It’s always sad to see summer end, but in Colorado, there’s a big silver (or in this case, gold) lining: the start of leaf peeping season.
From September to early November, you can count on somewhere in Colorado having fall color, from the high peaks earlier in the fall to the cottonwoods on the Front Range closer to Halloween.
Honestly, it’s hard to narrow down the best fall hikes in Colorado, but we tried our best. Check out our list below for recommendations ranging from family-friendly hikes near Denver to epic day trips up in Summit County to some of the trails you’ve probably seen a million times on postcards.
Before you go, be sure to check out the latest fall foliage map from the Colorado State Forest Service for an updated look at when the colors will peak.
Happy leaf peeping!
Best Fall Hikes in Colorado Within an Hour of Denver
Raccoon Trail in Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Golden
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 2.6 miles
- Distance from Denver: 45 minutes
Golden Gate Canyon State Park is one of the top spots for leaf peeping near Denver, and this trail offers up some of the best opportunities for basking in the wonders of golden aspens. The loop isn’t particularly long, but it packs in lots of adventure, taking you past an old private cabin and offering views of the nearby peaks in the distance. You’ll also wind your way through plenty of aspen groves and meadows. A pro tip? This park gets busy in the fall, so plan on arriving early to snag a parking space.
Meyer Ranch Park
Conifer
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: Loops range from 1-4 miles
- Distance from Denver: 40 minutes
This open space is a prime spot all year thanks to its fun trails and ample shade, but it also happens to be one of the best fall hikes in Colorado. We recommend doing the park’s largest loop (4 miles) and hiking up to the Old Ski Run Trail. Throughout this lollipop loop, you’ll make your way through groves of aspens and have the opportunity to peek at more pops of color on the foothills surrounding Conifer. This is also a great fall hike for kids; if long distances aren’t their thing, you should be able to peep some aspens just up the hill, a quarter mile from the parking lot. The people gawking at your epic family photos will have no idea you aren’t in the wilderness.
Mason Creek and Staunton Ranch Trail Loop at Staunton State Park
Pine
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 6.5 miles
- Distance from Denver: 45 minutes
Staunton State Park is relatively close to Denver, but it truly does feel like the ultimate mountain getaway thanks to its amazing views of the Platte River Valley and stunning rock formations. It also has quite a few aspen trees, making it a prime spot for fall hiking in Colorado. While there are a bunch of loops to choose from, we’re partial to this one, which involves a rocky climb up the Mason Creek Trail and fun descent through an aspen grove to some mining ruins. Be sure to keep an eye out for all the color on the nearby mountaintops and wave to Pikes Peak, which looms down the valley to the south.
Best Fall Hikes in Colorado Within 2 Hours of Denver
Colorado Trail at Kenosha Pass
Jefferson
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: Choose your own adventure
- Distance from Denver: 1 hour and 20 minutes
We get it: When the leaves start to turn, it feels like pretty much everyone in Colorado hops on U.S. 285 so they can take photos on Kenosha Pass. But, there’s a good reason for it: This is one of the best fall hikes in Colorado. Plan on getting up as early as you can and snagging a parking spot on the north side of the highway. From here, hop on the Colorado Trail for as long as you’d like. You’ll wind through seemingly endless aspens and be stoked about the amazing views of the South Park Valley and surrounding fall colors. Don’t be intimidated by the crowds; most people don’t make it far from the parking lot, so once you get a couple of miles down the trail, you’ll be able to enjoy a perfectly tranquil leaf-peeping experience.
Cheesman Ranch Loop at Mueller State Park
Woodland Park
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 5.7 miles
- Distance from Denver: 2 hours
Mueller State Park is known for its huge strands of aspen trees, and it absolutely comes alive during the fall, when they turn this already scenic open space into a sea of gold. Pretty much any trail in Mueller will give you an epic fall experience, but we’re partial to the Cheesman Ranch Loop, which meanders through gorgeous meadows and groves of aspens. You’ll also get stunning views of Pikes Peak and all the surrounding mountains. After the hike, be sure to grab a drink in Colorado Springs. Or, if you’re feeling extra saucy, test your luck at one of the casinos in Cripple Creek.
Rainbow Lake, Miners Creek, and Peaks Loop
Frisco
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 4.7 miles
- Distance from Denver: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Frisco is one of the best places to see fall colors in Summit County, and this hike takes you right into the heart of the action. In a little less than 5 miles, you’ll see gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains, get to hike across unique boardwalks, wind through groves of aspens, and get stunning views of the fields of gold on the hillsides. This is an excellent hike for your dog, too; it’s not super steep, and there’s lots of water access.
Best Hikes to See Fall Colors Colorado has to Offer (Road Trip Edition)
Crater Lake Trail Near the Maroon Bells
Aspen
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 3.5 miles
- Distance from Denver: 3.5 hours
The Maroon Bells are probably some of the most photographed landmarks in Colorado — especially during the fall. This moderate hike takes you right to the action of the Maroon Bells, meandering through aspen groves on a rocky trail that ends at Maroon Lake. Here, you can soak in the views of some of Colorado’s most gorgeous peaks and head back home with your own postcard-worthy photos. Needless to say, this trail can get pretty busy, so a permit is required ahead of time. You can snag one here.
