Fall Color / COME TO LIFE BIKE THE BYWAYS Drives & Rides That Bring Autumn Joy 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. DALLAS DIVIDE: Head west from Ridgway on CO 62 over Dallas Divide. 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. MAROON BELLS: On September weekends, access is limited to a shuttle from Aspen. If you reserve a campsite on Maroon Creek Road, you can drive to the lake, where trees frame a reflection of the peaks. GRAND JUNCTION TO GRAND MESA: Head east on I-70 along the Colorado River, where cot-tonwoods 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. FALL COLOR Colorado’s 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 tak-ing on a challenge with such glorious rewards? CHECK OUT THESE COLOR-SOAKED BYWAYS (AND SEE PAGE 76 FOR MORE): CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: LAST DOLLAR ROAD, BLAINE HARRINGTON III; NEAR TELLURIDE, LISA SEAMAN; MAROON BELLS, C2 PHOTOGRAPHY; NEAR ASPEN, C2 PHOTOGRAPHY; NEAR BUENA VISTA, BETH SCHNEIDER. 1 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. 2 TOP OF THE ROCKIES: Well over 9,000 feet, this elevated ride crosses the Continental Divide and passes through Copper Mountain, Leadville and Aspen. 3 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. WANT MORE? COLORADO.COM/FALLSEASON COLORADO.COM / 75
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2017: Page 75
