Best Time to See the Fall Colors in North Park, CO

The Best Time and Places to View the Turning Leaves in North Park, CO

September brings with it cooler weather, shorter days, and for some of us the return to school. In the Rocky Mountains, you will also notice some other changes as the seasons depart the heat of August and the leaves begin to show their true colors. The earliest fall colors have already begun and so has leaf peeping in Colorado. 

North Park is one of the best places in Colorado to see the fall colors. The biggest question is when is the best time of year to see the leaves changing in Colorado? The short answer is it has already begun! Check out this guide for when and where to see the best places in North Park to see the leaves turning and start planning your road trip ahead of the crowds.

What Trees to Look for in Peak Leaf Peeping Season

The Rocky Mountains of Colorado are mostly an alpine ecosystem, with deciduous hardwood trees beginning their dormant stage to withstand the harsh winters and short days by dropping their leaves. Coniferous trees such as pine and spruce are evergreen trees, which keep their needles—a kind of modified leaf—all year long. 

Deciduous trees begin this process to save energy. The chlorophyll that makes the leaves green (and helps the trees convert sunlight into energy) is lost, revealing the color of the leaves beneath. The reds and golds of the leaves have been there all along, only to be seen just before the leaves fall in the autumn months. Aspen trees are the predominant tree to look for  followed by cottonwoods, but in the mountains aspens far outnumber other leaf-bearing trees in Colorado. Red willows also change colors, with vibrant yellows and reds following river bottoms and cutting blazing pathways of color among meadows and grassy fields.

The prevalence of aspens in our alpine biomes, combined with altitude and early freezes make for early leaf viewing compared to other leaf-viewing locations in Colorado. North Park is sometimes a week or two ahead of other places in northern Colorado to see leaves. Wherever you find quaking aspens, you are going to get an incredible show for leaf viewing.

When to Start Leaf Peeping

The leaves have already begun to change in North Park. As the nights get colder and the days are shorter, aspen, willows, and cottonwood trees have already started to change into their vibrant gold and red fall colors. Peak leaf peeping season is typically around mid-September, but depending on the area of North Park you visit, the experience can stretch all the way into early October. Fall colors generally don’t last much longer than the first hard snowfall.

The good news is that microclimates in North Park allow for a wide range of times to experience peak fall colors. Check out this link to see a map of approximate dates for optimum leaf viewing in the Rocky Mountains. 

Top Places for Leaf Viewing in North Park

From hay meadows to alpine vistas, here are a few of the hotspots for best places around Walden, CO to see the leaves turning before the snow flies. 

• Gould: If you are heading into North Park via the Cache la Poudre-North Park Historic Scenic Byway, on CO HWY 14, Gould is the first village you will encounter in Jackson County. It is also one of the areas in North Park where the leaves begin to change first. Keep your eyes open throughout the Ranger Lakes, Gould, and Colorado State Forest State Park. You can also take the scenic route to CO Hwy 125 via the Rand-Gould Cutoff to see Owl Mountain by heading west on Co. Rd. 27, just a few miles south of Gould. 
• Owl Mountain: Located between Rand, CO and Gould, CO on Jackson County Rd 27, you will find plenty of public land with pine and aspen forests. If you are coming into North Park from Granby, CO, Rand will be the first town you encounter. Head east towards Gould and pass incredible views of Indian Creek and Owl Mountain. Due to beetle infestations in recent years, a lot of lodgepole pines have been cleared, leaving swaths of forest for aspen trees to grow and thrive. Be on the lookout for elk, moose, and other big game animals.
• Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge: Getting closer to Walden on either CO HWY 14 or 125, you will encounter the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Though this game preserve is mostly willows following the Illinois River basin, you’re in for a treat with plenty of species of waterfowl, raptors, cranes and migrating Canada geese. The Refuge, as it is known locally, is also one of the premier breeding grounds in early Spring for the Greater Sage Grouse.
• Walden, CO: Walden has lots of native cottonwood trees and quaking aspen which provide shade in the summertime and plenty of fall colors in the Autumn. Stop in town for fuel, a bite to eat, and stretch your legs at Hanson Park before hitting the road again to see more changing leaves.
• Spicer Peak Area: After CO HWY 14 passes through Walden it heads towards Muddy Pass and US HWY 40, which connects Granby, Kremmling, and Hot Sulfur Springs to Steamboat. Before you reach the intersection with HWY 14, you will enter a beautiful landscape created millions of years ago by volcanic activity. The area between Spicer Peak and Rabbit Ears Peak holds some of the best views of fall colors in Colorado. Golds and reds are mixed in with dark bands of pines which follow the Continental Divide in North Park’s southern border.

