Colorado Fall Colors: When and Where the Aspens Peak
By Chris Heaton · access details checked October 2026
For about three weeks every fall, Colorado's aspen forests turn gold, orange and occasionally red, and the whole state heads for the mountains. Peak color moves down the mountains and from north to south, so if you know the pattern you can chase it for most of a month.
When the aspens peak
Color starts in the high country in mid-September and works its way downhill, roughly 3 to 5 days later for every 1,000 feet you drop. These are typical windows; any year can run a week early or late, and a windy storm can strip a hillside in a day.
- Mid-September: high passes like Independence, Boreas, Red Mountain and Shrine Pass, and Rocky Mountain National Park's high country.
- Around September 20–30: Maroon Bells, Crested Butte and Gothic, Kenosha Pass, Cottonwood Pass, Guanella Pass.
- Late September into early October: Kebler and Ohio Pass, Telluride, Ouray, Marble and the Crystal River valley.
- Late September to the first week of October: the Front Range foothills, like Golden Gate Canyon.
The best fall color drives
- Kebler Pass, Crested Butte: one of the largest aspen groves in the country, on a gravel road.
- Ohio Pass: quieter than Kebler, with views of the Castles.
- Kenosha Pass: the easy choice from Denver, with walks on the Colorado Trail.
- Guanella Pass: aspens, beaver ponds and big peaks, close to Georgetown.
- The Million Dollar Highway and Last Dollar Road in the San Juans.
How to photograph aspens
Overcast days are your friend in the forest: soft light makes the colors glow and keeps the white trunks from blowing out. Save sunny days for wide views at sunrise and sunset, or for backlit leaves glowing against a dark background.
- A polarizer cuts the glare on leaves and deepens the color.
- A telephoto picks out patterns across a hillside: a red patch in a gold slope, trunks in rows.
- Look down: leaves on the trail or floating on a pond make great details.
- Go on a weekday if you can; Kenosha and Kebler are packed on peak weekends.
Spot guides mentioned here
Useful on this site
- Fall color right now: Which spots are typically at peak this week
- Lightroom presets: The looks I use on my aspen photos
- Field guide: Kebler, Ohio Pass, Kenosha and more, offline
Questions
When do the aspens peak in Colorado?
Usually from mid-September in the high country to early October in lower areas and the southern mountains. The busiest window is roughly September 20–30.
Where is the best fall color in Colorado?
Kebler Pass near Crested Butte, the Maroon Bells, Kenosha Pass, Guanella Pass and the San Juan Mountains around Telluride and Ouray are some of the best.
Where can I see fall colors near Denver?
Kenosha Pass and Guanella Pass are about 1.5 hours away; Golden Gate Canyon State Park is closer and peaks a bit later.
Fees, reservations and road dates change. Confirm with the managing agency before you go. Sources: colorado.com, fs.usda.gov.
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