Flash of Gold Trail
Steamboat
- Difficulty: Hard
- Length: 10.5 miles
- Distance from Denver: 3 hours
No list of the best fall hikes in Colorado is complete without mentioning the Flash of Gold Trail on Buffalo Pass. Don’t worry: You see much more than merely a flash of gold on this 10-mile journey through seemingly endless groves of aspen trees. With 1,250 feet of elevation gain, there are enough rolling hills to make things fun, but it’s never super steep — and you’ll be rewarded with plenty of gorgeous views of the surrounding valley. Definitely stay in Steamboat if you can for a post-hike soak in the Strawberry Park Hot Springs. You earned it.
Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail
Telluride
- Difficulty: Hard
- Length: 3.5 miles
- Distance from Denver: 6 hours
Hiking in Colorado in September in the San Juans should be on everyone’s bucket list, and this classic trail in Telluride is the perfect introduction to why. This trail isn’t easy; you’ll gain more than 1,200 feet on the ascent, but it’s worth the climb for the stunning views of Telluride from above, as well as a panorama of all of the golden aspens dotting the hillsides as far as the eye can see. This is one of the best fall color hikes Colorado has to offer, and it doesn’t hurt that once you’re done, you’re conveniently located near all the fun in one of the state’s coolest mountain towns.
Hope Pass
Leadville
- Difficulty: Hard
- Length: 10 miles round-trip
- Distance from Denver: 2.5 hours
This hike is probably one of the most iconic in Leadville. Yes, it’s difficult (we’re talking 2,644 feet of elevation gain in 5 miles one way), but the views will make it abundantly clear why this is one of the best hikes to see fall colors Colorado has to offer. The path winds through aspen forests, and once you get above the treeline, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the colorful trees on all of the surrounding peaks.
Hike to the Loch Vale
Rocky Mountain National Park
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 6.2 miles round-trip
- Distance from Denver: 2 hours
There isn’t a bad season to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, but it truly does have some of the best hiking in Colorado in September. That’s thanks to the fact it isn’t quite as packed as it is during the summer, and thanks to its big aspen groves, there are endless opportunities for leaf peeping. This hike is one of the best ways not just to take in some gorgeous aspens, but also to see all the reasons why Rocky Mountain National Park is Colorado’s hiking capital. During the 3.1-mile one-way trip, you’ll see a waterfall, scenic gorge, and one of the park’s most beautiful high alpine lakes surrounded by mountains. This is the epitome of fall hiking in Colorado.
The Best Hiking in Colorado in October
Apex Trail to Enchanted Forest
Golden
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 3.7 miles
- Distance from Denver: 30 minutes
With a name like “The Enchanted Forest Trail,” you know the leaf peeping is gonna be good. And it lives up to its name as one of the best fall hikes near Denver, Colorado and beyond. There are plenty of trails to explore, but we recommend parking at the west entrance, hopping on the Apex Trail, and connecting with Enchanted Forest, which makes its way through groves of aspens that absolutely light up during the month of October. Plan on getting at least 800 feet of elevation gain and enjoying cool views of Golden and the Front Range. One thing to note? The Enchanted Forest Trail alternates days between hiker and cyclist access, so if you’re on foot, plan your trip for an odd day of the month.
Bear Creek Lake Park
Lakewood
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: Choose your own adventure
- Distance from Denver: 30 minutes
While Denverites usually make the trip to this park for the paddleboarding and landlocked beach experience, it’s easily one of the best fall hikes near Denver, Colorado. That’s thanks to the countless cottonwood trees that line Bear Creek. If you happen to be walking by in October, they tend to put on a gorgeous show. There are quite a few fun loops to explore, but we recommend spending lots of time on the aptly named Cottonwood Trail, which puts you in the center of the leaf peeping action. Day passes are $10, and annual options are also available.
William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain
Lakewood
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: Trails to the top range from 3 miles round-trip to 6.5 miles
- Distance from Denver: 20 minutes
If you’ve been to this area before, you might be asking yourself: Why are you writing about a fall color hike in a park with literally no trees? That’s a fair assessment, but we stand by the fact that this is some of the best hiking in Colorado in October — and that’s primarily thanks to the surrounding views. It’s definitely late leaf peeping season in the high country, but by late October and early November, the trees are putting on quite a show on the Front Range — and Green Mountain is one of the best places to see the fall colors from above. Take one of the multiple trails to the summit (there’s anything from a wide service road to the Rooney Valley Trail, which has multiple switchbacks) and look out over the multi-colored expanse of trees in the Denver suburbs. There’s about 800 feet of elevation no matter what you do, but the view from the top is well worth it.