Where to find Fall Colors
The Fall colors don’t last long out here in Colorado, the leaves change even faster than the seasons. Here are a few fun drives to take to see the Fall colors before their gone and before these passes close for the Winter.
Independence Pass
One of the most beautiful drives in Colorado, Independence Pass connects Twin Lakes (near Leadville) to Aspen. This pass opens when the snow fully melts (around Memorial Day Weekend) and closes in mid October (weather dependent). The entire pass is paved and full of things to do along the way. I highly recommend stoping at the summit, the Grotto and if its not too cold, it really fun to jump into the Devil’s Punchbowls. The pass is well known for its stunning views and when the Fall colors set in it gets even better!
Guanella Pass
Guanella Pass is a Colorado Scenic Byway that runs from Georgetown to Bailey. The Georgetown side is conveniently located just minutes off I-70 and the Bailey side exits right onto Hwy 285 right near the Roberts Tunnel. The entire duration of the pass is paved however, it is only open from Memorial Day Weekend until early November (weather dependent). Guanella is home to spectacular views, Mt Bierstadt, views of Mt Evans, wildlife and tons and tons of Aspens that are all changing color this time of year. When it comes to searching for Fall colors, look no further than Guanella Pass.
Boreas Pass
Perhaps Breckenridge’s best kept secret, Boreas Pass is an unpaved road that runs from Baldy Mountain in Breckenridge to Como, a small town located just a few miles from Fairplay. Although unpaved, this road is fairly easy and most cars can handle it without any need for 4wd. The pass was once a railroad dotted with mines but today it is home to hiking, biking, off roading and in the winter, backcountry skiing and backcountry huts. Along this pass you’ll find the Bankers Tank, an old water town used by the railroad, a ski hut at the summit along with some old railroad relics, incredible views and more. If you are driving the pass specifically for the Fall colors, the beginning of the Breck side (the first 4mi or so) are where you will find all of the Aspens that are changing color. Boreas Pass is open to cars from June through October (weather dependent).
Rollins Pass
Rollins Pass, like Boreas Pass is an old railroad pass that is now an unpaved dirt road. The pass technically runs from Berthoud Pass (US 40), just a few miles from Winter Park to Eldora/Nederland. I say technically because just passed the summit of this pass you’ll find Needles Eye Tunnel which collapsed many years ago and has never been restored so technically you can’t drive from one end to the other. This is another beautiful mountain pass that is only open to cars from roughly June through October (weather dependent). If you are driving this pass, you will need a 4wd car that has some clearance. This is definitely the hardest pass to drive of all the passes in this blog. Along the way you will see many stunning views looking out over the Fraser Valley. The pass is also dotted with railroad history, many beautiful lakes and mountains. You really can’t go wrong when trying to see the Fall colors on this pass as they are very prominent below tree-line!
