Where to see peak fall foliage in Colorado
Sep 16, 2024, 4:02 PM | Updated: 7:10 pm
Although the seasons won’t change hands until Sunday, September 22 (at 6:43 a.m., to be exact), in some areas of the state, it’ll start to look like fall a little earlier due to changing leaves.
This summer has been particularly hot and dry, which will likely cause leaves to fade to yellows, oranges and reds and ditch their trees earlier than they did last year. The changing of the colors is caused by the slowing — and eventual stopping — of chlorophyll production within the leaves. In the Centennial State, the shift starts in the mountains mid-September, largely characterized by the plethora of aspens that peak at a vibrant yellow.
Along with their peak dates, as estimated to 9News, below are many of the particular regions in Colorado that are oft-cited as showcasing the best that autumn has to offer.
September 15 to 25
- Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park and Grand Lake
- Buffalo Pass, Steamboat Springs to Walden
September 18 to 29
- Guanella Pass, Clear Creek County
- Georgetown Loop, Georgetown
- Boreas Pass, Breckenridge
- Kenosha Pass, Park County
- Peak to Peak scenic and historic byway, Estes Park to Black Hawk
September 22 to October 3
- Maroon Bells, Aspen
- Kebler Pass, Paonia to Crested Butte
- Cottonwood Pass, Buena Vista
September 25 to October 7
- Dallas Divide, near Ridgway
- Mueller State Park, Divide
- Golden Loop Historic Parkway, Cripple Creek to Victor
- Jud Wiebe Trail, Telluride
October 1 to 10
- La Veta Pass, Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- Million Dollar Highway, San Juan Mountains
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