The month of September is the ideal time to witness a gilded aspen spectacle on a scenic drive, but you have to time it right: The color lasts only about a week in most places. It's difficult to predict when exactly the leaves will turn in any given location. The best strategy is select travel dates in advance, but not destinations. 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, according to Colorado Come to Life, a great resource for visitor information, things to do in Colorado, and special tourism offers:
Southwest Colorado Fall-Color Drives
Dallas Divide and Lizard Head Pass:Begin your journey in the town ofRidgway. Head west on Colorado 62 over Dallas Divide. Lining the route are unimpeded views of the Sneffels Range, an apron of aspens at its feet. AtPlacerville, head southeast towardTellurideon Colorado 145. All the way to Lizard Head Pass you'll drive through dense groves of white-barked aspens with panoramas of Wilson Peak.
Kebler Pass:Head west out ofCrested Butteover 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 for a repeat performance.
Other favorite routes:
US 160 betweenPagosa SpringsandCortez
Colorado 135 betweenCrested ButteandGunnison
US 50 west fromGunnisonto Colorado 149 south toLake Cityand Slumgullion Pass
Colorado 550 fromRidgwaysouth throughOurayandSilvertontoDurango
Northwest Colorado Fall-Color Drives
Maroon Bells:Quite possibly the most photographed mountains in North America, the Maroon Bells are situated southwest of the aptly named town ofAspen.These peaks are an ideal spot to capture the glory of fall color on film. 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 golden trees frame a reflection of the purple-and-white-striped peaks.
Grand Junctionto Grand Mesa:This route boasts spectacular stands of aspen along with other varieties of turning trees. From Grand Junction, head east on I-70 throughPalisadeand along the Colorado River, where riverside cottonwoods slowly phase into yellow. 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.
Other favorite routes:
Colorado 125 over Willow Creek Pass betweenGranbyandWalden
US 40 south fromSteamboat Springsto Colorado 131 toYampa; from Yampa, take County Road 7 southwest to Stillwater Reservoir
Flat Tops Trail Scenic and Historic Byway(MeekertoYampavia County Road 17 and Forest Road 16 over Ripple Creek Pass)
South Central Colorado Fall-Foliage Drives
Cottonwood Pass:As you head down Cottonwood Pass Road west ofBuena Vista, the massive Collegiate Peaks rise on all sides. As you pass beneath the mounts Princeton and Yale, you'll enter one of Colorado's most aspen-laden valleys. And you'll see firsthand the fickleness of fall color one slope all gold, another patch still a shade of summer green.
Colorado 17 fromAntonitoto the New Mexico border:As you head up the serene Conejos River Valley, stands of pinyon give way to the 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 theCumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroadfor views not seen on any highway.
Other favorite routes:
Gold Camp Road fromColorado SpringstoVictorand then Colorado 67 throughCripple Creeknorth toDivide
US 285 fromConifertoFairplayover Kenosha Pass
Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway(US 24 fromMinturnthroughLeadvilletoTwin Lakesvia Colorado 82, and back to Colorado 91 over Fremont Pass toCopper Mountain)
Front Range Fall-Color Drives
Peak-to-Peak Scenic and Historic Byway:FromBlack HawktoEstes Park, this highway meanders through valleys and skims the top of ridges. Take Colorado 119 from Black Hawk north toNederlandthen 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 ofGeorgetownand you'll find pockets of blazing aspen. Once you reach the town ofGrant, you turn 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 ofFort Collinsto the top of Cameron Pass
Fall River Road from I-70 (Exit 238) to St. Mary's Glacier
Boulder County Road 130 fromNederlandto the Fourth of July Trailhead (dirt road)
Southeast Colorado Fall-Foliage Drives
Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway:Head west out ofPuebloon Colorado 96 to begin this aspen-laden drive. The route climbs into the Wet Mountains and descends into the Wet Mountain Valley, passing aspens blazing in autumn color along the way. Return the way you came until you reach McKenzie Junction. From here, 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 fromLa VetatoTrinidadon Colorado 12 begs to be photographed.
Other Resources
To locate areas with the best fall color at any given time, consult:
US Forest Service: 800-354-4595 (nationwide hotline) orhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r2/colors
Please reference our Pinterest Board, Colorado Fall Colors, for photo source information.
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