Where to Take Autumn Leaf Pictures of Aspen Trees in Colorado

One of my favorite categories of photography is Fall Leaves Pictures. It really is amazing how the simple change in color of the leaves during the fall season can completely change the very landscape photography. Looking at a photo of Colorado’s beautiful fall colors is almost like admiring a well-done painting by a master painter.

I fell in love with Colorado about 30 years ago when I first visited it in the summer. I was teaching tennis at a resort in the mountains called Keystone. At the end of that summer I was assigned to Arizona in Scottsdale. On my trip to Arizona, I can still imagine one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen… It seemed like a whole valley was on fire with a brilliant golden yellow color below the road I was traveling on. I silently promised myself that one day I would return to Colorado to live and make a home there.

Now 30 years later I am BACK living here and loving every minute of it! I’m sure there are other beautiful places to live in the world that have a beauty of their own. The thing is; Colorado has several kinds of beauty to each Season. I have lived in many places around the world (especially the United States) and have found great locations for my landscape photography in each place. Somehow, for year-round photography, I can’t find even a close competitor to the stunning beauty of Colorado.

Aspen trees tend to thrive in Colorado. Below I’ve listed the best locations to find good Aspen pictures by region:

southwestern colorado

• Travel from Ridgway west on Colorado 62 over the Dallas Divide. In Placerville, head southeast toward Telluride on Colorado 145 to Lizard Head Pass.
• Head west from Crested Butte on County Road 12. On Colorado 133, head north toward McClure Pass for more photos.
• Travel on US 160 between Pagosa Springs and Cortez.
• Travel on Colorado 135 between Crested Butte and Gunnison.
• Travel US 50 West from Gunnison to Colorado 149 South to Lake City and Slumgullion Pass.
• Travel Colorado 550 from Ridgeway south through Ouray and Silverton to Durango.

southeast colorado

• Travel west from Pueblo on Colorado 96 through Wetmore to McKenzie Junction.
• Travel from La Veta on Colorado 12 to Trinidad, where you will join Interstate 25.

south central Colorado

• Travel on Cottonwood Pass Road west of Buena Vista. It is a 60-mile long gravel and paved road that crosses the Continental Divide and follows the Taylor River to Almont.
• Travel on Colorado 17 from Antonito to the New Mexico border.
• Travel Gold Camp Road from Colorado Springs to Victor, then Colorado 67 through Cripple Creek north to Divide. To access this road from Colorado Springs, take Exit 138 off Interstate 25. Follow the signs for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Then instead of turning at the zoo entrance, go straight. The road becomes Old Stage Road, which turns into dirt and eventually intersects Gold Camp Road.
• Travel US 285 from Conifer to Fairplay via Kenosha Pass.
• Travel south on US 24 from Minturn through Leadville to Twin Lakes at Colorado 82. Then back on US 24 to Leadville. From Leadville, take Colorado 91 to Copper Mountain.

The Colorado Front Range

• Travel on Colorado 119 from Black Hawk north to Holland. Then follow Colorado 72 to Raymond. From Raymond, drive on Colorado 7 to Estes Park.
• Travel south from Georgetown to Grant over Guanella Pass. Then turn right onto US 285 and drive 15 minutes to the top of Kenosha Pass.
• Travel west on Colorado 14 from Fort Collins through Poudre Canyon to the top of Cameron Pass.
• Travel on Fall River Road (CR 275) from I-70 (exit 238) northwest to St. Mary’s Glacier.
• Travel along Boulder Canyon Drive from Boulder to Holland.

northwestern colorado

• Travel on Maroon Creek Road (CR 13) southwest of Aspen toward Maroon Bells near Maroon Lake.
• Travel from Grand Junction, heading east on Interstate 70 through Palisade and along the Colorado River. On Colorado 65, go east then south to Cedaredge.
• Travel on Colorado 125 over Willow Creek Pass between Granby and Walden.
• Travel south on US 40 from Steamboat Springs. Then take Colorado 131 to Yampa. From Yampa, take County Road 7 southwest to Stillwater Reservoir.
• Travel from Meeker to Yampa on County Road 8 over Ripple Creek Pass.

Colorado’s colorful landscape usually begins to emerge in mid to late September. To find some great pictures of this annual event, all you need to do is find where Aspen trees display their golden yellow colors. Some areas of the Colorado Rocky Mountains have more Aspen trees than others. Some of the areas where I have personally found great Aspens photography are near the cities of Pagosa Springs, Telluride, Winter Park, Ouray, Estes Park, Aspen, and Breckinridge. If you can 4×4 outside of these cities, you’ll find plenty of pictures waiting to be taken.

The key conditions that are unique to Colorado and that change the color of Aspen trees are frost and the higher elevations of the surrounding mountains that produce shady areas. The shady slopes will turn first. Then the areas most exposed to the sun will convert a few days later. If there is an early frost, then you are in for a special treat. This is because all the aspens in an area will transform into their glorious yellow color at the same time.

I remember a line of music sung by John Denver where he sings about seeing “Fire raining from the sky.” Let me tell you, when it rains during a sunset, it can sometimes seem like this is happening! He also sang about the many beautiful and memorable sights he saw in Colorado regarding the fall colors.

To capture the best photos this time of year, I suggest buying a very good digital camera, a good macro-zoom lens, and even a wide-angle lens. If you’re lucky, you might get a rare picture of fluffy white snow on golden Aspen trees highlighted by late afternoon or early morning sunlight. I got some great photos of this very rare event last year when I finally moved back to Colorado.