Kenosha Pass – Peak Fall Colors

This weekend’s headline news was all about “peak fall colors” – it’s a thing. You can find prediction maps for the absolute best time to go in your geography. And if you’re in Denver, Kenosha Pass is “the best place to view the changing aspens.” Also, you have access points to the Colorado Trail heading east or west.

Saturday was forecast to be colder and overcast – maybe 40 F – at about 8 a.m. at Kenosha Pass. So I hoped it would be less crowded than Sunday which was predicted to be warmer and sunnier. I got there about 8:20 a.m. And parking at both trail heads was already overflowing onto the highway. I lucked out at about 0.2 miles from the official parking areas. And yes, the line at the one ladies toilet was comically long each time I walked by.

When I left a few hours later, cars were parked along the highway in both directions for almost a mile on either side – to see the aspen trees in their golden glory. I don’t remember this being a thing when I lived in other states, but in Colorado, it seems like a right of passage to capture the aspens in person at the peak of their glorious transition.

Let’s be clear, sarcasm aside, it’s completely and utterly worth it to wake up early, drive a few hours, and wind through the sea of humanity to see this in person. This photo has only a few aspen trees on the far left, but it was my best photo of the day be far. Fall in Colorado is majestic.

I hiked about 6 miles ultimately on the Eastern Trail Side, after trying a few alternate routes that were overflowing with people.

Once I was about a mile out from the parking and camping areas, the crowds thinned out significantly. There was a mist hanging on the tops of the mountains. My photos do not capture how beautiful and serene this was, especially once away from people, cars, dogs, etc.

Let me know if you want to join me next year, thought I’ll definitely be starting out a bit earlier in the day!