Starting in September, Colorado’s typically green mountains turn into a sea of gold and red as the state’s aspens welcome the onset of fall. People from all over the country flock to the Centennial State for leaf-peeping, and for good reason.
But that doesn’t mean Denverites have to drive for six hours to enjoy the fall colors. Some of the best leaf-peeping is close to home in Denver’s historic neighborhoods and along the city’s most famous bike paths.
With that in mind, we compiled a list of some of the best leaf peeping close to Denver and farther out.
Click on one of the links below to jump to a specific region:
- 🏙️ Best Leaf-Peeping Within 30 Minutes of Denver
- 🍂 Best Leaf-Peeping Less Than an Hour from Metro Denver
- ⛰️ Best Leaf-Peeping Within 2 Hours of Denver
- 🍁 Best Leaf-Peeping More Than 2 Hours from Denver
Best Places to See Fall Colors Within 30 Minutes of Denver
Highline Canal Trail
Best time to visit: September and October
At 71 miles, the Highline Canal Trail offers a myriad of opportunities for some of the best leaf-peeping close to Denver. Some of the best stretches are in the southern suburbs, especially near Quincy Avenue and Kent Denver, Orchard Road, and East Belleview Avenue. During the fall, the cottonwoods surrounding the Highline Canal pop with color, and certain vistas offer idyllic views of fall in Colorado throughout the Front Range.
Crown Hill Park in Wheat Ridge
Best time to visit: September and October
Coining itself a “natural haven in a suburban neighborhood,” Crown Hill Park offers visitors the opportunity to watch the local wildlife in action amid a sea of fall colors thanks to the numerous trees alongside Kestral Lake and the wetlands in the northwest corner of this 229-acre natural wonder.
Washington Park/Cheesman Park/City Park
Best time to visit: September and October
While images of golden aspens rightfully dominate Colorado’s postcards, fall colors in Denver aren’t worth scoffing at, especially in the city’s historic neighborhoods. We couldn’t choose between Denver’s most famous parks, so our tour includes a 13.5-mile route that traverses all three! Hop on a bike, rent a scooter, run or walk, and make your way through the three-park loop, glimpsing the city’s historic trees in all of their fall glory along the way.
Bear Creek Lake Park
Best time to visit: September, October, and even early November
With numerous relatively flat trails meandering along the cottonwoods surrounding Bear Creek, this Lakewood park is a prime spot for leaf peeping on the Front Range. The 6.6-mile Mt. Carbon loop (which you can easily shorten) provides a full tour of all of the foliage along the creek, as well as the opportunity to ascend some 400 feet to the top of Mt. Carbon itself.
William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain
Best time to visit: September and October
Full disclosure: Green Mountain itself is a tall, treeless hill, so it might be a shock that it’s one of the best fall hikes within 20 minutes of Denver. The real payoff is the view from the summit, which offers a 360-degree panorama of all of the fall colors some 750 feet below in the neighborhoods in Lakewood, Golden, Littleton, and beyond. Trust us: fall foliage is cool from the ground level, but it’s even cooler when you view it from above, especially during peak season.
Less Than an Hour from Metro Denver
Elk Meadow
Best time to visit: Late September and early October
This popular open space just outside of Evergreen is one of the best fall hikes in Colorado, with views of aspen groves for leaf peepers as well as the chance to spot one of the most active elk herds in the region (which is probably why it’s called Elk Meadow). People looking for extra cardio can traverse the 4.7-mile (one-way) and 2,100 vertical feet hike to the top of Bergen Peak for more views of the aspens as well as a wide swath of the Front Range below.
Staunton State Park
Best time to visit: Late September and early October
The roughly 8-mile loop connecting the Mason Creek, Old Mill, and Staunton Ranch trails is one of the best leaf-peeping hikes in Jefferson County, with numerous forays into a golden sea of aspens as well as views of the park’s unique rock formations. The Bear Paw Trail, which is at the top of Mason Creek, adds a couple of extra miles but is worth it for views of the South Platte River Valley to the south and even Pikes Peak.
Golden Gate Canyon
Best time to visit: Late September into early October.
The drive alone makes Golden Gate Canyon one of the best places to experience fall foliage near Denver. Cruise through a sea of aspens on the winding mountain roads before getting out of the car to check out the old-growth aspens near the Bootleg Bottom picnic area. Hikers can explore the Mule Deer Trail and Racoon Trail, which takes visitors to Panorama Point — a spot with an expansive view of the Indian Peaks. No matter what, expect to see plentiful aspens and even cottonwoods. Be warned: Golden Gate Canyon gets busy during the fall, so be sure to arrive early to snag a parking space.
Waterton Canyon
Best time to visit: September to November
This 12.6-mile out-and-back trail offers a choose-your-adventure with bikers, runners, and hikers (unfortunately, no dogs are allowed). Running alongside the South Platte River from Chatfield Reservoir to Bighorn Picnic Area, you can spot fall foliage on the surrounding cliffs — as well as potentially bighorn sheep, deer, and even the mountain lions and black bears that call this region home.
