

Tucked almost halfway between Leadville and Buena Vista, the tiny village of Twin Lakes is home to two giant lakes and an old ghost town. It’s the second-highest pass with an improved road in Colorado (behind Cottonwood). Independence PassĪ seasonal shortcut to Aspen, Independence Pass climbs to 12,095 feet, providing stunning vistas around every turn. In Central Colorado Dispersed camping on Kebler Pass. The drive between them leads through beautiful landscapes, with a chance to circle back to I-70. From here you’ll shortly reach three state parks, Rifle Gap, Rifle Falls, and Harvey Gap. Nearby Drive: Take CO 13 south toward Rifle for 38 miles, then left onto CO 325 N.Campgrounds can be found at most of the nearby lakes and dispersed campsites are everywhere. Camping: You can camp nearly anywhere on the byway.Open through October, Trappers Lake Lodge has cabins for rent, horseback riding, and a restaurant/bar. Trappers Lake is a short detour from the byway and a worthwhile stop, though there won’t be too much color due to past forest fires. During the journey, you’ll pass by lake after lake, and have ample chances to see the leaves. This long stretch of remote highway passes through two national forests on its way from Yampa to Meeker. Get away from the crowd on the Flat Tops Byway. Nearby Drive: If you make it all the way to Walden, you can continue east on the Cache La Poudre North Park Byway.There are also two campgrounds on the pass, one at the bottom and top.
#FALL SCENERY FREE#

Camping: Numerous campgrounds on both sides of the park.Trip: Estes Park to Grand Lake, 48 miles, 2WD, car fee good for 7 days.There’s an entry fee on this one, but on September 24th, 2022 it’s free since that’s National Public Lands Day. Hundreds of elk gather in one spot, with bull bugling heard from afar. Both towns offer charming historic districts lined with shops and restaurants.Īnother perk to the park is the fall elk rut, which generally lasts from mid-September to mid-October. While not soaking up the scenery, there are numerous things to do in the park and around Estes Park and Grand Lake. Colors fill the hillsides and valleys nearly the whole way. Trail Ridge Road winds high through the alpine countryside in Rocky Mountain National Park. In Northern Colorado Aspen grove on Buffalo Pass. These are ones that offer camping nearby and a chance to see a vast amount of colorful trees.

The following autumn drives are all excellent, but they are only a handful of fall pilgrimages available. Make sure you take an annual trip into the mountains to witness unmatched autumn in the Rockies. Some scenic drives are better than others, but even a little fall gold will brighten your day. The best places to go are almost anywhere in the mountains. Best Places to See Colorado’s Fall Colors Autumn colors on Kebler Pass near Crested Butte. Learn more about when autumn foliage starts in Colorado. Each year the timing of the fall colors changes by a little bit, either sooner or later, based on when the cold temperatures first strike. Splashes of yellow, orange and red all mingle along rolling alpine roads. The display begins high up in the mountains and works its way down in elevation as the temperature gets colder. It all depends on the weather, so be flexible and ready to travel. The leaves usually begin changing in early September and last no longer than mid-October. Come September the aspens begin to glow! Fall is one of the best times to tour the Rockies.
