Colorado’s Fall Color Will Be the Best in Years—Here’s Where to See It

The reports are in: This is the year to see the best fall color in Colorado. After a snowy winter and wet spring, the trees have had all the right conditions to grow. Aspens, which make up 20 percent of the state’s forests, are predicted to be in full glow. Same goes for the oaks, cottonwoods, maples, and all the deciduous trees that shift to vibrant shades of red, orange, purple, and gold. All we need now is for fall to stay on track with cool, sunny days. That's when the photosynthesis process stops, and chlorophyll fades. The cool night temps then trap the sugars that make the leaves’ colors more intense. Expect to see the change around September 15 in the northern part of the state and the first two weeks of October for the southern mountains. Leaf peepers will be in full swing, too. Although the entire state is fair game for avid foliage-seekers, you can avoid the major crowds by taking a road trip to these less-visited spots.

Rocky is perhaps the most popular spot for people seeking the best fall color in Colorado. Let all the tourists bottleneck the eastern entrances of the park, near Estes. You, on the other hand, will know to enter through Grand Lake, where the crowds are significantly thinner and the colors are just as spectacular. Pro tip: This side is also known for having more moose; keep an eye out.

Though outdoor-loving day-trippers from Denver and Boulder are keyed into the magic of Rollinsville, this small town 45 minutes from Boulder is not on most travelers’ maps. And that’s exactly why it’s the perfect place to see some of Colorado's most spectacular fall color. Get to South Boulder Creek, where you might share the trail with cows and get wide views of golden meadows backdropped by aspens and evergreens.

Though most clamor for the contrast of the Colorado gold against the evergreens in the mountains, there’s something captivating about the foliage set against the red rock formations in the southwestern part of the state. Set up your basecamp in Ridgway, from where you can follow old country roads toward the mesa and to epic views like this one of Cimarron Ridge South. Leaves down here change later than in the north, so go toward the middle of October.

Colorado is one stop on the fall foliage road trip.

Rent an electric bike from BV eBike Rentals in Buena Vista to cruise to Cottonwood Lake Campground, about seven miles outside of town. As the name implies, this park—surrounded by Fourteeners (you know, the state's famed 14,000-foot peaks)—is filled with bronze cottonwoods (and aspens), which cinematically reflect off the lake. It tends to get crowded on weekends, but go mid-week and you’ll find solitude. Otherwise, you can continue further into the mountains where you'll find dispersed campsites with plenty of gold to be seen and 360 views of the Collegiate Peaks.

Maroon Bells may have just about the best fall color in Colorado. But good luck getting around the crowds. As an alternative to the busiest routes, take the dog-friendly Maroon Creek Trail, which doesn’t lack in terms of scenery. Count on rapids, open meadows, dense forests, aspen stands—and of course views of two iconic Fourteeners, Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak. Start at Maroon Lake and you can catch a shuttle at East Maroon Portal back to your car or down to Aspen.

Once you’re in the vicinity of Maroon Bells, it’s worth making the trek out to Conundrum Hot Springs, a bucket-list hike for many Coloradans and one of the best hot springs in the West. Though it’s not untapped, the grueling 17-mile hike weeds out the masses. Consider a mid-week hike, and always follow Leave No Trace rules.

Climb above 10,000 feet in the Routt National Forest to Buffalo Pass, where the roads are rough and the crowds are thinner than at other scenic drives leaf-peepers take when they go looking for the best fall color in Colorado. Be prepared for winter-like weather that high up—make sure you have four-wheel-drive.

Rise above it all on Telluride’s Mountain Village Gondola, where every direction you look presents a jaw-dropping frame. With the box canyon town behind you, you’ll float 13 minutes up toward the village and see the hills ablaze in every shade of yellow. Just like in the winter, the cost-free gondola is always also free of lines.