2026 Fall Colors
Forum rules
- This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
- Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
- Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
- Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
-
CheapCigarMan
- Posts: 651
- Joined: 12/10/2014
- 14ers: 58 2
- 13ers: 161 2
- Trip Reports (1)
2026 Fall Colors
Where are good places to see Fall Colors for this October 3rd weekend?
I should be on a mountain
-
Kiefer
- Posts: 1917
- Joined: 5/10/2008
- 14ers: 58 43
- 13ers: 364 24
- Trip Reports (30)
Re: 2026 Fall Colors
We just drove over Monarch Pass and it was POPPING.CheapCigarMan wrote: ↑Fri Oct 02, 2026 9:31 am Where are good places to see Fall Colors for this October 3rd weekend?
-
madmattd
- Posts: 406
- Joined: 12/2/2017
- 14ers: 58 21
- 13ers: 129 7
- Trip Reports (2)
Re: 2026 Fall Colors
Info from last weekend (Sept. 25-27):
Lake City area was starting but seemed to have a bit to go, lots of green still. Probably well along now.
Gunnison stretch to near Lake City was approaching peak.
Monarch was great, so it's not going to last much longer.
Kenosha was past peak imo, as was Trout Creek/etc.
Lake City area was starting but seemed to have a bit to go, lots of green still. Probably well along now.
Gunnison stretch to near Lake City was approaching peak.
Monarch was great, so it's not going to last much longer.
Kenosha was past peak imo, as was Trout Creek/etc.
-
mijoflynn
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 4/20/2021
- 14ers: 42
- 13ers: 183
- Trip Reports (2)
Re: 2026 Fall Colors
East side of Independence Pass is passing peak; west side is variable, but not as far along. In the Aspen area, Castle Creek, Maroon Creek, and Snowmass Village are in great form. CB is supposed to be peak around town, but Kebler Pass isn't there yet.
Last edited by mijoflynn on Sat Oct 03, 2026 12:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 2026 Fall Colors
Last weekend Ouray to Molas Pass was really nice, especially the higher switchbacks between Ironton and the top of Red Mtn Pass. Things can change quickly in a week though but hopefully it's holding on.
"We want the unpopular challenge. We want to test our intellect!" - Snapcase
"You are not what you own" - Fugazi
"Life's a mountain not a beach" - Fortune Cookie I got at lunch the other day
"You are not what you own" - Fugazi
"Life's a mountain not a beach" - Fortune Cookie I got at lunch the other day
-
dwoodward13
- Posts: 935
- Joined: 3/26/2011
- 14ers: 58 12
- 13ers: 194 6
- Trip Reports (1)
Re: 2026 Fall Colors
Buff Pass/Steamboat/Steamboat Lake are probably peak right now. Some really great colors especially reds over the last couple days.
-
Jim Davies
- Posts: 7745
- Joined: 6/8/2006
- 14ers: 58 1
- 13ers: 68
- Trip Reports (5)
Re: 2026 Fall Colors
Highway 67 on the west side of Pikes Peak is pretty good now. Some leaves haven't changed yet, but not much is falling off either.
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
-
speth
- Posts: 699
- Joined: 4/16/2010
- 14ers: 58 5
- 13ers: 47
- Trip Reports (3)
Re: 2026 Fall Colors
Grand Mesa was very nice in spots two weeks ago - I’d guess it’s likely peaking now. We were in Paonia last week and it was close, I’d guess that McClure and Kebler are nice this weekend.
All I want is to just have fun, live my life like a son of a gun
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sarcasm or not, it's not even funny to post something like this. Not at this time. Reported.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Check out my mountain death list!!
