Plan Your Fall Drives

Where To Go For Aspen Viewing In Colorado

Plan Your Fall Drives!

It’s that time of year. The trees are beginning to turn, crowning our majestic mountains with golden hues and brisk air. It’s one of the best times to visit the Rocky Mountains. Here are some of the best drives right out of the Front Range and Denver Metro Area to view amazing Aspen forests as they transition through the fall.

Downtown & Old Town Longmont

Longmont has amazing trees all throughout Downtown and surrounding Old Town. As these leaves change they hang over the roads, transforming our streets into autumnal corridors. Drive around town and look at the historic architecture while taking in the splendor of the season!
Boulder

Much like Longmont, Boulder has amazing trees and historic houses. Head down to Pearl Street and walk toward campus, or drive around the historic neighborhoods. Boulder in the fall is a beautiful thing.
Peak to Peak Highway

If you want a short drive through the mountains, make sure to take Peak to Peak Highway. You can start on Highway 6 out of Golden and go through Black Hawk, continuing on North to Nederland and all the way up to Estes Park for an amazing display of Aspen and a drive through famous, historic mountain towns.
Estes Park

A drive up Highway 36 into Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park is a spectacular trip in the fall. You may even see Elk as they start migrating through the area.

Red Feather Lakes

The Red Feather Lakes area is a beautiful area when the trees are turning. It’s a short drive Northwest of Fort Collins, and well worth a visit. If you’re up for camping on the lakes, you’ll have crisp, clear, quiet mornings in a magnificent area.
I-70 Corridor

You can really make this journey as short or as long as you like. Take I-70 West out of Denver and you’ll find yourself on an epic journey into the Rocky Mountains. Turning off at any point will lead you down winding roads with breathtaking vistas of gold amongst the evergreens. Here are a few of the more popular loops we recommend:
- Georgetown to Grant (HWY 285)
  Turn off at Georgetown and go over the pass toward Grant. The drive is amazing and you get get to see waterfalls and tons of aspen! At Grant you can hop on Highway 285 and come back to Denver or go South for more amazing views.
- Granby to Kremmling
  Take I-70 to Highway 40 North at Empire to Granby. Make sure to make a pit stop and view the lakes and town before continuing on to Kremmling, where you’ll take Highway 9 South back to I-70.
- Up to Leadville
  The drive up to Leadville, one of the highest cities in America, is amazing. Take I-70 to Copper Mountain where you get on Highway 91. This will take you all the way up to the top of Colorado! It’s beautiful and highly recommended.
Highway 285

This is another drive that you can make as long or short as you want. Head South out of Denver on Highway 285 up toward Conifer and beyond and you’ll see quite a few amazing views! Kenosha pass, a short drive out of the city, is a very popular place with tons of aspen groves covering the pass. 285 continues to Buena Vista, and Southward to Salida and Poncha Springs. The drive is spectacular with plenty of stops and truly amazing views. You won’t be disappointed.
Million Dollar Highway

If you want a tour of Colorado, we highly recommend you take the big circle around the state and see the Million Dollar Highway in the fall. Take I-70 West to Grand Junction and then head South on Highway 50. This stretch of the road is not the most beautiful, but it shows you a different side of Colorado. Once you get to Ouray, things become breathtaking once more. Driving South out of Ouray takes you on the Million Dollar Highway, onward to Silverton and Durango. From there, take Highway 160 East to Pagosa Springs, over Wolf Creek Pass, to Monte Vista. Then take Highway 285 North all the way back to Denver for a full tour of Colorado, it’s landscapes, and all the aspen groves and their golden ephemeral beauty.