Look beyond Colorado’s shimmering yellow aspen trees for wonderful leaf-peeping this fall.
Adam Moore, the supervisory forester at the Colorado State Forest Service’s Alamosa field office, emphasized that leaf-peeping is not limited to the mountains. “There are trees and shrubs other than aspens that create brilliant colors,” he said.
Fall leaves in Smith Lake at Washington Park on Oct. 21, 2019 in Denver. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
In addition to the trees in the high country, take the time to peer into the canyons or explore the streams and riverbanks to see brilliant yellows and reds.
Rather than looking at fall foliage while sitting in mountain traffic, you could plan a hike, a river float, or a paddle adventure instead.
Or, if you want to stick closer to home, explore the urban forests in Denver or Colorado Springs. “Some cities have the best fall foliage,” Moore said.
Beyond the aspen
In Colorado, there are other plant options and colors to consider. Here’s where to look:
Ponderosa pine stands: If you see colors in Ponderosa pines, they most often are gambel oaks, which turn orange, red and off-yellow.
River or stream banks: Narrowleaf cottonwoods turn yellow; Great Plains cottonwoods turn bright yellow; golden willows turn golden yellow; and wax currant and golden currant shrubs turn orange to reddish.
Bushes and shrubs: Rocky Mountain sumac shrubs turn brilliant red; chokecherry bushes turn blood red; caragana multi-stemmed bushes turn yellow or red; and wild rose shrubs turn yellow or brilliant red. (You can find those plants across the state.)
“On any alpine drive, look down into the canyons; that’s where the color will be,” said Dennis Will, Colorado Springs city forester.
Get out of your car
Scott Mahoney of Colorado Adventure Guides said fall is an ideal time to hike, bike, climb or float.
“So much of what we do is available year-round, but it’s prettier this time of year,” he said.
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The company offers float trips that let you leaf peep on the Upper Colorado and Blue River via raft, paddle board or inflatable kayak.
“It’s a different way to see it,” Mahoney said. “You get to see the foliage, but you also see lots of wildlife — beavers, big horn sheep, eagles and osprey. It’s family-friendly and works for ages 5 and up and long as your sea legs work.”
The company also offers guided hikes outside Breckenridge, mountain bike tours, rocking climbing trips, or paddle-boarding adventures on Lake Dillon.
“This is a great time to come visit,” Mahoney said. “The mountain towns are less crowded.”
Explore the foliage in Denver or Colorado Springs
A bicyclist passes through a dusting of snow in Denver’s City Park in Oct. 2006 as the fall leaves, like those from this maple, still color the landscape. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)
Ben Rickenbacker, Denver forestry operations manager, said if you want to see more than just the yellow aspen leaves, you can explore City Park or Washington Park to see the reds and purples of the autumn purple ash as it turns.
“The parks are a great way to see color. You can see them on foot, which can be safer than trying to look up at them while driving. You can have full immersion and don’t have to worry about traffic.”
City Park alone has more than 100 tree species, including some oaks and maples that provide orange and red leaves.
“We have some maples for folks from the Northeast. We don’t have the same array of sugar maples that produce that nice orange color, but we do have big tooth maple, silver maple, and some red oaks that produce some nice red fall colors,” Rickenbacker said.
He also recommends exploring other larger parks with mature trees, like Sloan’s Lake, Rocky Mountain Lake, and Berkley Lake parks.
Other spots to check out include the Platte River and Cherry Creek banks and the Highline Canal Trail.
Rickenbacker also suggests driving through the canopies on Monaco Street and Sixth Avenue. American elms that turn orange-yellow fill both areas.
Will said the urban canopy consists of ash, maples and Siberian elms. The ash leaves turn yellow, dull orange or bright red, while the maples turn red and the elms turn yellow or red.
Bicyclists pedal past an elm tree whose leaves are beginning to experience autumn changes in Washington Park in 2003. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)
“They’re gorgeous,” he said.
Leaf peepers can find the trees in Memorial Park, America the Beautiful Park and Garden of the Gods Park.
If you’re looking for gambel oaks, you can find them in Palmer Park, Red Rock Canyon, or on the drive up Ute Pass to Divide, he said.
Best time to see colors
Rickenbacker predicts this fall’s colors will be spectacular.
“The trees are healthy; they’re not too drought-stressed,” he said. “You want the trees to be healthy, well hydrated, and not have too much wind, rain or snow.
“The leaves can last through October if we have a nice fall with no hard freezes.”
When to expect the best color:
Rocky Mountain National Park, Steamboat Springs, White River National Forest: Sept. 15-29
Aspen, Gunnison, Grand Mesa, Summit County, Vail: Sept. 22-Oct. 5
Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Mountains: Sept. 30-Oct. 18
Denver metro area: Through October.