(CBS4) – Most of us think leaf watching is about hopping in the car and taking a drive, but in Colorado there are plenty of opportunities to get up close to the trees while hiking during the season fall foliage. Remember to park the car and get out to enjoy the whole season.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Golden
You will find 35 miles of hiking trails in Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Jefferson County. there are 12 trails, each with the name of an animal and marked with the animal’s footprint. The difficulty range from easy to more difficult. Some are reserved for hikers, others accept horses and mountain bikes. The Burro Trail specifically has aspens, as does the Buffalo Trail.
https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/GoldenGateCanyon/Pages/Trails.aspx
(credit: Golden Canyon State Park)
Eldorado Canyon State Park
Sources of Eldorado
Just 30 minutes from Golden Gate Canyon State Park, you’ll find another place to enjoy the colors. Eldorado Canyon State Park was once known as “Coney Island of the West”.
These trails vary in difficulty from easy (including a wheelchair accessible route) to moderate / difficult. The Crescent Meadows Trail has great mountain views and an open meadow.
https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/EldoradoCanyon/Pages/Trails.aspx
(credit: Eldorado Canyon State Park courtesy of CPW)
Ptarmigan Lake Trail
Buena vista
West of Buena Vista you will find Cottonwood Pass and the Ptarmigan Lake Trail. The hike to the lake is considered one of the most beautiful in the Arkansas Valley and keep your eyes peeled for the goats. A fall hike can bring vivid fall colors, sometimes accentuated by snow-capped peaks. You can also add it to your July hike when it’s full of wildflowers.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=12691&actid=50
Richard Kohlman took this photo on September 20, 2012, as he ascended “Cottonwood Canyon to Cottonwood Pass west of Buena Vista”.
Colorado State Forest State Park
Walden
This gem is hidden west of Fort Collins and is CBS4 meteorologist Ashton Altieri’s favorite state park. You will find 71,000 acres of forest with a number of multi-use trails. The park is a great way to get away from it all and really enjoy fall in Colorado, offering camping, fishing, and hiking and leaf watching.
https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/StateForest/Pages/Trails.aspx
Stunning views of the clouds at sunset gathering over the aspen forests of the state forest with mountains in the background. (credit: CPW)
Upper Piney River Falls Trail
Vail
If you don’t mind the company, this trail takes you through some of the state’s most beautiful fall foliage. It is considered an intermediate trail that takes you along Piney Lake and up to Piney River Falls. It’s a gentle climb through an open meadow before entering the forest and reaching the falls.
Lynne Ronk of Deckers took this photo on October 5th of “Piney Lake with Mount Powell in the background”.
