When to See Aspen's Fall Colors

For a few weeks each autumn, the hillsides around Aspen turn from green to gold, and the town the mountains are named for lives up to its name. If you can travel in shoulder season, an Aspen fall foliage trip is one of the most beautiful, and most relaxed, ways to see the valley.

When do the leaves turn?

In most years, the colours around Aspen peak from mid to late September. The exact timing shifts with the weather: a warm, dry late summer can bring the gold early, and an early storm can strip the trees in a day. Higher slopes turn first and the valley floor follows, so the season moves downhill over a couple of weeks.

Why whole hillsides change together

Quaking aspens often grow as clones: many trunks rising from one shared root system. Each clone tends to turn at its own moment, which is why you will see a whole patch of hillside blaze gold while the one beside it is still green.

Where to see the fall colors

The Maroon Bells

The golden aspens around Maroon Lake, beneath the red rock of the Bells, are the image most people have of Colorado in fall. It is also the busiest place in the valley in September, and access is managed by reservation in peak season, so plan and book ahead.

Independence Pass

The road east of Aspen over Independence Pass climbs through aspen groves to above the tree line. It is a spectacular fall drive, and usually open until early winter, but it is narrow and closes for the season once snow arrives, so check conditions before setting out.

Castle Creek Road

A quieter option, Castle Creek Road runs south from town toward the old mining site of Ashcroft, through stands of aspen and open meadows.

Planning an autumn stay

Fall is shoulder season in Aspen: summer crowds have gone and the ski season is still weeks away. Days are usually cool and clear, nights are cold, and reservations are easier to come by. Pack layers and a warm jacket for mornings, and plan for at least one evening by the fire.

Coming in summer instead? See our guide to Aspen in summer and the Maroon Bells.