone, all the way to Black Hawk, which showcases a different kind of gold (the jackpot kind) at its historic casinos, offer dozens of destinations to stop and enjoy along this route.
More ideas on classic Colorado fall drives can be found here.
Paranormal Pit Stops:
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Ashcroft Ghost Town (Aspen): Only 10 miles from Aspen, the spooky town of Ashcroft offers thrilling activities such as guided tours of a dozen or so (spine-tingling) buildings preserved by the Aspen Historical Society—including the jail, livery stable and a couple of saloons. Tour nearby Aspen’s creepy past on the DarkSide Ghost Tour.
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Black Monarch Hotel (Victor): In the late 1800s (the town of Victor's heyday), what was then called the “Monarch Hotel” was a hotspot for Gold Rush-fueled, unruly shenanigans. Today, it stands as a revamped boutique hotel known for paranormal activity in what’s said to be one of the most haunted cities in Colorado.
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Central City Masonic Cemetery (Central City): For a potentially electrifying experience among mysterious orbs of light and uninvited additions in the background creepy photographs taken at this Central City cemetery after dark (such as a spooky little boy and mysterious “woman in black”) sign up for a Creepy Crawls around this city's ghostiest sites each October with the Gilpin County Historical Society.
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Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival, Oct. 25 (Manitou Springs): For more than 30 years, the Emma Crawford Coffin Races have honored the local legend, Emma Crawford, whose coffin came sliding down Red Mountain after decades of erosion. Today, racers mimic this unfortunate event by pushing coffins on wheels complete with an Emma rider and four pallbearer pushers. The festival also includes live music, costumes and a rolling good time.
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The Stanley Hotel (Estes Park): This 100-plus-year-old hotel is said to be the inspiration behind Stephen King’s legendary thriller, “The Shining.” Visitors can embark on the hotel’s Night Tour, or The Shining Tour, which traverses throughout some of the creepiest areas of the hotel and includes some fascinating tidbits of haunted history.
Click here for more spooky ideas and haunted escapes.
Savor the Flavors of Colorado’s Harvest Season:
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Arkansas Valley Fair and Watermelon Day, Aug. 13-16 (Rocky Ford): In the quaint agricultural town of Rocky Ford, local farmers ship their cantaloupe and watermelons for sale across the entire U.S. Each August, the town celebrates this big round fruit with the annual Arkansas Valley Fair that has been a part of the community for nearly 150 years (it’s the oldest continuous fair in the State of Colorado!). Horse races, stock shows, a carnival, a rodeo, a parade and Watermelon Day are also special parts of the celebration.
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Palisade Peach Festival, Aug. 15-16 (Palisade): Palisade is famed for its exquisite peaches, and the 57th Annual Peach Festival will celebrate this sweet fruit with entertainment including a lineup of live music, a peach eating contest, educational talks, a ticketed “Feast in The Field” harvest dinner, a vendor market and the second modern iteration of Palisade Peach Days (Aug. 6-17), which is a 10 day celebration of the best peaches in the world with various events and activities.
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35th Annual Olathe Sweet Corn Festival, Aug. 23 (Olathe): This year’s Olathe Sweet Corn Festival offers a full day of fun with corny memories to be made and tasty corn to devour. The event kicks off with a 5K run/walk and offers shopping from multiple local booths featuring local vendors, a beer garden, the chance to participate in corn-eating competitions and a lineup of games (like cornhole, of course) with live musical performances throughout the day.
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Pueblo’s Chile & Frijoles Festival, Sept. 19-21 (Pueblo): The annual Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival celebrates the harvest season of Pueblo’s beloved green chile crop. This event takes place in downtown Pueblo with cooking demonstrations, musical performances, a jalapeño-eating contest, a chihuahua parade, a chili and salsa showdown, a Balloon Festival and more.
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Cedaredge Applefest, Oct. 3-5 (Cedaredge): Cedaredge Applefest has been celebrating area fruit growers annually since 1977 commemorating the fall harvest and rich agricultural heritage of the area. Cedaredge Applefest showcases local businesses, apple orchards, artists and musicians and brings together 200 plus vendors.
Click here for more ideas on how to savor the flavors of Coloardo.
Autumn Animal Encounters:
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State Forest Moose Fest, Aug. 9 (Walden): State Forest State Park is well known for moose viewing throughout the year. North Park is considered the moose-viewing capital of Colorado, with over 600 moose observed year-round. Enjoy a day learning all about these powerful creatures with a scavenger hunt, hay ride, crafts and more.
