Colorado Fall Foliage Report - 9/21/2008
Sep 21st, 2008 | 11:41 AM
#1
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Colorado Fall Foliage Report - 9/21/2008
Again, I-70 from Denver, through the Eisenhower Tunnel down to Silverthorne. Hwy 9 up to Kremmling. Hwy 40 east through Hot Sulphur Springs, Granby, Winter Park and over Berthoud Pass back to I-70.
The rolling thunder of autumnal color change has begun in the high country. Overall impression is a color change of 20-30% at present with rare segments where the change is reaching 75%.
From Denver up to the tunnel: maybe 15-20% change overall, and more noticeable the higher you get.
Silverthorne to Green Mountain Reservoir: Driving Hwy 9 north out of Silverthorne along the Blue River, the flanks of the hills are maybe 15-25%. The most color change is with the trees right along the banks of the river where it is probably a consistent 35% at least, with some stretches of 50 – 60%.
Gore Pass: the change is maybe at 15-20%, but harkening like a waxing crescent moon of something greater to come.
Colorado River basin from Kremmling to Granby: Again, the trees on the higher flanks of the hills are at about 25%, while the trees right along the river are changing dramatically, with a consistent 50% change interspersed with runs of up to 75% change.
Winter Park: Most timber around Winter Park is coniferous, but the few deciduous stands are at about 15-20% color.
Once over Berthoud Pass heading east, the hillsides are still mainly coniferous with the exception of the east flank of Red Mountain. Seen best as you head east downhill from mile marker 247 to the bottom at Big Bend, the trees on this mountain to the right of the Urad Mine works are particularly pretty at maybe 45%. I can only imagine what it will be like 5-7 days from now.
Next weekend ought to be awesome. Hope to get up to Rabbit Ears Pass and see what it’s like up there.
The rolling thunder of autumnal color change has begun in the high country. Overall impression is a color change of 20-30% at present with rare segments where the change is reaching 75%.
From Denver up to the tunnel: maybe 15-20% change overall, and more noticeable the higher you get.
Silverthorne to Green Mountain Reservoir: Driving Hwy 9 north out of Silverthorne along the Blue River, the flanks of the hills are maybe 15-25%. The most color change is with the trees right along the banks of the river where it is probably a consistent 35% at least, with some stretches of 50 – 60%.
Gore Pass: the change is maybe at 15-20%, but harkening like a waxing crescent moon of something greater to come.
Colorado River basin from Kremmling to Granby: Again, the trees on the higher flanks of the hills are at about 25%, while the trees right along the river are changing dramatically, with a consistent 50% change interspersed with runs of up to 75% change.
Winter Park: Most timber around Winter Park is coniferous, but the few deciduous stands are at about 15-20% color.
Once over Berthoud Pass heading east, the hillsides are still mainly coniferous with the exception of the east flank of Red Mountain. Seen best as you head east downhill from mile marker 247 to the bottom at Big Bend, the trees on this mountain to the right of the Urad Mine works are particularly pretty at maybe 45%. I can only imagine what it will be like 5-7 days from now.
Next weekend ought to be awesome. Hope to get up to Rabbit Ears Pass and see what it’s like up there.
Sep 22nd, 2008 | 05:58 AM
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Joined: May 2003
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DH said the colors in Telluride, Ouray and Durango are a bit less than 50% -- but I had to kind of force that number from him! He DID say that they were a lot more colors than when we were there last weekend.
When I asked for a %, I got bit of silence and then "%??" Men!!
Deb
When I asked for a %, I got bit of silence and then "%??" Men!!
Deb
Sep 24th, 2008 | 04:00 AM
#7
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9/24/08
Went up Boulder Canyon (Hwy 119) to Nederland and about 5 miles north on the Peak to Peak Hwy (Hwy 72) yesterday.
In Boulder itself, and the lower canyon, color is at about 5% or less. As you climb the canyon color becomes more apparent, but it is still very inconsistent. Above (west of) Hwy 119 mile marker 35 the color evens out in the smaller trees and underbrush at about 75%, but the larger trees are maybe 30% color. One particularly attractive stretch around mile markers 30 & 29 has colorful underbrush spreading across the southern hillsides of the canyon. Around Nederland the forest is 95% evergreen, but there is some color in the deciduous trees along the Peak to Peak – again very spotty at about 30-40%. As a matter of fact, I saw one stand along here that was already heading past prime with the lower leaves having been blown off and the yellow crowns starting to darken to brown around the edges…..while 400 yards down the road another identical stand was still all green.
Went up Boulder Canyon (Hwy 119) to Nederland and about 5 miles north on the Peak to Peak Hwy (Hwy 72) yesterday.
In Boulder itself, and the lower canyon, color is at about 5% or less. As you climb the canyon color becomes more apparent, but it is still very inconsistent. Above (west of) Hwy 119 mile marker 35 the color evens out in the smaller trees and underbrush at about 75%, but the larger trees are maybe 30% color. One particularly attractive stretch around mile markers 30 & 29 has colorful underbrush spreading across the southern hillsides of the canyon. Around Nederland the forest is 95% evergreen, but there is some color in the deciduous trees along the Peak to Peak – again very spotty at about 30-40%. As a matter of fact, I saw one stand along here that was already heading past prime with the lower leaves having been blown off and the yellow crowns starting to darken to brown around the edges…..while 400 yards down the road another identical stand was still all green.
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Sep 26th, 2008 | 08:53 AM
#8
Joined: Apr 2007
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Per 9NEWS in Denver:
The leaves are already turning from green to gold and it won't be long until they are fully changed and fall off the trees.
Floyd Freeman, a forester with the U.S. Forest Service, says the mountain vegetation has been getting plenty of water so the turning leaves are likely the result of cooler temperatures at night.
Typically the best time to see fall foliage in the mountains is the last two weeks of September. This year, that peak may come early.
The leaves are already turning from green to gold and it won't be long until they are fully changed and fall off the trees.
Floyd Freeman, a forester with the U.S. Forest Service, says the mountain vegetation has been getting plenty of water so the turning leaves are likely the result of cooler temperatures at night.
Typically the best time to see fall foliage in the mountains is the last two weeks of September. This year, that peak may come early.
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