As the weather begins to cool down and pumpkin spice fills the air, you know that can only mean one thing: fall is nearly here in Colorado! And with it, comes the beautiful fall colors.

That's right! With fall officially arriving, the leaf-peeping season is getting closer and closer. So, we've put together a guide on when and where you'll see the leaves start changing. Check it out below, and don't forget your camera!

When You'll See Fall Colors in Colorado 2023:

The Farmers' Almanac is predicting that peak fall color will hit Colorado between October 5–14. However, early predictions indicate that some areas may see the fall colors in late September.

  • Northern Mountains: mid to late-September
  • I-70 area: mid to late-September
  • Central mountains: end of September into early October
  • Southern mountains: early to mid-October

Where You'll See Fall Colors in Colorado:

  • Within 1 hour of Denver:
    • Guanella Pass
    • Peak to Peak Highway
    • Rocky Mountain National Park
    • Winter Park
    • Kenosha Pass

  • Within 2 hours of Denver:
    • Vail
    • Tennessee Pass
    • Breckenridge
    • Hoosier Pass
    • Fairplay
    • Grand Lake
  • Within 3-4 hours of Denver:
    • Steamboat
    • Rabbit Ears Pass
    • Buena Vista
    • Aspen
    • Independence Pass
    • Monarch Pass
    • Grand Mesa

Back in 2020, the freezing temperatures threatened the leaf-peeping season in Colorado. Hopefully, we won't see the same thing happen this year. 

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