When you are thinking of places to see fall leaves changing, you may not think of Colorado as a leaf peeping destination. Once autumn starts to bring in cooler temperatures, Colorado can be a spectacular fall foliage destination to visit. Keep reading to learn more about the best leaf peeping in Colorado and see why you should add Colorado to your autumn bucket list!
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What kind of trees change colors in Colorado in fall?
Colorado is home to a handful of tree species, many of which are evergreens, meaning their leaves don’t drop in the winter months. With even less deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves), you may think that Colorado stays green year round, however there is a species of tree that is native to Colorado that are striking during the fall season.
The quaking aspen, or commonly known as the aspen trees, are usually covered in bright green leaves during spring and summer, but in the fall turn a vibrant yellow. These trees also have a white bark that is striking against the forest. These trees are beautiful year round, whether they have green, yellow, or no leaves.
Aside from being striking colors, Aspen trees are also unique in the way that they grow. Above ground, they appear like any other individual tree. What hides underground is a unique network of roots that all connect in a group of aspens. This makes the aspens, collectively, one organism. This growth pattern makes the aspens in a group all change colors at once during the fall, which is a spectacular display of color across the Rocky Mountains.
Looking for places to stay to start your Colorado trip? Check out these best hotels in Denver!
Where is the best place to see leaves in Colorado?
Aspen trees are typically found above 9,500 feet, but can be found at lower altitudes as well. They have to grow between 6,500 and 11,500 feet in elevation, so venturing into the mountains is the only way to see the aspens.
Some of the best places to see aspen trees in Colorado include Rocky Mountain National Park, about an hour from Boulder, or two hours from Denver. They can be seen all the way south towards Durango, as long as the elevation is high enough. Some popular small towns that are easy places to see aspens near Denver include Black Hawk, Evergreen, Idaho Springs, Nederland, Colorado Springs, and Boulder. These are all closer to the mountains than staying in Denver, and are higher in elevation allowing for leaf peeping without such a long drive.
As long as you’re near the mountains, and at a high enough altitude, you’ll likely have a chance to see the aspens changing color if you visit during the right time of year.
Check out this Peak to Peak tour through many of Colorado’s best mining towns!
The Best Time to See the Aspens Changing
Since visiting Colorado in Fall is a relatively a quick season, knowing when to visit can be the difference between the aspens just starting to change, the aspens being vibrant, or the aspens losing all their leaves. Depending how far north you are visiting, the aspen season runs from mid-September to October, with the leaves changing earlier the farther north you visit. The higher altitude trees will typically change earlier than those in the warmer valleys, which can give you more time to see the aspens as well.
Colorado in Autumn Itinerary Ideas
As mentioned, there are many places all over Colorado to see the Aspens change, but here are a few leaf peeping itineraries to consider:
Road Trip from Denver Through the Nearby Small Mining Towns
Outside of Denver towards the mountains are little historic mining towns that have lots of activities to do, museums, boutiques, restaurants, and are great places to stay to see Colorado in autumn. Start your drive from Denver towards Boulder. This is a great place to start your Colorado road trip to help you acclimate to the higher altitude of some of the other nearby towns.
From Boulder, continue towards the mountains to the small town of Nederland. This little town is higher in altitude and is full of cute breweries, boutiques, hikes, and is close to Eldora ski resort, if you get some snow during your trip! After leaving Nederland, Black Hawk is a short drive away and is a historic mining town turned casino town. The historic buildings are surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, and the drive from town to the hikes provide lots of opportunity to see the aspens changing. Both Nederland and Black Hawk sit around 8-9,000 feet in elevation, which is a great place to see the aspens.
Black Hawk is a great place between all the nearby mining towns to stay in, if you don’t want to check in/out of hotels frequently
Idaho Springs is a great stop on the way to Evergreen from Black Hawk, with cute shops and restaurants to walk around on the main street. Try Bo Jeau’s famous mountain pizza or explore the nearby hikes before heading to Evergreen. Evergreen is another small town filled with cute shops, nearby hikes, a big recreational lake, and more! After you leave Evergreen, you can choose to drive back towards Denver, or even continue on towards Colorado Springs.
Hike some of the best autumn Trails in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is another town outside of the Denver area, but is a bit larger than the mining towns mentioned before. Colorado Springs offers some very popular hiking trails, which can be enjoyed year-round, but is great to explore during fall because of cooler temperatures. Some of the best hikes near Colorado Springs include the Garden of the Gods, Seven Bridges, Red Rocks Open Space, and Eleven Mile State Park.
Colorado Springs is a bit lower in elevation, so seeing the aspens may require a trip towards the mountains. Consider taking the Cog Rail to the top of Pike’s Peak, or take day trips to hike or drive some of Colorado’s famous “fourteeners”.
drive the million dollar highway from Durango
If road tripping is one of your favorite ways to travel, then driving one of the most famous drives in the US may be for you. Start the Million Dollar Highway in Durango up to Ouray. The scenic drive takes roughly two hours and is known for having some of the most beautiful fall leaves and views on any drive in the US.
Much of this drive is high enough in elevation to see the aspens changing, with the peak of the drive reaching over 11,000 feet. Note that this part of Colorado tends to change later in the season, so plan this fall Colorado road trip for later in the season.
Need a rental car for your road trip? Check out the available cars here!
How to see the aspens changing colors
The best way to see the aspens change color in fall in Colorado is by staying for a period of time. Since nature can be a bit unpredictable, staying for at least a week or so will increase your chances of seeing the aspens change. Additionally, staying up in or near the mountains will help your odds increase of seeing the aspens in autumn as well.
If you do end up staying in a more mountainous, remote area, you may get lucky and see lots of wildlife like moose, bears, chipmunks, deer, birds and more! The moose like to eat the aspen leaves, so seeing them in the fall while the leaves change is always a special treat!
What to Pack for Colorado in Fall
Packing for Colorado in Fall can be a little bit of a challenge depending what part of the state you are visiting. The best thing to do is pack lots of layers so that you can shed them after the morning sun has come up over the mountains, and put them back on if you go higher altitudes. Some things to include in your Colorado packing list are:
- Layerable clothes
- Hiking boots
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Reusable water bottle
- Chapstick/Lotions
- Sunscreen/sun glasses
- Jackets and sweaters
- Camera with zoom lens for wildlife
- Wool socks or hiking socks
- Athletic wear
- A day bag for hikes
This is not an extensive packing list, but some things specific to Colorado that I would be sure to include in your bag! If you’re not great at packing, check out this guide on how not to overpack!
Heading to Colorado this fall? Be sure to Pin this for your travels!
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