COLORADO FALL COLORS – BEST PLACES TO SEE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

There are few places on this earth that have a shot at rivaling the towering peaks and fall foliage colors of Colorado. Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and a few others along the Eastern Seaboard also have very pretty autumn color changes and I love the reds that the maples bring out during that time of the year. However, did you know that on very cold years with little wind, that the aspens also turn orange and deep red in Colorado as well?

ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “AUTUMN HIDEAWAY” LIMITED EDITION OF 50

With the first week of October generally bringing in the best color changes, I can say after many years chasing this annual phenomenon, that the colors always change according to Latitude, Elevation and temperature! These three things will always be your guide and you should be so lucky as to actually have snow fall during your stay as that simply turns everything into magic!

Starting with the Northern part of the state first, colors on the aspens and oak brush begin to change colors when it begins to dip below freezing. If you have consecutive days of sub-freezing temperatures and the wind holds off of the forest, the yellows change to orange and hints of red will begin to come in! Colors change first up at higher elevations and quickly move down slope. Generally, you will see significant color transitioning begin about the third week in September above 9,000 feet and gradually work their way down the mountain.

With the Maroon Bells and Snowmass wilderness just slightly ahead of the San Juan’s by a few days, you can plan your trip based upon where peak colors are, especially if the wind doesn’t blow all of the leaves off. This time of the year is a delicate matter; the leaves are barely hanging on by the last little bit and any severe storms will strip the trees in short notice. The good news is that in general there is always something, somewhere to be seen with gorgeous colors adorning their branches, so being patient and covering a lot of back country forestry roads will be your best bet!

ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “CRYSTAL MILL” LIMITED EDITION OF 50

When you are planning your visit, I do recommend that you download an offline map of some sort such as Gaia in order to navigate while you are off grid so to speak. Another very important recommendation would be to make sure to have a 4X4 vehicle in order to avoid getting stuck on the often wet and muddy roadways. Even with 4X4 capability the roads can be very hazardous and require full attention and some experience off-roading is desirable. I generally try to arrive a few days early in order to see what areas are close to peak and where I will need to come back in a few days or a week. The fall colors tend to be at their best for an 8-12-day period. You really get the opportunity to see the full crescendo of color change occur during this time period and I usually really see it start to pop off right around the 1st of October, peaking around the 6th through the 10th of the month.

ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “CROWN JEWEL” LIMITED EDITION OF 50

I love spending a bit of time exploring the Gunnison Valley! There are lots of beautiful country roads that wing through the mountains here that will leave you speechless! The country around Crested Butte leading up into the higher elevations up towards Kebler Pass. This road is very well maintained, and you will have many opportunities to see lots of old growth aspen stands and dramatic vistas along the way!

While you are up in the Gunnison and Aspen country it is almost obligatory that you should stop at both the Maroon Bells Lake and the old Crystal Mill. Both of these places present their challenges. The Maroon Bells are restricted access and now require a day pass permit or alternatively you can use a shuttle to gain access. In order to have access, you must arrange well in advance to obtain a permit and by well in advance I mean a year is the best option! With the old Crystal Mill, it simply takes a while to get there. The road is narrow and there is generally quite a bit of activity as many people are interested in going to see this old historic pump station from a bygone era! The road does have a couple of areas where 4X4 would be nice to have if there are wet or muddy conditions and you will most likely have to wait for others to get their view before you have an opportunity to get your turn, however it is certainly worth it! I would make one suggestion in that it would probably be best to plan to see the mill during mid-week in order to avoid large crowds.

ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “ENAMIRRORED” LIMITED EDITION OF 50

As you begin to make your way to the South, Ridgeway and Ouray Colorado will be two central hubs by which you can stay and branch out to different areas to peep fall colors. I very much so recommend Ironton and Red Mountain Pass, as both will give you exceptional views and access to lots of aspens turning colors! Remember that the elevation is much higher in both of these areas, so they will turn color first and strip earlier than slightly lower on the mountains below 9,000 ft. In order to see these places in their best form, it is always nice to arrive early before the crowds show up in the later morning. Many of the places you will be visiting are rural or remote and sometimes they can find you a couple of hours away from surrounding townships. It is sometimes best to pack a lot of snacks, lunch and plenty to drink before setting out for your day’s adventures, sometimes having to turn around for lunch can be a long endeavor when you’re out in the middle of exploring these gorgeous locations!

ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “ASPEN MIRROR” LIMITED EDITION OF 50

Another highly recommended place to visit is Silverton, Colorado situated in the center of the San Juan Mountain range. Here in proximity to Silverton, there is the Alpine Loop 4X4 road which leads to Animas Forks and several high-country lakes which are worth checking out.

Last Dollar Road is without hesitation a MUST VISIT drive! From Ridgeway to Telluride, this easily accessed and serviced dirt road that will have your jaw dropping out your windows in every direction along your drive! Many of the roads twists and turns will have you pulling over to take photos and enjoy the dramatic vistas. One word of caution I advise that you make sure not to park near blind corners or on the road. While this may sound obvious, I think that it is so important to always have your safety in mind at all times. As you start to descend over the South side of the road, you will start to see the sweeping range that stretches to the South which is the Lizard Head Wilderness and most prominently featuring the epic Wilson Peak surrounded by a sea of quaking aspen stands and oak brush in a variety of colors that very well could look like fruity pebbles if you hit the timing just right!

As you close in towards Telluride, you will start to see the towering mountains to the East, some of them reaching heights over 14,000 feet in elevation and can leave you breathless! There are lots of little old barns and log cabins around that are every bit of a hundred years old and more; there is certainly no lack of rustic charm to be had here. Often times along these roads you will encounter a lot of wildlife, it isn’t all too uncommon to see large herds of elk with a majestic bull or two in the groups! They simply add to the magic that is the Rocky Mountains in the fall.

ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “SENTINELS OF LIGHT” LIMITED EDITION OF 50

While there are many little areas that are hidden gems and leave so many places to be discovered, I feel that this is truly part of where your real journey starts to begin! With so many old roads to explore, there is no shortage of little nooks and crannies to seek out beautiful moments. One of my personal favorite things to do is to fill up the fuel tanks, grab some great food to go and set out to sights and mountains unknown! I often find that when I am allowing myself to get lost into the fabric of each moment, that I truly find what I am looking for and with that I hope that you also find something magical that lights your adventurous spirit ablaze to discover everything that Colorado has to offer during the fall!