Colorado's 'Mr. Aspen' predicts banner fall foliage viewing in 2023
Update: Sept. 18, 2023: Aspen in Rocky Mountain National Park should begin showing more color around Sept. 20 with peak viewing over the ensuing week.
The San Juan National Forest is reporting minimal to no aspen changing as of Sept. 15.
Original story
No one covers more air looking at Colorado's 24 million acres of forests than Dan West.
In late summer, the Colorado State Forest Service entomologist based in Fort Collins flies over the forests to check on tree health. Those two months with a bird's-eye view make him the go-to guy when discussing the popular topic of predicting how and when the state's fall foliage season, mainly aspen, will unfold.
That has earned West a nickname: "Mr. Aspen."
Here is when the best viewing is expected to occur, Mr. Aspen's viewing outlook (you're going to love it) and the state's best aspen drives.
When is the best time to see peak fall colors in Colorado?
That can vary slightly from year to year, but here is a guide to when aspen generally are at peak, according to the Colorado State Forest Service. Keep in mind, higher elevations tend to turn color earlier than lower elevations.
Mid- to late September: Northern mountains from about Denver and Glenwood Springs north to the Wyoming state line, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Upper Poudre Canyon, Rawah Mountains of the Medicine Bow National Forest, Steamboat area, Flat Tops and Dinosaur National Monument.
Late September: Central mountains from about Interstate 70 south to Pueblo, including I-70 corridor, Maroon Bells, Grand Mesa, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park as well as Vail, Aspen and Crested Butte.
Late September to early October: Southern mountains from Pueblo south to New Mexico state line, including the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountains, Mesa Verde National Park, Durango, Telluride and Pagosa Springs.
What is Mr. Aspen's fall foliage forecast for Colorado this year?
West said the show should be one to remember.
"Statewide, the aspen are looking the best I've seen in five years and that's because of the moisture we've had," he said. "If Mother Nature cooperates, we will be sitting really good."
West said the Steamboat Springs area, which has seen reduced aspen viewing in recent years due to drought, has rebounded because of abundant precipitation and should put on a good show.
He cautioned areas that may not show as well include the popular Kenosha Pass area just west of Denver because of continued aspen leaf beetle damage.
Another area of concern is the southwest corner of the state, which is recovering from years of drought.
How weather conditions can still make or break Colorado's fall foliage viewing
West said the season has set up perfectly with a cool, wet spring followed by a warm, but not hot, summer.
He said if the cool, wet spring would have been followed by a hot summer, aspen leaves would likely have been impacted by fungal disease.
He said now we need dry, sunny days and cool, frost-free nights to burn off the green chlorophyll in leaves and expose the yellow, red and orange in vivid colors.
Colorado's best fall color drives
Kebler Pass: The 30-mile drive on a mix of pavement and gravel on Kebler Pass Road (Gunnison County Road 12) just west of Crested Butte to Colorado Highway 133 is the quintessential Colorado aspen drive. This area boasts the largest aspen grove in North America.
Maroon Bells: Located about 42 miles southeast of Aspen off of Colorado Highway 82, this is one of the most photographed scenes in Colorado, for good reason.
Dallas Divide: Take Colorado Highway 62 west from Ridgway. For even more color continue to Colorado Highway 145 south to Telluride on the San Juan Skyway. This area offers a superb combination of bountiful aspen and majestic mountains in 14,157-foot Mount Sneffels and 14,252-foot Mount Wilson.
Grand Mesa Scenic Byway: This 63-mile paved road leaves Interstate 70 about 45 miles east of Grand Junction and heads up Colorado Highway 65 on the Grand Mesa to Cedaredge. The world's largest mesa is filled with color from aspen, cottonwoods and scrub oak dotted with aspen-ringed lakes.
La Veta Pass: This 50-mile drive on U.S. Highway 160 takes you from Walsenburg to Fort Garland and offers golden aspen mixing with the dark greens of pines and stunning views of the Spanish Peaks and Sangre de Cristo mountains that tower above the San Luis Valley floor.
Guanella Pass: This 22-mile scenic byway between Georgetown and Grant turns from a paved to well-maintained gravel road. From I-70, take the Georgetown exit and follow the signs. While the aspen show is grand here, so are the crowds.
Flat Tops Trail: Ditch the crowds on this 82-mile stretch of paved and gravel road between Meeker and Yampa and experience one of the best aspen viewing drives in northwest Colorado.
Best fall color viewing drives close to Fort Collins
For up-to-date closure and other information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/arp.
Buckhorn Canyon/Pingree Park loop: One of the more popular and closest aspen viewing drives to Fort Collins includes a loop consisting of Buckhorn Road (Larimer County Road 44H), Pingree Park Road (Larimer County Road 63), Colorado Highway 14, Larimer County Road 27 (Stove Prairie Road) and Rist Canyon Road (Larimer County Road 52E).
Upper Poudre Canyon: Cameron Peak Fire scorched much of the Rustic to Cameron Pass area along Colorado Highway 14, but aspen viewing picks up once you're west of Cameron Pass and on your way into North Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park: A good loop drive is to take the slower (and less crowded) gravel Fall River Road up and take the paved (and more crowded) Trail Ridge Road down. Depending what time of day you drive here, you might need a timed-entry permit reservation.
Peak to Peak Highway: This drive on Colorado Highway 7 from Estes Park to Central City/Black Hawk takes you along the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park and offers excellent viewing.
Where to find fall color condition updates
For 2023 fall color viewing conditions in Colorado and across the country, visit smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/. The map will be updated as the season approaches and progresses.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Your guide to seeing peak fall colors in Colorado in 2023
