Exploring Local - Four of my favorite places to watch Colorado's colorful fall
Exploring Local - Four of my favorite places to watch Colorado's colorful fall
Guenella Pass Area, Colorado - image by FRANKIEBOYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
It's been a while since we wrote a post for the meet you there page - thanks for sticking with us and enjoying all the past content on our site. I wanted to jump back on here and share some of my favorite spots to explore during fall here Colorado. There are many sought after locations to view the aspen trees and changing colors in Colorado - all of these destinations are within day trips to Denver. Many of the articles I came across online for viewing fall colors near Denver suggested driving four hours from Denver but really you only need an hour or two. Keep reading to learn more about my favorite places for fantastic Fall Colorado drives...
BEAR LAKE, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
BRIGHT ORANGE ASPEN TREES ON THE BANKS OF BEAR LAKE, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO
One of the first places I went searching for fall color was inside Rocky Mountain national Park - approximately 2 hours from Denver. If you leave from Denver early enough you can beat most of the traffic and get to the parking lot directly next to Bear Lake otherwise you'll be riding the shuttle bus up from the park-and-ride lot (adds about 30 mins to your hike commute). Bear Lake is amazing, and a short hike to see some phenomenal Rocky Mountain views and park features. Pack a lunch and make a day out of this trip because the drive will take about two hours to get to this spot. Although I was a few days early to catch all the aspen trees in full golden color - I was still able to capture freshly changed bright orange aspen trees at the lake side of Bear Lake locate just inside Rocky Mountain national Park. From here I hiked down towards the Glacier Valley in the direction of Alberta Falls - both Bear Lake and Alberta Falls can be seen in one day and I highly recommend hiking to the falls they are beautiful and worth the mile and half hike.
The third spot is located up in Eagle County the drive time to get up to these locations will be about 90 minutes on I 70 West. Head to Vail resorts anytime after September 20th and you'll be sure to catch one of Colorado's most beautiful displays of fall aspen trees. Park at the parking structure and head for the berry picker trail that will take you up Vail's front side and through a winding Trail of golden light and color.
Colorado Trail up on Kenosha pass, colorado
The fourth spot we discovered recently and would be perfect to visit anytime after September 20. We drove an hour north west towards Nederland Colorado - near a National Park area titled Brainard Lake and recreation area. Be prepared with cash in hand or a checkbook because this park fee entry will not accept debit or credit cards - we were unprepared and will be back to hike more of this area in the future. Regardless of being able to enter the park I still found this drive to be one of the most colorful and scenic byways I have ever experienced in Colorado. This stretch of highway is called the Peak to Peak Highway and is one of Colorado's most famous and vintage scenic byways. This was a close drive for us just over an hour - we also stopped in Nederland for lunch and drove out of the Boulder Canyon past the Boulder waterfall to finish our adventure day.
A FELLOW HIKER TAKES IN THE GOLDEN FALL LEAVES
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more content from our world travels coming soon!! Including video channel, youtube content, more blog posts, places to stay, places to eat and places we dream to visit soon in 2016. Alright, keep traveling, stay true to the open road and let your mind stay free ~Meet You There
Where are your favorite places to view fall colors?! I'd love to hear some of your suggestions here in Colorado and around the world.
