2019-12-07 07:19:22
Our quintessential tree is the aspen. In the summer, it provides shade for our state flower, the columbine; in the fall, we rejoice when its quaking leaves turn vibrant hues of red and gold. September is the ideal time to bear witness, but you have to time it right. When one area’s color fades, another is just changing. The best strategy: Select travel dates in advance, but not destinations. Then go wherever the color is best. SCENIC DRIVES These leafy routes get you so close to gorgeous fall foliage that you can smell the trees changing. DALLAS DIVIDE: Head west from Ridgway on CO 62 over the Dallas Divide to Telluride. Lining the route are unimpeded views of the Sneffels Range, an apron of aspens at its feet. KEBLER PASS: Head west out of Crested Butte on County Road 12. The ruddy colors of the Ruby Range make for a radiant contrast with the golden aspens below. INDEPENDENCE PASS: A winding road with groves upon groves of aspen trees that runs between Aspen and Twin Lakes. The pass is ringed by 13,000-foot peaks. There are plenty of Instagram-worthy pull-offs, nearby hikes and even an old ghost town to visit along the way. GRAND JUNCTION TO GRAND MESA: Head east on I-70 along the Colorado River, where cottonwoods phase into yellow. At CO 65, go east and then south to the Grand Mesa, where glowing aspens stretch forever. COTTONWOOD PASS: Head down Cottonwood Pass Road west of Buena Vista. You’ll enter an aspen-laden valley and see the fickleness of fall — one slope all gold, another patch still a shade of summer green. CO 17: From Antonito, drive up the serene Conejos River Valley, where pinyon give way to aspen. Some of the oldest and tallest aspens in the state can be seen, photographed and enjoyed near La Manga Pass. GUANELLA PASS: Take this route south out of Georgetown. Turn right on US 285 to the top of Kenosha Pass, where the aspen thrive on the rim of gentle slopes that encircle South Park. POUDRE CANYON: Take CO 14 west of Fort Collins to the top of Cameron Pass, a low forested saddle between the Rawah Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park. Views stretch down into the North Park basin near Walden. FRONTIER PATHWAYS: Head west out of Pueblo on CO 96. The route climbs into the Wet Mountain Valley, passing aspens blazing with color along the way. HIGHWAY OF LEGENDS: The route from La Veta to Trinidad on CO 12 begs to be photographed as it wraps around the Spanish Peaks amid tracts of pine, scrub oak and aspen. TAKE A RIDE Get out of the car and right into the wilderness to see our oranges, yellows and reds up close: BALLOONING: When you find yourself in a thatched basket, hundreds of feet up in the crisp Colorado air, the colors unfold below in a seemingly unending canvas of yellow and gold. The landscape becomes increasingly intriguing and inspiring while drifting from this high-altitude angle. HORSEBACK RIDING: Few activities embody the West like an old-fashioned horseback ride. Somehow, aspen viewing, wildlife watching, sightseeing and simply enjoying the outdoors are a different experience when sitting astride a saddle. Consider a trail for the day or book a vacation at a Colorado dude ranch. OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES (OHV): Travel deep into aspen-covered backcountry while riding a four-wheeler, ATV or 4x4 vehicle. Forest trails, often explored by just a handful of visitors, abound in Colorado. Find yourself surrounded by speckled aspen bark, as a golden canopy of color rises above you. GO FOR THE GONDOLA: Many of Colorado’s 28 ski resorts (see page 27) offer scenic chairlift rides — throughout summer and fall. Hop on, relax and survey the colorful trail-carved mountainsides as you glide to the summit. Many have scenic overlooks and places to grab a bite and a brew before you head back down the slopes. BIKE THE BYWAYS: Our 26 official Scenic and Historic Byways meander through breathtaking sceneries and, during autumn, the sights are absolutely magical. Byways are known for driving, but who’s to stop foliage-hungry cyclists from taking on a challenge with such glorious rewards? Check out these color-soaked byways (and see page 74 for more): ▶ WEST ELK LOOP: Near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Montrose, this byway winds around the West Elk Mountains and two mountain towns famous for their biking cultures: Gunnison and Crested Butte. ▶ TOP OF THE ROCKIES: Well over 9,000 feet, this elevated ride crosses the Continental Divide and passes through Copper Mountain, Leadville and Aspen. ▶ PEAK TO PEAK: The pot of gold at the end of this byway near Rocky Mountain National Park provides a gorgeous encore of vibrant fall foliage. FALL FESTIVALS We have no choice but to join the gold rush and celebrate every autumn weekend. Here’s a sampling of events; visit COLORADO.com/Events and page 19 for more. ▶ Estes Park’s Autumn Gold and Elk festivals ▶ Crested Butte’s Chili & Beer Festival ▶ Fruita Fall Festival ▶ Salida Bike Fest ▶ Trinidad’s Artocade ▶ Morrison’s Ciderfest ▶ Oktoberfest in Breckenridge, Longmont, La Veta, Durango, Denver ▶ Boulder’s Fall Fest ▶ Pueblo’s Chili & Frijoles Festival ▶ Paonia’s Mountain Harvest Festival ▶ Cedaredge’s Applefest ▶ Aurora’s Punkin Chunkin U-PICK FARMS & CORN MAZES When harvest season arrives, Colorado’s farms swing open their gates for fall fun in the fields. Load up the whole family for wallet-friendly learnin’, pickin’ and eatin’ — all the while supporting local growers and businesses. A FEW TO CONSIDER: ▶ Cottonwood Farms in Boulder ▶ Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms in Littleton ▶ Fritzler’s Corn Maze near Greeley ▶ Miller Farms in Platteville ▶ Anderson Farms in Erie ▶ Colon Orchards in Cañon City ▶ Studt’s Pumpkin Patch in Grand Junction ▶ Weathers Family Farms in Yuma ▶ Mesa Verde Farm & Ranch Tours in Cortez WANT MORE? COLORADO.COM/FALL
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