Where to see fall colors at peak in Colorado in early October

DENVER (KDVR) — Time to see the colorful fall leaves at their peak in the Colorado high country is running out fast, but its not too late.

The FOX31’s Pinpoint Weather team’s map shows when and where leaves will show peak colors, and for the beginning of October, areas in lower elevations of the high country are expected to show vibrant foliage.

Pinpoint Weather Meteorologists Kylie Bearse and Travis Michels believe that this weekend will be great for colors virtually anywhere in the high country, but weather may impact the leaf-peeping experience.

Here’s what to to know if you are trying to see colorful fall foliage over the next week.

Weather impacts

Bearse said many areas still have leaves on the trees, and suggests getting out to see them on Friday. Michels said there will be some winds later in the day Friday, which may cause some leaves to fall.

Then on Saturday, scattered showers and cooler temperatures may make for a chilly experience in the high country, and could also cause more leaves to fall.

Weather wise, Michels said Sunday is looking the best for the high country, with lots of sunshine and high temperatures in the upper 50s and lower 60s

Where to see leaves at peak

While leaves may be just past their peak at higher elevations, the meteorologists said there will still be lots of color to see, just with some leaves on the ground. Bearse said this weekend will be good for colors just about anywhere in the mountains.

For the best chances of seeing peak colors, leaf-peepers may want to check out areas in the light red in the map below:

Some areas to check out include:

• Flat tops
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Front Range
• Sangre de Cristo Mountains
• Meeker
• Rifle
• Carbondale
• Montrose
• Durango
• Alamosa
• Salida
• Buena Vista
• Craig

Bearse has a list of recommended trails to see leaves on her website. Some that may be good this week include of those include:

• Browns Creek Waterfall Trail near Buena Vista
• Abyss Trail near Grant
• Gem Lake Trail near Estes Park

Bearse said that Kebler Pass and Crested Butte are looking “incredible” as of Thursday. Kebler Pass is home to one of the largest aspen groves in the U.S., at over 50 square miles, according to TripAdvisor.

Bearse said it may be too early for places like Golden Gate Canyon State Park, so there will still be opportunities to see leaves beyond this weekend, but this weekend will likely be the last best chance for leaves in the high country.

Know before you go: Traffic, parking

Colorado is a hot destination for leaf peepers all over the world. Many people reported long waits in traffic delays in the mountains last weekend, and there will likely still be decent crowds this weekend.

The Colorado Department of Transportation said people heading to the mountains should plan for more traffic than usual, especially on the weekends.

CDOT offers these tips for a safe leaf-peeping trip:

• Be aware of vehicles traveling at lower speeds
• Watch for vehicles pulling off the roadway or parked along the road
• Find safe, designated areas to park
• Drivers, be aware of pedestrians out of their vehicles taking photos
• Pedestrians, watch out for passing vehicles

Law enforcement is cracking down on illegal parking in the high country. Drivers are encouraged to park only in parking-designated areas such as view points and trailhead parking lots.

Parking restrictions are in place on Guanella Pass extending a half a mile to the north and south of the summit to ensure that emergency vehicles have the access they need. “No parking” signs are placed along much of the pass, and last month, a dozen vehicles were towed for illegal parking in the area. The area is known to be crowded during the fall.

The Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office said that it will issue tickets to vehicles parked in no-parking zones and will tow vehicles parked directly in the roadway. Vehicles that stick out into the roadway in areas where parking is allowed will also be ticketed.

Colorado’s weather is notorious for quickly changing conditions, so check the forecast before embarking on fall adventures in the high country.

Brooke Williams

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