Rocky Mountain National Park fall foliage viewing
The fall of 2023 produced a spectacular present of shade within the Colorado Mountains.
This fall is shaping as much as be one in all Colorado’s most spectacular foliage exhibits in years due to ample spring and summer season moisture and heat days and funky nights this fall.
Although the autumn present is previous peak in some areas, different areas are simply coming into prime time. Don’t procrastinate too lengthy or you’ll miss out on all that gold glory.
To see up to date fall foliage maps for Colorado and across the nation, go to www.explorefall.com or smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map.
Here’s a take a look at fall foliage viewing circumstances for the weekend of Oct. 7-8 round Colorado, in response to varied websites and sources.
Steamboat space at peak, Rocky Mountain National Park fading
- Rocky Mountain National Park: Past prime in most locations however nonetheless some shade right here and there, particularly round Rainbow Curve on Trail Ridge Road. Elk are nonetheless placing on a present, bugling within the park and in Estes Park.
- Steamboat Springs: Peak circumstances this week, particularly round Buffalo Pass. Don’t wait to see this present.
- North Park: Past peak with a couple of patches of shade however fading quick. Strong wind has taken its toll on a lot of the viewing.
- Poudre Canyon: Past peak with fading shade.
- Colorado Highway 125 (Rand to Granby🙂 Peak circumstances.
Interstate 70 hall present nonetheless going robust
- Idaho Springs to Frisco: Peak to only previous peak.
- Copper Mountain to Glenwood Springs: Peak to pre-peak.
- U.S. Highway 40 (Empire to Granby): Mostly previous peak with some peak round Winter Park.
- U.S. Highway 6: Mostly peak with patches of previous peak.
- U.S. Highway 285 (Conifer to Fairplay): Mostly peak with patches of previous peak.
- Colorado Highway 9 (Frisco to Fairplay): Intermittent peak to previous peak.
Grand Mesa a combined bag of shade
This space is previous peak at higher elevations however peak to patchy shade as you lose elevation.
Crested Butte, Marble areas nonetheless exhibiting good shade
- Kebler Pass and West Elk Mountains: Peak circumstances. One of one of the best locations to view aspen.
- Crested Butte space: Peak to only previous peak.
- Colorado Highway 133 (Carbondale to Marble): Patchy, starting from peak to reasonable shade. McClure Pass particularly vibrant.
San Juan Mountains fall foliage hitting peak now
The San Juan Mountains space in southern Colorado is the place to be for prime aspen viewing. According to the Oct. 3 San Juan National Forest fall shade report, “the colour is popping in every single place, however decrease elevations are nonetheless spotty. One extra week and we might be close to peak to peak all through all the San Juan Skyway!”
Here’s a take a look at probably the most present report:
- Durango to Purgatory: Patchy.
- Purgatory to Coal Bank: Patchy to partial.
- Coal Bank to Molas Pass: Partial to close peak.
- Molas Pass to Silverton: Partial to close peak.
- Silverton space: Peak.
- Silverton to Red Mountain Pass: Near peak.
- Red Mountain Pass to Ouray: Near peak.
- Ouray to Telluride (Dallas Divide): Partial.
- Telluride to Lizard Head Pass: Near peak.
- Lizard Head Pass to Rico: Near peak.
- Rico to Dolores: Patchy to partial.
- Mancos space: Patchy to partial for aspens and close to peak for shrubbery and undergrowth.
- Pagosa Springs: Patchy.
- Missionary Ridge: Partial to close peak.
- La Plata Canyon: Patchy.
