{"id":15619,"date":"2015-09-24T11:55:25","date_gmt":"2015-09-24T17:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/?p=15619"},"modified":"2015-09-25T08:38:05","modified_gmt":"2015-09-25T14:38:05","slug":"fall-foliage-2015-top-spots-to-view-the-colors-near-the-front-range","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/thornton-weather\/fall-foliage-2015-top-spots-to-view-the-colors-near-the-front-range\/","title":{"rendered":"Fall Foliage 2015: Top spots to view the colors near the Front Range"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The
The leaves in the high country are changing and certainly give meaning to the moniker ‘Colorful Colorado.’ (ThorntonWeather.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This time of year many folks head to the hills west of Denver in search of gold \u2013 fall foliage gold.<\/p>\n

This year the changing of the colors seems to be\u00a0a bit spotty and an early freeze last fall followed by a late freeze this spring has impacted the overall quality of the show. \u00a0That certainly is not to say there\u00a0isn’t some absolutely gorgeous spots out there.<\/p>\n

Where to go?\u00a0 Below are five of ThorntonWeather.com\u2019s favorite ones near Denver – plus a few further out and some bonus ideas.\u00a0 After that, we will tell you where you can find a great website that provides regular updates on viewing conditions.<\/p>\n

I-70 Corridor <\/strong>\u2013 If you\u2019re looking for the easiest route, then this one is for you.\u00a0 Simply head west on I-70 about 110 miles to Avon.\u00a0 Between Vail and Avon, both sides of I-70 are lined beautifully with aspen.<\/p>\n

Rocky Mountain National Park <\/strong>\u2013 One of the most popular summer destinations in the state is of course also a prime spot to view aspen in all their glory.\u00a0 Once in the park head toward Bear Lake.\u00a0 Glacier Gorge Junction provides a beautiful spot and you of course also get to enjoy all the splendor that Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer. \u00a0Extend your viewing by taking Trail Ridge Road all the way through to the west side of the park and the Grand Lake and Granby area.<\/p>\n

Peak to Peak Highway <\/strong>\u2013 This little road trip can be a dual purpose trip \u2013 gambling and fall foliage viewing!\u00a0 Take U.S. 6 through Clear Creek Canyon and then 119 through Blackhawk and Central City.\u00a0 You can of course stop there if your wallet is fat enough and donate some money to the casinos.\u00a0 From there continue on 119 toward Nederland.\u00a0 Take highway 72 toward Ward and Allenspark.\u00a0 There you will find more golden aspen than you can imagine, all with the Continental Divide nearby.<\/p>\n

\"Colorado<\/a>
Colorado Fall Foliage – Average Date of Peak Aspen Colors. Click for larger view. (ThorntonWeather.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Poudre Valley Canyon <\/strong>– \u00a0Heading north on I-25 take Colorado 14 west and into Poudre Canyon and Roosevelt National Forest.\u00a0 As you continue west you will come very near timberline as you come to Cameron Pass.\u00a0 Amazing views abound!<\/p>\n

Guanella Pass <\/strong>\u2013 This is a nice, relatively short drive from Denver.\u00a0 From C470 take 85 through Bailey and Conifer, a nice drive unto itself.\u00a0 When you come to the town of Grant, take the Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway north to Georgetown.\u00a0 The air is pretty thin along the way as you climb in excess of 11,500 views through the Pike and Arapahoe National Forests.\u00a0 Fair warning \u2013 about 10 miles of the road is gravel but it is well maintained.<\/p>\n

A couple other possibilities further from the Front Range:<\/p>\n

Leadville \/ Aspen<\/strong> \u2013 From Denver take I-70 west to Copper Mountain and then Colorado 91 south over Freemont Pass to Leadville. Along the way there are plenty of viewing opportunities and Leadville is a nice little town to make a stop. From here you can take Highway 24 north back through Minturn and Vail. To extend the drive, take Highway 24 south to Colorado 82 and head toward Aspen. You can stop by the Maroon Bells in White River National Forest to view some of the most photographed mountains in Colorado.<\/p>\n

Cottonwood Pass<\/strong> \u2013 From Denver take Highway 285 to Buena Vista. Head west on Main Street for seven miles then west on County Road 344 \/ Colorado 82. From there you start the climb up Cottonwood Pass with absolutely stunning views from the top. If you are up for it, you can continue down the west side of the pass into the Taylor Park area. Be forewarned though that the western half of the pass is unpaved and twisty.<\/p>\n

Honorable mentions worth considering:<\/p>\n