When and where to see fall colors in Colorado
COLORADO (KRDO) -- Fall is almost here in Colorado and that means the aspen leaves will be changing soon! (If they haven't already.)
Fall is the premiere season in Colorado as the temperatures start to cool down but the high country is still accessible for recreation and leaf-peeping.
Leaves change color each fall when they stop photosynthesis and rest for the winter when there isn't enough sunlight. The green chlorophyll in the leaves fades, leaving behind the others colors that had been hidden the rest of the year.
In Colorado, fall colors typically peak in the northern mountain throughout September. The central mountains tend to peak around the end of September. Colors in the southern Mountains tend to peak around the first week of October.
Below you can find a list of some of the best locations in Colorado for leaf-peeping:
- Cordova Pass
- Cottonwood Pass
- Crystal Mill
- Cucharas Pass
- Dallas Divide
- Guanella Pass
- Independence Pass
- Kebler Pass
- Kenosha Pass
- Last Dollar Road
- Maroon Bells
- Million Dollar Highway
- Mount Sneffels
- Mueller State Park
- Red Mountain Pass
- Ridgway
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Twin Lakes
- Wet Mountain between Rye and San Isabel