Fall Foliage in the Centennial State

As autumn arrives in Colorado, the landscape transforms into a breathtaking canvas of vibrant colors. The golden aspens, fiery reds, and burnt oranges paint the mountainsides, attracting nature lovers from all over. With crisp air and clear skies, Colorado's fall foliage offers an unforgettable experience in the heart of nature. Here are a few of our favorites

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River Run Trail near Aspen—Not only does this hike in Castle Creek Valley offer a ton of fall foliage, it starts at the historic ghost town of Ashcroft. Just over three miles round-trip, the hike takes you to Pine Creek Cookhouse (which closes for the season at the end of September). Explore the ghost town via a self-guided tour. An honor system for the $5 admission during fall is in place. The trail is dog friendly, but Ashcroft isn’t.

Boreas Pass, Breckenridge—The trailhead starts about four miles from town where the pavement turns into a dirt road. A 2.5-mile loop, the trail is likely to be busier at this time of year than at other times thanks to the golden canopy overhead. Of moderate intensity, leashed dogs are welcome.

Photo by Soly Moses

Bridal Veil Falls, Telluride—This hike is all about the destination rather than the journey. An almost five-mile dirt road offers several fantastic spots to see the falls, which at 365 feet are the tallest free-falling falls in the state. In autumn, the surrounding hillsides are a tapestry of glorious fall colors. That combined with the fact that the road is open to cars means that you aren’t likely to be alone.

Pass Trail, Durango and Silverton—A moderate trail that is accessible to almost everyone, Pass Trail will take you to the base of Engineer Mountain where you can join up with Engineer Mountain Trail and head to the summit if you are looking to burn more calories (to be replenished with beer, naturally). Hikers should turn around here if they aren’t up for the extended hike and head back the way they came. Bikers can take a left turn and head back down the face of the mountain through spruce, aspen and meadow before pedaling four miles along Hwy 550 back to the car park.

Photo by Intricate Explorer

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Fish Creek Falls, Steamboat Springs—With four different options, this is a very popular trail in the area. A four-mile drive outside Steamboat Springs, Fish Creek Falls offers a wheelchair-accessible overlook for the falls (0.25 miles one way) as well as a dirt trail if you want to go to the base of them. The trail is 2.5 miles long one way to the second waterfall and 6.5 miles one way to Long Lake if you cross the historic bridge. Breweries in Steamboat Springs for your well-deserved beer are Mountain Tap Brewery, Storm Peak, Butcherknife, and Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill.

The Perimeter Trail, Ouray—A beautiful loop of just under six miles that circumnavigates the town from on high - and therefore offers great views - this trail is popular which means you almost certainly won’t be alone. The moderate trail has a waterfall and some sections that require your full concentration. Leashed dogs can use the trail. Stop in for a post-hike beer at one of the breweries in town.

Oro Grande Trail, Silverthorne—At just over seven miles out and back, the Oro Grande Trail near Dillon is as popular with hikers as it is with bikers. Open to dogs and horses, too, the trail has great views of the Ten Mile Range across Dillon Reservoir and is good for fall color spotting.

Photo by Joetography

Cedar Point Nature Trail, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Montrose—This easy 0.6-mile roundtrip hike is perfect for families with little ones or older family members. With a gentle slope, it offers the chance to see a wide range of local fauna as well as the chance to peer into the “Black” from two overlooks. You can also see the famed Painted Wall, the tallest cliff in the state from here, too.

Kenosha Pass, Park County—Combining an easy hike and stunning foliage, Kenosha Pass Trail is a popular spot to see the autumn colors. Part of the Colorado Trail, arguably the most popular section, it is likely to be very busy between late September and early October when the aspens are in full fall mode. The views really open up about three miles on the trail east of Highway 285, which is Colorado Trail segment 5.