The Best Colorado Mountain Towns To Explore Fall Foliage 🍂

Fall is a particularly glorious time to explore Colorado’s various mountain towns. It’s the season of the golden aspens, when the air is cool and fresh and the scenery is jaw-dropping beautiful!

Luckily for us, Grand Junction is located within a couple hours driving distance from some of the state’s most spectacular places to view fall foliage. From Ouray, to Telluride to Silverton, there is no shortage of weekend road trips to be had!

When is the best time to see fall colors?

Every year is different! Colorado has already started to see the leaves change colors this month, with many areas in northern Colorado hitting peak colors this upcoming week. September into October is the average time that the high elevations in the state begin to see these changes. Here are the latest predictions:

Now that you know when to plan your trip, below are some of our favorite spots to visit…

Glenwood Springs

Arguably the most popular thing to do in Glenwood Springs, Colorado’s “land of water”, is to visit Glenwood Hot Springs Resort and take a dip in the thermal pools. Iron Mountain Hot Springs opened in 2015 and Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves is one of the few places on Earth where guests can experience a natural geothermal steam bath.

Located at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers, this town is also known for water sports and fishing. Kayak through Glenwood Canyon, visit Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon, marvel at Glenwood Caverns and experience the thrills at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

Silverton

The air is a bit thinner in Silverton, in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, at 9,318 feet. You’re never far from outdoor activities as this town is situated within 15 miles of seven of Colorado’s famous 14,000-foot peaks. Silverton regularly makes tourist lists for “Best Hiking Mountain Towns” in Colorado.

The Million Dollar Highway is one of the best ways to take it all in—it’s one of the most beautiful roads in the country. You can ride the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, visit the Animas Forks ghost town, and wander around the historic downtown district full of shops, restaurants, and places for downing a cold one. Due to its mining history, Silverton is a National Historic Landmark District.

Telluride

Nestled into a spectacular box canyon, with massive peaks on the horizon, Telluride is not only a beautiful mountain town, but also, a historic one. Designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964, you can see a mix of Victorian-era homes in this town, next to art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants.

Enjoy a free gondola ride, no matter what time of year, which will give you easy access to hiking and biking in the warmer months, and skiing and snow sports in the winter. The gondola links Telluride with Mountain Village on a quick 13 minute experience. Fly fishing on the San Miguel, Gunnison, or Uncompahgre Rivers is also a popular activity.

Visit the Telluride Arts District, one of the very first creative arts districts in the state. And, of course hiking is big in Telluride, with over 90 trails to explore. The Telluride Via Ferrata route is challenging, with breath taking views.

Ouray

Known as the “Switzerland of America”, Ouray is a picturesque Colorado mountain town surrounded by the rugged beauty of the San Juan Mountains. There are five sulphur-free hot springs, with Ouray Hot Springs being the favorite. Visit Box Canyon Falls Park to view a stunning 85-foot waterfall. A unique museum, the Ouray Alchemist Museum, tells the story of pharmaceuticals in the state of Colorado and the Ouray County Museum is a sweet little history museum set in an 1880s miner hospital.

Aspen

While winter skiing is the most well-known activity to do in Aspen, autumn is a wonderful time to visit, when the scenery is stunning, the air is crisp, and the Maroon Bells are in full show-off mode. To see the fall foliage, go hiking or biking, take a scenic drive, or enjoy a birds eye view from a gondola. Adventure seekers can go paragliding or stand-up paddle boarding to see the landscape from a newfangled perspective. Visit the Aspen Saturday Market, Aspen Art Museum, and check out a hot air balloon ride. Being outside during this season is truly a gift in Aspen.

Breckenridge

Dreamy and indicative of a classic Colorado mountain ski town, there’s plenty to do year round in Breckenridge. In the fall, drive the Boreas Pass Scenic Road, spend time wandering the streets in the downtown where you’ll find over 100 restaurants and bars, pop in Breckenridge Brewery and Pub, enjoy the thrill of mountain biking at French Gulch, visit the Country Boy Mine, and go hiking on one of the many trails—there are hundreds of options in and around the town.

Breckenridge also has a trendy and quirky arts district, perfect for finding one-of-a-kind treasures.