A Fall Drive in Colorado

My boyfriend is from Massachusetts. He says we don’t have falls out here in Colorado. He says to see a real autumn we’d have to go back to Boston and drive up the Kangamangus Highway. But if Yves Klein’s Blue Epoch can invoke intrigue about monochromatic beauty then the Rocky Mountains are a study in refinement. I think Colorado is beautiful in the autumn when the aspens turn and the air crisps. Take a trip to Aspen, up Guanella Pass or through Glenwood Canyon for a chance to see the colorful change.

Aspen- The Town and the Tree
Fall in Colorado is all about the aspen. A deciduous tree native to most of North America its yellow, spade leaves are a common sight in the Rocky Mountains. Perhaps the best place to see the golden glow is in the town who shares its name, Aspen. Located in the valley of the Roaring Fork River Aspen is a 3.5 hour drive from Denver (Take I-70 west from Denver to Glenwood Springs then CO-82 south forty miles to Aspen). Popular in the winter as one of Colorado’s premier ski resorts Aspen in the autumn is uncrowded and unmatched in natural beauty. Stroll through the pedestrian mall along Galena Street at the base of Aspen Mountain downtown, or take a trip to the Maroon Bells, America’s most photographed peaks.

Guanella Pass Scenic Byway                                 Between Georgetown and Grant CO-381 climbs 11,666 feet up and over Guanella Pass. The 23 mile drive is a tour through evergreen and alpine tundra in the Pike and Arapaho National Forest. If you drive straight up and over it takes less then an hour, but why do that with numerous hiking, picnicking, and camping spots on both sides. Fish at Duck Lake, hike Mt. Beirstadt considered one of Colorado’s easiest fourteeners, or cuddle around a campfire at Guanella Pass Campground. Even in the summer the temperature at this elevation can be chilly, so layer up. Recently a rockslide closed the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway a few miles outside Georgetown, so access the pass from the south side through Grant off Hwy-285.

Glenwood Canyon
The 16 mile stretch of I-70 between Glenwood Springs and Gypsum known as Glenwood Canyon is a beautiful fall drive, bike or hike. The recently completed stretch of highway and accompanying bike path curve along the base of the canyon’s steep, rock walls. With the state’s lowest speed limit at 50 mph this highway forces drivers to slow down and enjoy the road. Stop at No Name Rest Area or Hanging Lake for hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing, or to just stretch your legs and clear your head. The deciduous trees that line the banks of the Colorado River are stunning against the red mountain soil in the fall as they prepare to lose their leaves for winter. Less then three hours from Denver the Glenwood Canyon drive can be done in a day, or you can make a weekend out of it and stay in Glenwood Springs.