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Tarantula Fest, Sept. 27-28 (La Junta): Autumn marks the start of tarantula migration season in southeast Colorado, including La Junta—home to the Tarantula Trek and the 4th Annual La Junta Tarantula Fest in downtown La Junta, which features a parade, vendors, an education pavilion, tarantula tours and more. Visitors can view the hairy spiders during the annual mating ritual while they roam across the 443,000-plus acres on the Comanche National Grassland—the 4th largest grassland in the nation.
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Estes Park Elk Fest, Sept. 27-28 (Estes Park): Every autumn, spectators head to Estes Park on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park to hear the beautifully haunting sound of a bull elk bugling to impress the elk ladies at the start of the rutting (breeding) season. At Estes Park Elk Fest, visitors can learn about these majestic beasts’ behavior, experience Native American dancing, storytelling and music, observe elk safely in their natural habitat, and even participate in a “human” bugling contest.
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Sandhill Crane Migration (San Luis Valley): During autumn, 20,000 of these impressive birds spend time in this region as part of their annual migration. Most belong to the Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes, which begin arriving in late September and typically remain through mid to late November. The cranes rely on the valley's wetlands and agricultural fields to rest and feed, before continuing their journey south.
For more fall Colorado wildlife viewing opportunities, click here.
Fall Festival Fun:
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Union Peak Festival, Sept. 5-7 (Copper Mountain): This beloved event returns to Copper Mountain for its fifth year with headliners Third Eye Blind and The Roots, celebrating the convergence of sport, community and art during a weekend of free live music performances, art, athletic activities and community gatherings.
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25th Annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, Sept. 6-7, (Denver): This year celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the free Colorado Dragon Boat Festival — a vibrant celebration of Asian and Asian American heritage in Colorado. This milestone fundraiser is the largest Dragon Boat Festival in the country, featuring a lineup of tasty bites at the Taste of Asia Food Courts, an Asian Marketplace, Performances on three separate stages, a Dragonland area for kids, and of course, Dragon Boat Racing throughout the days.
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50th Annual Snowmass Balloon Festival, Sept. 12-14 (Snowmass): Fall colors aren’t just for changing leaves. Snowmass celebrates the 50th anniversary of launching a vibrant rainbow collection of balloon hues that fly high at the Snowmass Balloon Festival over three days of hot air balloon beauty.
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Aspen Filmfest, Sep. 16-21 (Aspen): Each fall, Filmfest, Aspen's premier feature film festival, presents engaging and thought-provoking films from around the world, ranging from genres including documentary, arthouse, foreign-language, comedy film and more. Filmfest showcases unique stories told through diverse lenses that explore the human condition.
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Breckenridge Film Festival Celebrates 45 Years, Sept. 18-21 (Breckenridge): With the Sundance Film Festival headed to Colorado in 2027, now’s a great time to spotlight the festivals buoying the state’s existing film scene. This event is known as the “filmmaker’s festival” and has been named a Top 20 Film Festival by USA Today, bringing independent films, global talent and award-winning filmmakers to Breckenridge.
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Denver Oktoberfest, Sept. 19-21 and Sept. 26-28 (Denver): This two-weekend festival has been a favorite event in Downtown Denver since 1969, featuring games like keg bowling and stein hoisting, to a long dog derby race, and more. Live music and more (laderhosen optional, but encouraged).
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Pope Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, Late Sept.-Oct. (Morgan County): Get into the fall spirit just an hour outside of Denver at Pope Farms with a 30‑acre explorable pumpkin patch, a 10‑acre corn maze, a haunted maze, zip lines, slides, pumpkin cannons, hayrides, cozy campfire drinks and seasonal treats.
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Steamboat Food & Wine Festival, Oct. 2-5 (Steamboat Springs): This event celebrates Colorado's vibrant fall season and rich heritage of bountiful harvests, set against the striking backdrop of the town’s mountainous beauty. Held at various venues throughout Steamboat Springs and featuring top Colorado chefs (including James Beard Award Winner Chef Matt Vawter), this premier festival offers intimate culinary experiences using thoughtfully sourced ingredients and sustainable practices.
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Boulder Downtown Fall Fest, Oct. 3-5 (Boulder): Filling the Pearl Street Mall with a lineup of local vendors, Boulder’s annual Downtown Fall Fest is a vibrant 3-day event featuring live music, family-friendly activities, and plenty of food, with a large beer/wine/margarita garden.
For a full line-up of fall events in Colorado, click here.
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ABOUT COLORADO: Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine and 28 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments, 26 scenic and historic byways and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800 COLORADO.
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