Fall Colors Near Denver as Day Hikes.

Fall Colors Near Denver

It is that amazing time of year again when the Aspens in Colorado turn a golden hue and the air temp drops a few degrees. Thousands of people will head to the high country for a glimpse of nature’s decorations. The roads and trails will be busy but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the trip. I have put together some of my favorite places to see the Fall Colors near Denver and all of these can be done as a day hike!

One of the things I have noticed over the last few years is that while the roads are super busy, the trails don’t see the same increase in traffic. A lot of the leaf peepers tend to drive to a good spot, get out of the car and take some pictures and then head into their favorite mountain town for some coffee and hot cocoa. That leaves some great spots to see the leaves, with some solitude, just a down the path a bit.

285 Corridor

One of my favorite, and one of the most popular, places to see the fall colors is down the 285 Corridor. Kenosha Pass might be the most popular place for people to go. One option if you are looking for a bit of a longer hike in the area would be Gibson Lake. It is before you get to the pass and is a little less crowded.

Through The Tunnel

If you can make it through the busy weekend traffic of I-70 there are a lot of great views of fall colors on the downhill side of the Eisenhower Tunnel. Boreas Pass in Breckenridge is one of the most popular places that people go. The road is dirt and some people drive it but there is a fun hike to Bakers Tank you can take. Another option is the Meadow Creek To Eccles Pass hike!

Guanella Pass

Guanella Pass might be my favorite driving only way to see the colors. Although the Peak to Peak highway is a close a second. Guanella has some amazing fall foliage from Grant to Georgetown, but if you are looking to get out an hike, The Abyss Trail might be the most popular of the bunch. This one gets super crowded so make sure you get there early and have an alternate plan if you can’t find parking!

The Best and The Rest

Below is a collection of my ten favorite hikes I have done to look at the Fall Colors near Denver. Each hike listed links to the blog I have written about the areas. Enjoy the wonderful fall season in Colorado!