Best Fall Foliage in NM and CO?
 

What would be the best time and places to see fall foliage in New Mexico (Santa Fe, Taos area) and in southern Colorado this year?
Are there specific roads that would be good to take or locations to see that would be recommended for fall foliage in these areas?
Are there websites that give updated reports on the status of the changing foliage in various areas?
Would the last week of Sept. and/or the first week or second week of October be a good time to see the foliage?

<<Would the last week of Sept. and/or the first week or second week of October be a good time to see the foliage?>>

Likely. Could be even better a week later.

The road to the Santa Fe Ski Area would definitely work. When in full color, the aspens look like fire on the mountain.

Thank you for your reply. We are just beginning to plan our trip. Is there a site that will give up to date reports on where to see the peak foliage?

As a NYer, living in NM and SW Colorado - the foliage here is nowhere near what it is in the northeast.

The aspens are nice, but their yellow is almost all that there is in color, most of the leaves just seem to get brown.

I am sure someone will post pictures to prove me wrong but I just wanted to say not to expect a grand display of color.

www.newmexico.org/fall-color/

www.newmexico.org/fall-color-trail

for tracking colors -

http://www.fs.fed.us/fallcolors/2015/index.shtml

I agree with DebitNM. We came here from Indiana and the hard wood forests of the Midwest with wide range of colors - especially reds. Don't have that in Colorado. You will see huge swatches of yellow stretched across the lower slops of the mountains. The all the Aspens can do. But the contrast with the green of the pines can be very pretty. But a lot of sameness.

Two places come to mind. North Shore of Lake Superior...Moose mountain near Lutsen a little south of Grand Maria. Moose Mountain is a very easy and short climb and show you a panorama of forest on one side and the vast Lake Superior on the other. Lake Minnetonka area a little west of Minneapolis, Minnesota...well...a third would be the drive south on highway 15 from StCloud, Minnesota, between St. Cloud and Dassel, Minnesota.

Here is what it looked like on the Million Dollar Hwy in Colorado last year, I think October 8

https://www.flickr.com/photos/emallo...etaken-public/

I also agree with DebitNM, especially if you are feom the NE.

If you're here in early October, you can find a different kind of fall color at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. www.balloonfiesta.com

Lee Ann

Thank you to everyone for your replies and suggestions. I have been studying the information on the websites, and it has really been helpful and interesting. One possible itinerary would be to begin in Colorado Springs, go west from there to the Buena Vista area, then south and southwest to the Gunnison area and drop down to the Taos area from there and end up in Santa Fe - maybe 2 or 3 nights in each location. Does anyone have any suggestions for nice inns or B&Bs and public golf courses along this route?

We are including Gunnison/Crested Butte in our fall drive this year taking Kebler Pass (Colorado's largest Aspen grove and one of the largest in North America). Along Kebler Pass you can take Ohio Pass which takes you south to Gunnison. We've not done this but the photos are spectacular and some say better than that off of Kebler Pass.

In New Mexico we enjoy the fall colors on HWY 64 at Tierra Amarilla to Tres Piedres. Also, the Enchanted Circle taking you through Red River, Eagle Nest, Angel Fire and into Taos has beautiful scenery. We've had a good amount of rain recently so I'm hoping this should add to the fall display of color.

NM colors won't happen for a couple of weeks or more as I'm not seeing anything yet here in Santa Fe. Colorado are of Crested Butte is predicted for the 3rd week of Sept. We will be there next week so I can report back what is showing.

Thank you. I would appreciate a first hand report. We'll be in the CO Springs area the last week of Sept. for a few days. Then head west into Buena Vista and south to Taos and then to Santa Fe.
Do you have any suggestions of where to stay in Taos?

Taos B&B -
http://adobepines.com/

Quaint, non-chain motels:
El Pueblo Lodge - quirky and fun
Taos Inn

High End hotel:
El Monte Sagrado

The very first tinges of color have begun in the high country of northern Colorado as of late last week (RMNP above 9,500 feet or so).

So far it looks to be on schedule for the typical late September peak. Good luck.

Taos = http://www.laposadadetaos.com/

Stayed 3x.

Thank you, everyone, for your input. All information and suggestions are invaluable in helping us make plans.

We just returned from a fall foliage trip to Aspen and Crested Butte. Colors are showing very well there now and along the drive from Carbondale to Redstone on the way to Kebler Pass to Crested Butte. Maroon Bells is on it's way to peaking this week, I would guess, as it had peak stands and those just showing color -- this was last Thursday 15th Sept -- beautiful!

Colors on Santa Fe mountain are just showing a blip of color starting so I would give it another week or so. We came home to warm temps so it's going to need to chill down again before the colors begin to develop.

We didn't see much color in northern NM and southern Colorado yet -- just some color in the cottonwoods beginning around the rivers.

Crested Butte had beautiful color showing and also along the drive to Gunnison, too. Really enjoyed the drive into CB via Kebler Pass and also on Ohio Pass. Colors were nice along the road but the large stand is just showing small pockets of color as of Sunday.

