'A fantastic fall show': How to experience peak fall colors in southern Colorado and Pueblo

As late summer gives way to early fall, Colorado experiences a color rush of changing leaves, pushing Coloradans outdoors to see the fall foliage.

Daniel West, nicknamed "Mr. Aspen," spends two months a year in late summer flying over Colorado's 24 million acres of forest, observing tree health — this grants him expertise on how the fall leaf-changing season plays out every year.

Aspen trees make up about five million acres of Colorado's forest ecosystem, West said, and are spread fairly evenly through the state. Below is a guide to when they are generally at peak color saturation, according to the U.S. Forest Service. This can vary slightly from year to year, and higher elevations tend to turn more quickly than lower elevations.

Here are some of the peak times to see the fall colors in Colorado, as reported by our friends at the Fort Collins Coloradoan:

• Mid-to-late September: Northern mountains from about Denver and Glenwood Springs north to the Wyoming state line, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Upper Poudre Canyon, Rawah Mountains of the Medicine Bow National Forest, Steamboat area, Flat Tops, and Dinosaur National Monument.

• Late September: Central mountains from about Interstate 70 south to Pueblo, including I-70 corridor, Maroon Bells, Grand Mesa, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park as well as Vail, Aspen, and Crested Butte.

• Late September to early October: Southern mountains from Pueblo south to New Mexico state line, including the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountains, Mesa Verde National Park, Durango, Telluride, and Pagosa Springs.

Best places in southern Colorado to check out the fall colors

West told the Chieftain that just south of Canon City, around the area of Greenhorn Peak, is "significantly ahead of schedule" this year, with "whole hillsides of yellow" already visible throughout the Wet Mountains.

"I think for that area, maybe next week or a week from this weekend if you will, I think we'll see a peak through the Wet Mountains," he said.

While it can be difficult to predict due to weather conditions, the peak season for an area generally lasts between 10 and 14 days, he said, giving Coloradans about two weekends to get out and see the colors.

West said there's several amazing color drives close to Pueblo that people can take during peak season; one such drive is La Veta Pass, just west of Walsenberg. Another, he noted, is the area in and around Cuchara, which sits along Highway 12. "It's awesome for oaks and riparian vegetation along the riverways," he said.

West also suggested drivers can a trip to Bighorn Sheep Canyon, about 12 miles east of Canon City.

"Driving through Bighorn Sheep Canyon, driving toward Salida, things are just starting to turn, we're starting to see some patchy yellows here and there," he said.

West's 2023 color forecast for the Centennial State

West predicts that conditions this year will produce a beautiful bloom of colors across the state. "(The forecast) is showing above-average temperature, and below-average precipitation, so that sets up really nicely for a fantastic fall show," he said.

Aspen trees, he said, are capitalizing on a significant amount of precipitation that occurred throughout the spring and summer. "In previous years, we saw extreme and even exceptional drought conditions throughout the state," said West. "This year, it's only a mild or moderate drought in the southwest corner of the state, which is struggling with not seeing the same precipitation values, but the rest of the state is sitting in a pretty good spot ... they're in really good condition going into the fall, which is what we want to see."

Mr. Aspen's favorite drives to see the colors statewide

Kebler Pass, a 30-mile drive along Kebler Pass Road, located west of Crested Butte to Colorado Highway 133, is one of West's favorites. "That whole area in and around the Gunnison basin, all the way up to Crested Butte, (has) fantastic aspen shows," he said.

"In the south, you can't go wrong with heading towards the west and the Wet Mountains," he continued. "You'd be able to see fantastic views if you drive now. The aspens are already starting to turn, and I don't think people will be disappointed.

For West, there's too many beautiful drives across the state to pick a favorite.

"Closer to home, there is the Peak to Peak Highway just west of Denver, and the Rocky Mountain National Park is also really fantastic," the Fort Collins-based Colorado State Forest Service entomologist said.

Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is a 55-mile highway that connects several national parks, national forests, and even a ski resort, with many gravel roads crisscrossing the highway leading to trails, camping grounds, lakes, and more.

West also highlighted the Dallas Divide, located on State Highway 62 about 12 miles west of the town of Ridgway. "Also, even heading north of Durango, work your way to Silverton, and work your way all the way up to Ridgeway and into Montrose, that's a fantastic drive. We're really fortunate in Colorado," he said.

How to be responsible on Colorado trails during peak "leaf peeping" season

Bridget O'Rourke, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said fall is a busy season for trail attendance as many people take to their favorite outdoor location once the colors turn vibrant. O'Rourke offered several insights into how to view the sights, or "leaf-peep" responsibly.

Know before you go: The fall season is busy at Colorado state parks and parking lots get full. If a parking area is full, O'Rourke says visitors should move on to the next designated parking area and follow instructions given by park rangers. "Park rangers can issue parking tickets to people who park illegally or block traffic. Have a backup plan if your desired trailhead, park, or location is crowded or closed," she said.

O'Rourke advises that visitors use CPW’s Park Finder Tool to see a Colorado state parks map. To learn more about outdoor activities at Colorado state parks, guests can also visit cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo.

Stick to trails: O'Rourke advises guests to make sure they're sticking to the trail, and to designated parking lots. "We see people walk off trail to take pictures. That can disturb wildlife, and damage vegetation. If they park in areas they aren't supposed to, it can damage roads and shift rocks around. So we ask people to consider if your one leaf-peeping picture is worth damage that can require additional maintenance."

Leave it as you find it: A particularly concerning behavior rangers see every year is guests carving their names into trees, O'Rourke said. "That's a huge faux pas," O'Rourke said. She also asked that in return for the beautiful views, photos, shade, and oxygen granted by the Colorado forests, guests refrain from damaging the trees in other ways, such as pulling down branches or pulling leaves off of the trees, because it can kill or disfigure them.

Keep wildlife wild: O'Rourke advises guests to protect themselves and their loved ones from potential wildlife conflicts by watching wild animals from a safe distance to avoid startling or forcing them to flee, keeping dogs leashed when enjoying dog-friendly trails, and putting waste bags in a trash can.

"Bears are more active on the trails because they're getting ready for hibernation," she said. "They're eating more berries, they're just around more. So we want people to be considerate not to approach wildlife, take photos from a far distance away, just to be mindful to coexist when you're in wildlife's habitat."

O'Rourke also asks that guests not hang waste on trees, and pack out everything they pack in. "Some people will leave (animal waste bags) behind rocks or worse, hang them on trees, with the intention to get them on the way out. But it damages the trees, and they may forget to pick them up, and there's no cleaning person that comes behind to pick those all up."

Share trails and parks with others: "We want people to just be considerate that wildlife could be crossing roads or people may pull over in funky places and may be crossing roads themselves," O'Rourke said. "Don't speed through parks or cut each other off, be respectful of park staff."

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @jayreutter1.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Where to see the fall colors in Pueblo and southern Colorado