@americantravelarchives: fall in Colorado is a whole different world… Follow americantravelarchives for more hidden gems and bucket list adventures across the U.S. 📍 Colorado If you’ve never seen Colorado in the fall, you’re missing the best version of it. Entire mountainsides turn gold practically overnight, the air gets crisp, the crowds thin out, and every single drive feels like a movie. This is peak Colorado and it’s not even close. Why visit: 🍂 Aspen groves that turn entire valleys gold in late September 🏔 Guanella Pass for one of the easiest fall color drives near Denver 🛣 Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton at peak color 🏘 Telluride surrounded by golden aspens on every side 🦌 Rocky Mountain National Park for elk rut season and fall foliage 🍁 Maroon Bells, the most photographed fall scene in the state Pro Tip: Peak aspen season in Colorado is usually late September through early October, but it shifts by elevation. Higher passes peak first, valleys follow a week or two later. Leave No Trace: Stay on marked trails and pull-offs for photos. Trampling off-trail damages the root systems that keep these aspen groves alive. Are you a drive through the aspens person or a hike to the viewpoint person?