Devil’s Head Fire Tower
Best time to visit: September to early October
This trail west of Sedalia is only 1.4 miles long, but it comes with 865 feet of elevation gain to reach the Devil’s Head Lookout Tower, which has been in operation since 1912 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. During the fall, this classic hike provides views of aspen trees throughout the South Platte Valley.
Best Places to See Fall Colors Within 2 Hours of Denver
Kenosha Pass
Best time to visit: September
During fall weekends, the Kenosha Pass parking lot might look like Disneyland, with leaf-peepers parked along US 285 a mile from the trailhead. With all of this being said, it’s for a good season: The aspen groves on both sides of this pass are extraordinary, and side hikes through the Colorado Trail in either direction provide amazing views and even better leaf-peeping.
Boreas Pass
Best time to visit: September
Boreas Pass is easily one of the best drives to see fall colors within a day trip of Denver. This smooth dirt road winds roughly 21 miles from Breckenridge to Como, taking motorists through a virtual tunnel of aspen trees before the summit. Patches of cottonwood groves provide flashes of red amid the yellow, and a number of trailheads offer access to the nearby national forests.
Guanella Pass
Best time to visit: September to early October
Like Kenosha Pass, Guanella Pass is one of the hottest places to be during a beautiful fall weekend, meaning you should definitely bring your patience as you drive this 22-mile road connecting Georgetown on the I-70 side and Grant toward US 285. Along the way, you’ll spot large groves of aspens and brush turned a wide variety of colors by the cool fall air. At the summit of the pass, you can check out 14,060-foot Mt. Bierstadt.
Mueller State Park
Best time to visit: September to October
This state park, located between Woodland Park and Cripple Creek, offers seas of aspen trees against a backdrop of Pikes Peak on one side, the Sangre de Cristos on another, and finally, the Platte River Valley to the north. With 40 miles of hiking trails, this has some of the best leaf-peeping along the Front Range. There are also 136 campsites in the park, making for some of the best fall camping spots in Colorado, too.
Peak to Peak Highway
Best time to visit: September to October
Established in 1918, the 55-mile Peak to Peak Highway is Colorado’s oldest scenic byway and also an epic connector of Rocky Mountain National Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, Eldora Ski Resort and more. A classic drive any season, during the fall, it comes alive with aspens turning the hillsides bright yellow. The Peak to Peak Highway is truly one of the best drives for leaf-peeping in the state.
Road Trip! The Best Places to See Fall Colors More Than 2 Hours from Denver
Maroon Bells
Best time to visit: September and early October
There’s a reason why the Maroon Bells near Aspen are one of the most photographed spots in Colorado. During the fall, a stunning lake reflects the aspen-tinged faces of the 14,000-foot Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak — a bucket list view for any leaf peeper. This landmark’s popularity means that reservations are encouraged. Visitors can also take the public bus operated by the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority at a fare of $16 per adult and $10 for children and seniors.
Buffalo Pass
Best time to visit: September
While this road near Steamboat can be a bit bumpy, the view of seas of aspens make it one of the best fall color drives in the state. This road connects 32 miles between Steamboat and Walden, and has numerous pull outs for camping and hiking along the way.
Flat Tops Trail
Best time to visit: September
The Flat Tops are a region of Colorado that you have to see to believe. This scenic byway offers a unique view of the stretch of mountains that give the area its name. The road traverses 82 miles between Yampa and Meeker, passing through numerous aspen groves. Stop along the way for prime fishing, hiking, and picnicking.
Kebler Pass
Best time to visit: September and October
This classic Colorado mountain drive connects Crested Butte and Paonia. It’s famous for its swaths of fall colors against a backdrop of pristine Colorado peaks. This pass usually closes in late October or early November, so be sure to explore it while the fall colors are peaking!
Silverton
Best time to visit: September
Nestled high in the San Juan Mountains, Silverton is an ideal Colorado mountain town for leaf peeping. Start the day off with a warm beverage at Coffee Bear, and then take in the fall colors by hiking the Andrews Lake Loop. Be sure to get to town by taking the famous Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton. During your trip, you’ll bask in some of the best fall colors that Colorado has to offer.
Grand Mesa Byway
Best time to visit: September through early November
Spanning 5,000 square miles and rising some 6,000 feet above the valley floor, the Grand Mesa has the distinction of being the largest, flat-topped mountains in the world — and also one of the best spots for leaf peeping on the Western Slope with abundant aspen groves and patches of cottonwoods. The scenic Grand Mesa Byway connects Ridgway and Cederedge. Along the way, visitors can see everything from desert sandstone canyons to hikes that take visitors to 18 lakes to the famous Lands End Area, affording views as far as the La Sal Mountain Range in Utah. All of this together provides a gateway to some of the best hiking, biking, and driving for leaf-peeping in Colorado.