Other Areas in North Park to See

The list of places to see leaves in North Park could fill volumes. Here are some highlights you can check out as you drive through Jackson County.

• The Park Range: On Hwy 14 take the road towards Coalmont and you will be on a network of county roads which lead to many incredible leaf peeping locations. Hidden Lakes, Teal and Tiago Lakes, and even further north along the Park Range you will find the Rainbow Lakes trail system. Just let the colors be your guide.
• Big Creek Lakes: Similar to the beetle kill areas which affected Owl Mountain and the Park Range areas, recent forest fires near Big Creek Lakes, just a few miles from the Wyoming Border, near Mt. Zirkel, have allowed a boom in aspen tree growth. Areas near the Grizzly Helena Trail system give a beautiful view to hikers and OHV riders for the fall colors as well.
• The Medicine Bow Range: The northern end of the Colorado State Forest State Park has some impressive aspen forests. Near the North Sand Hills, a popular destination for ATVs and motorsport recreation, you’ll find plenty of fall colors.

Watch for Wildlife

Autumn in North Park usually means you will have a chance to see more wildlife in your travels. As bears prepare for hibernation and large game animals such as elk and moose are entering the fall rut, you might get a chance to see plenty of activity. In the early morning you might hear the bugling of bull elk as they gather females and compete with other males for dominance. 

Fall is also hunting season in North Park, so please be sure to be visible and be aware of any hunting activity in the area. If you leave your vehicle to hike or camp, it is always advisable to wear bright colors, especially orange to distinguish yourself from large game animals. Keep pets leashed and with you at all times.

Never approach wildlife! Moose and elk (even the cows!) are very aggressive during the fall rut and will charge and trample you if they feel threatened.

Watch for Traffic and Drive Safe

Not only are the highways a little bit busier because of hunting season in North Park, but you might also encounter other leaf peepers on road trips themselves! Always remember to drive safely and keep an eye out for other drivers and motorcyclists on the roads. The highways in Jackson County are often very narrow and hills and winding turns can lead to collisions or single vehicle accidents. We want our visitors to get home safely so they can come up and see us again!

Be aware of your vehicle’s capability and your own driving ability. Some roads in North Park are dangerous if you don’t have the right vehicle or experience. It’s also good to know that towing and extraction in remote areas might be very expensive, if not impossible.

Be Respectful of Private Land

Though North Park has lots of public land, it is still a working community with private landowners who have allowed access to State and National forest via county roads. Obey no trespassing signs and stay on county roads while traveling on access roads. 

Practice Leave No Trace Tourism

One of the reasons North Park is so beautiful is because of how little pollution you will find here. Visitors need to practice leave no trace tourism to make sure it stays that way. If you are camping or just passing through, always pack out what you brought in. The Town of Walden has free dumpsters at the RV dump station for trash and other litter. A small donation is appreciated and goes a long way to keeping our county beautiful.

We Will See You Soon!

If you want to beat the crowds in other mountain communities, add North Park to your list of best places in Colorado to see the fall colors. With alpine mountains, rolling high desert plains, river bottoms, and everything else in-between, you are sure to see some incredible sights on your next trip to North Park. Remember to drive safely, wear your seat belt, and keep an eye on the road—even though you’ll want to stare for hours at the changing leaves.