I would make Colorado stops first and New Mexico places last. I wouldn't want to miss the glorious display that Crested Butte and Aspen are showing this fall.

Enjoy!

As of yesterday the Aspens along Highway 67 between Divide and Cripple Creek are beautiful - the closer you get to Cripple Creek, the more red you'll see. Gorgeous!

Thank you so much! It all sounds wonderful. Can't wait! Are there websites that give frequent or daily updates on the status and/or progression of the changing foliage in specific locations in Colorado and New Mexico?
Also, could you please make some recommendation of what to do and see and where to eat in the Divide area and in Cripple Creek. How long does it take to drive from Divide to Cripple Creek?

The drive from Divide to Cripple Creek is about 18 miles. Some of it is slow going, winding with a 35-40 MPH speed limit. Watch for big horn sheep, particularly on the curves - they can surprise you.

Not much in Divide, but there is a nice little pub/bistro called McGinty's on the north side of Highway 24, just before the traffic light where you turn left onto 67 to Cripple Creek. Great pizza and gouda beer soup.

If you have time, you might enjoy Mueller State Park, which is a short distance from Divide on 67 - it's beautiful with lots of hiking trails and picnic grounds - $7.50 admission, nice Visitor's Center.

The hike to Crags is pretty wonderful too - I just walked it again on Sunday and the leaves were beautiful - access at the Crags Campground on the east side of 67- allow three hours for the hike.

Food in Cripple Creek can be hit and miss, but we like the breakfast burritos with green chile at Dynamite Dick's on the second floor of the Midnight Rose Casino. There are also cafes in McGill's and Johnny Nolans, they're okay, not great, but okay.

As for what to do, there's a fabulous Heritage Center above Cripple Creek, the narrow gauge railway to Victor, a museum, mine tours, hikes, and melodrama at the Butte Theater. Otherwise Cripple Creek is a Victorian town with some interesting buildings that operate as casinos and lots of hilly streets. And free roaming burros.

Here is one:

http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/pa...s/parkMap.aspx

Also, the forest service is working with an app called Yonder which I have not tried.

Thanks for such helpful information. Can't wait!

Some photos from the drive between Divide and Cripple Creek, CO taken yesterday. The leaves between 9.000-10,000 are at peak. You snooze, you lose!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/melnq8...57671006064343

Melnq8, that is a beautiful drive! Yes, the leaves are changing so quickly right now even here in Santa Fe.

The leaves on Santa Fe mountain are changing and should be good for another week or so. I saw that it was snowing on Independence Pass so leaves on the trees won't last long.

Get out and enjoy the beautiful fall foliage while you can! :-)
"He who hesitates loses."

Will be taking that drive this weekend and Santa Fe next week - hope the foliage is still beautiful. Can't wait.
Again, thank you for your input!!!

Some of the aspen were at their peak and some were just beginning to turn along highway 24 from Colorado Springs, going west yesterday. There were beautiful areas with the golden aspen against the evergreens and blue sky.

We drove the Enchanted Circle yesterday in New Mexico through Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest (wow!!), Angel Fire and into Taos. Colors are peaked and very colorful. Aspens, scrub oak, and others are mustards, yellows, reds, oranges -- very beautiful.

Then we took the High Road from Taos down through Peñasco, Truchas (stunning views and colors), Chimayo and Nambé. Afternoon drive would be best for viewing with the sun illuminating the colors. One of the best drives we've witnessed here in our many years driving northern NM.

Both sound like beautiful drives! We are planning to take the circle drive, but it will be in about a week. Hope the colors are still pretty. Thank you for your input.

Drive from Divide to Buena Vista - highway 24- had some gorgeous spots. Strong winds have knocked leaves off some stands along the drive. Some backroads in Buena Vista area are still beautiful, but don't know how long they will be.

Snow predicted for the end of the week here in southern CO - what's left of the leaves aren't long for this world

You're right about that. And, our winds in Santa Fe today probably blew off most of the leaves. I'm supposed to go up hiking this week and hope they hung on to the trees!

Winter is knocking in our door. :-/

We feel very lucky to have hit the peak of the foliage color this year. It is still beautiful around Salida and especially on the backroads in that area.

Aspen/Snowmass received 4" of snow and more on the mountain. I'm looking at pictures and can't believe winter is already around the corner.

Santa Fe colors are still hanging on and no snow in our forecast (she says knocking on wood :-)

Wow! Aspens on Santa Fe ski mountain are amazing. Hiked Aspen Vista and then went over to the ski basin and stops along the way down. The overlook has a stand next to the road that is so bright with the afternoon light illuminating it.

It's a great weekend to get on Santa Fe mountain and see the beautiful aspens.

On Oct. 11th the Aspen were still beautiful on drive up to Santa Fe ski area. Looks like we were really lucky this year, followed the peak foliage from Divide, CO, all the way down to Santa Fe over about a two week span.

Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions and input!!!

Thanks for reporting back. Glad you had a great trip and were lucky in your timing and route. It's tough to predict where and when the good color will be.

We missed the fall color in our mountains this year because we were out in the California redwoods, but that was an OK trade-off!

California redwoods are always awesome!!!