Colorado fall colors: Places, trails to see leaves hitting their peak Sept. 16-23

DENVER (KDVR) — Leaves are changing colors and are expected to be at their vibrant peak of the season in some areas of the high country this week, which means the time is ticking for Coloradans to get a view before the leaves fall.

The Pinpoint Weather team has put together a map showing when leaves will change and where. For Sept. 16-23, fall foliage is expected to be at its peak in areas near Aspen and east of Telluride.

Fall foliage outlook as of Aug. 25, 2025 (KDVR)

• Sept. 16 – Sept. 23
  • Collegiate Peaks/Sawatch Range, Northern San Juan Mountains, Aspen, Leadville, Crested Butte, Lake City, Creede

With mild temperatures in the forecast and the Denver Broncos out of town for an away game, now may be a good chance to start checking out the views behind Colorado’s colorful reputation.

Here are a few areas where people can take a hike or enjoy a scenic drive to see the colors this week.

Aspen, Breckenridge area

Breckenridge and Aspen were recently named among the best places for fall leaf viewing trips in the U.S., according to vacation rental site HomeToGo.

Conveniently, the Pinpoint Weather team said colors are peaking near Aspen this week, including in areas just to the east and south.

The White River National Forest and Gunnison National Forest have many trails that may be painted with bright colors this week. The hiking trail website and app AllTrails made lists of the best trails in White River National Forest and the best trails in Gunnison National Forest, which can be filtered by location, difficulty, distance and more.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Greg Perez said that colors will likely begin to peak at Rocky Mountain National Park this weekend and into next week.

The park itself requires reservations and some trails in the park require separate reservations, so be sure to plan ahead and make sure you have a reservation if your desired trail requires.

Notably, Trail Ridge Road was closed as of Wednesday morning due to ice buildup at higher elevations. With more precipitation expected on Wednesday and freezing temperatures at night, be aware that the road may be closed again. The park said that Old Fall River Road also remains closed as of Wednesday. Visitors can see the status and road conditions on the RMNP website.

Silverthorne and Dillon

FOX31 Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Jacob Woods visited the area last weekend and said there were plenty of patches of yellow. He said there could be a good amount of color around there this weekend.

Woods shared photos he took on a hike on the Tenderfoot and Oro Trail Loop near Dillon last weekend:

East of Telluride

The Pinpoint Weather team said leaves will likely be colorful in areas near Telluride through the weekend. Trees may not be incredibly colorful in the city itself, but there is a good chance for vibrant views on trails and roads at higher elevations in the area, particularly just east of Telluride.

Much of Hinsdale County is expected to have peak foliage in the coming days, including Lake City, Silverton and Creede.

The San Juan National Forest has many trails in the area, and AllTrails also has a list of the best trails the forest has to offer.

Beware of traffic

Colorado is a hot destination for leaf peepers all over the world. The Colorado Department of Transportation said Wednesday that people heading to the mountains should plan for more traffic than usual, especially on the weekends.

Law enforcement is also cracking down on illegal parking in the high country. Drivers are encouraged to park only in parking-designated areas such as view points and trailhead parking lots.

Parking restrictions are in place on Guanella Pass extending a half a mile to the north and south of the summit to ensure that emergency vehicles have the access they need to maintain safety on the pass. “No parking” signs have been put in place along much of the pass, and last month, a dozen vehicles were towed for illegal parking in the area. The area is known to be crowded during the fall.

The Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office said that it will issue tickets to vehicles parked in no-parking zones and will tow vehicles parked directly in the roadway. Vehicles that stick out into the roadway in areas where parking is allowed will also be ticketed.

CDOT offers these tips for a safe leaf-peeping trip:

• Be aware of vehicles traveling at lower speeds
• Watch for vehicles pulling off the roadway or parked along the road
• Find safe, designated areas to park
• Drivers, be aware of pedestrians out of their vehicles taking photos
• Pedestrians, watch out for passing vehicles

Colorado’s weather is notorious for quick changes in conditions. Be sure to check the forecast before embarking on fall adventures in the high country.

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