Coming to Colorado for the Color???

We drove to Ouray from the north after a night and morning of rain and wind. The San Juan's had snow above timberline. Very beautiful but it may have peaked.

Today, we drove 550 between Durango and Ouray & back. The mountains are in full color above 8000'. Great drive with lots of company enjoying the colors.

UPDATE:

The colour change is the best it's been in years! News reports are showing pictures every night of the awesome array of colours. The Peak-to-Peak Highway from Estes Park to Nederland is particularly brilliant. Expected to peak in the next week to 10 days.

Also, the elk bugling is in full force. Elk wandering around downtown Estes Park, in the golf course area as well as Moraine Park, making LOTS of noise! Videos showing up all over YouTube and Facebook.

And lastly....Loveland Ski Resort and Arapahoe Basin both starting snowmaking operations for the season soon. Loveland is shooting for an opening day of October 15 !!!

tmm2good wrote:
It was pretty nice up along the Peak to Peak yesterday.

Your pictures say it all - best we have seen in Years, to quote the locals.

We drove to Vail and Red Cliff and it is truly Beautiful, move color than we have ever seen on 24 up to Red Cliff.

Better Hurry or head south.

BOL,

It was pretty nice up along the Peak to Peak yesterday.

Some pretty good color on 550 between Ouray and Silverton. Not quite peak, but it won't be long now. :)

Heading up to Estes Park this weekend, hopefully to catch the elk bugling. Staying at Moraine Park CG. The following weekend, probably going to head up either Poudre Canyon or to Red Feather Lakes. Red Feather has a lot of Aspen in that area, so it should be peaking at just the right time. Unfortunately, Bellaire Lake has already closed for the season, but West and Dowdy Lakes are still open. Going during the week, should have the place to ourselves!

Here in southern Co, South Fork - Pagosa - Lake City area, we've had several indications from the weather, leaves & animal behavior, that the transition to winter is coming early this year. The leaves in the high country are about a week ahead of normal, and down in the valleys they're almost 2 weeks ahead. I'm taking my final Harley ride thru the mountains next week, instead of the first week in Oct, before packing up to move south.

Changing fast here in Buena Vista. They are a few days earlier this year. Last year it was a few days later around Oct. 1. Peak should be in the next week. Some trees around 10,000' have lost their leaves. Southern Colorado from US 50 south should peak about a week later.

If you are into boondocking you might think of going to the Saguache Park west of Saguache, CO. The elevation is around 9500. There are beautiful stands of aspen. We boondock there during the summer in our Outback.

If your schedule is such that you can't get here in time, I suggest that you go to northern New Mexico. There some stands of aspen just as beautiful as any in Colorado.

I see that you are in Loveland. You could take I25 to Walsenburg, 160 over LaVera Pass which is beautiful and should still have some color and drop into Alamosa/Ft. Garland. Spend the night or two and see Ft. Garland and the Sand Dunes. Then take US 285 from Alamosa, CO to Espanola, NM. It is a good highway with not much traffic. We drive it several times a year in the MH. You could also ride the narrow gauge railroad out of Chama. The High Road to Taos (El Camino Real) is absolutely beautiful, but very twisty. Would leave the Outback and just take the Tahoe. Be sure to have lunch at Rancho De Chimayo (no trailer parking). To get back home you could take 64 out of Taos to Eagle Nest and Cimarron to Raton and I25. This route should get you plenty of colr.

Thom02099 wrote:
Hey All,

Planning a trip out here to Colorful Colorado for the changing of the Aspens? Well, according to 9News in Denver, the colors are coming earlier. Many places are already changing and their report said peak color should be starting next week and going for the next few weeks...presumably meaning early October. Mid-October may be too late. I've noticed that, even here in our lower elevations in northern Colorado there's a hint of color change. Won't be long!!!

I'm sure some of our members here in other parts of the state can probably attest to the change coming a bit earlier this year.

We just drove up to Estes, on 7 yesterday, and there were a few that had changed but not many, will be up to Vail/CRed Cliff Friday, will let you know what we see. Normally the last week of September will give you a lot in the Passes, by October many will have lost their leaves.

Hoping to see the Golden Aspens soon,