With fall right around the corner, it’s time to start planning your trip to go chase the golden aspen. As you may know, the windows to see the leaves changing can be very short so it’s best to have a tentative plan going into the season if you want to make the most of it. In this article I will be sharing the regions that get the best color and when they typically peak.
To start, you will want to check out the northern parts of the state, specifically in Steamboat Springs and Rocky Mountain National Park. These two parts will be best to check out in mid to late September. Steamboat has a great selection of camping outside of town that doesn’t require reservations, whereas the National Park, you will have to reserve sites well in advance.
Moving further south you will find the areas along I-70 start to change next. This includes places like Vail, Breckenridge, Silverthorne, and Georgetown. All these areas have a plethora of hiking trails, but with them being so close to Denver, they do get quite busy, hence why I typically wait for the colors to start changing further south. Look for these areas to peak in late September.
Now, we get to the good stuff, starting with the place named after the thing we all are chasing, Aspen. While this area tends to get busy as well, there sure is good reason for it. Maroon Bells might be the single best place to go see the colors, but you will need a reservation well ahead of time. Even for sunrise, be prepared to see a full parking lot. Late September to early October is the best time to catch the colors here.
Next comes one of my personal favorites as it is home to some good friends and one of the first places that made me realize what a special state Colorado is. Crested Butte is home to one of the largest Aspen groves in the country, so you sure will not struggle to find a sea of gold while in the area. The town itself is one of the best mountain towns to grab a coffee and breakfast after shooting a magical sunrise. Catch the leaves peaking in early to mid October.
Telluride and Ophir provide some of the most drastic landscapes nestled in the San Jaun Mountains, you are sure to be blown away by the scenic dives through these areas. Be sure to take the gondola up from town in Telluride to catch a glimpse overlooking town as well as out into the mountains. It’s free! Peak here is typically a little later in mid October.
Lastly I’ll bunch Ridgway, Ouray, and Silverton. These will peak in early to mid October and will take you through some areas of the richest mining history. Red Mountain Pass and Million Dollar Highway are truly breathtaking - you will be pulling off the side of the road every chance you get.
Now that you have an idea of these areas get to planning! And if you are in need of a more extensive guide, I have put together a Fall Colorado Guide that covers my favorite locations in all these areas, with exact coordinates for lesser known places, my favorite spots to grab a bite, drink, and coffee, as well as some insight on how I edit my fall photos. You can find that here!