I love to peep. September is not only the start of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, cooler weather and a time to dig out the scarves, but also kicks off my favorite season: leaf peeping in Fallorado.
After living in Colorado 17 years I’d like to think I’ve mastered the art of this fine fall family activity. While the local news stations do a great job of projecting when the aspen leaves will change to gold, one crazy snowstorm can blow in and wipe the colors from the mountaintops. The best plan to peep, I’ve learned, is to have a few ideas on where you’d like to go to see the colors, but be willing to change your weekend plans if necessary. While some of my favorite spots might require a hotel stay or camping trip, others can be made as a daytrip. It’s best to note the colors change from North to South in the state so some of these places are best scheduled to visit at the end of September or early October. So pack some snacks, grab your fall boots, charge up the camera and get ready to take the kids to the best colorful Colorado has to offer.
Favorite Hike Close to Denver:
1. Hells Hole Hike in the Mount Evans Wilderness: This is an 8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Idaho Springs. Full disclaimer, I hiked this once with my daughter when she was little and it was a huge undertaking. Now we just drive up to the trailhead and hike until the aspens run out, about a mile or so in and turn around and come back out. There’s picnic tables at the trailhead as well as pit toilets making it a nice spot to hike and lunch with the family. The road isn’t paved but I’ve driven up in a 2wd vehicle with no issues. Dogs are also allowed on leash. To me, this is the closest spot for soaking in the Aspen’s and it’s a great place to take out-of-towners who don’t care to do more than a few miles of hiking as well. Grab yourself a pumpkin beer at Tommy Knockers Brewery in Idaho springs after, or soak at the hot springs there.
Favorite State Park Hike Near Denver that’s dog-friendly:
Golden Gate Canyon State Park: Horseshoe Trail -located northwest of Golden, this 11,998 acre park has 36 miles of hiking trails to choose from and features over 100 campsites and 100 picnic sites. The twelve trails are each named after an animal and marked with the animal’s footprints. I chose the Horseshoe Trail because it’s 1.8 miles one way and passes through aspen groves which were mostly bare of leaves when I went mid-October. Some of the trails are for hikers only while others allow horse and mountain bikes so you can choose the option that’s perfect for you and your family. Don’t feel like hiking? Drive straight to Panorama Point and enjoy the best picnic views around.
Favorite Hike in Telluride for Fall Colors:
Bear Creek Falls: If you can swing a trip to Telluride during gold season, it’s my absolute favorite spot to see the fall colors. While you can peep at just about any spot driving past the Dallas Divide on your way into town, Bear Creek Falls offers an up close and personal view of the quaking aspens. While the hike itself is 2.5 miles one way to the falls, you can shorten this by letting your little ones hike as far as their legs will carry them then walk back into town. My favorite part about this jaunt is that it can be accessed from town so once you arrive at your accommodations you don’t have to drive anywhere further. You can also take the free gondola up to mountainside village so you can have a bird’s eye view of the aspens lining the soon-to-be-snow lined -ski-hill below. For bonus aspen tree peeping, take the Last Dollar Road on your way into town and find yourself surrounded by trees and views of Mt. Wilson. Pro-tip: don’t drive this road if it’s recently been raining or snowing, we almost went off the road and got stuck due to excess mud from a recent storm.
Best Scenic Drive Within 2 hours of Denver:
This was my go-to spot when we lived on the front range. I’d usually pick a Sunday when the Broncos were playing and go to minimize the amount of traffic. This spot has gotten popular the last couple of years, but it’s great because you don’t need a high clearance vehicle to drive this dirt road and you can hop in and out of your car for photos. Please only pull over in designated spots so you don’t block the flow of traffic. Go in the evening for the best light on the aspens.
Best Drive that isn’t Red Mountain Pass or Last Dollar Road:
Everyone drives Red Mountain Pass and Last Dollar Road because they’re amazing. However, not everyone loves the sheer cliffs and drop-offs on the pass or has a high clearance vehicle to drive the duration of Last Dollar Road. We drove Owl Creek Pass last year and found it amazing because there was hardly any people and lots of changing aspens and trees. We have driven the duration in the past, but if you’re just looking for a shorter day trip just drive part of the pass and then turn around when you want. Bonus points for staying in Ridgway and having Gnar Tacos. Ridgway will also have cheaper hotel options than Telluride or Ouray and if you’re looking for something romantic I recommend Chipeta Solar Springs Resort.
Most underrated place to see fall colors:
The Grand Mesa National Forest - Ok I may be a little biased because I live on the Western Slope now, but everyone passes right by this gem on the way to Telluride and Ouray without even thinking. We camped off old Grand Mesa Road one year and it was fabulous (and free) and there’s plenty to peep around Mesa Lakes Lodge and Mesa Lakes. Bring some cash as some areas do have a fee to park and enjoy (like the area behind Mesa Lakes), but there are other spots you can enjoy that are free off the scenic byway. While the aspens here aren’t as big as those off Kebler, you’ll be sure to enjoy gold and less people.
There are so many wonderful areas of Colorado to explore and I go over more of these trails in detail here:
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Happy Peeping!