Southwestern Colorado is putting on quite the show right now! If you have the ability to hit the road and drive from Ouray down to Silverton, Colorado over Red Mountain Pass (Highway 550) the colors are at peak! I took this video Sunday so I could take you along with me in case you can’t make it yourself. According to one of the locals who owns a store in Silverton, the colors are some of the best she’s seen in 25 years. While a drought isn’t ideal for our state, it apparently makes for some very vibrant colors and there’s a great mix of yellows and some redish orange leaves. While many of the leaves in the town of Silverton have blown off, or will be dropping within the week, the colors on the pass, especially near Crystal Lake are prime.
While Red Mountain pass can be a dangerous stretch of highway, known for it’s sharp switch backs and steep drop offs, just go slow and enjoy the scenery along the way and watch for falling rocks and you’ll be fine. Currently there is construction on the pass, brining the highway down to one lane so expect at least a 15 minute delay coming to and from Silverton. There are plenty of scenic spots to pull off the road and take pictures so please, don’t be like other leaf peepers and pull off on the side of the highway with your car half on the road…this is dangerous to yourself and other motorists.
If you can’t make it to the southern part of Colorado this year then make sure to put this drive on your list for 2021. It’s the ultimate scenic drive in Colorado in the fall in my opinion!
*Be sure to watch in HD for best quality*
Happy Fall ya’ll! Make sure you’re a paid subscriber for more in-depth content and have first access to my top hot springs picks for October!