Foliage map › Destinations › Colorado › Aspen
Aspen, Colorado fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Aspen area peaks around October 1, with the best viewing from roughly September 30 to October 8.
- Typical peak
- October 1
- Best viewing
- Sep 30 – Oct 8
- Color starts
- Around Sep 19
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Oct 14
- Elevation
- 7,908 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 1. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Aspen on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Aspen
Aspen sits in the Roaring Fork Valley surrounded by the Elk Mountains, and golden aspen groves cover the slopes above town. West of Aspen, the Maroon Bells, twin peaks above Maroon Lake, are among the most photographed mountains in Colorado. East of town, Highway 82 follows the Roaring Fork River up toward Independence Pass, past the rock formations known as the Grottos and the old mining site of Independence, with aspen groves along much of the way.
Scenic drive
Independence Pass (Highway 82) climbs east from Aspen to the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet, one of the highest paved crossings of the Divide in the country, then drops down to Twin Lakes. The road is narrow in places, and it is a seasonal road that closes for winter. The aspens along the lower and middle stretches are the highlight, and the views near the top look out over high peaks in every direction.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head higher
Breckenridge, CO (46 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 6 days earlier, and Kenosha Pass, CO (59 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 7 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Look for lower valleys
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Aspen typically peaks much later. Lower valleys nearby are your best bet: color tends to hang on about 3 to 4 days longer for every 1,000 feet lower.
National park and forest guide
Nearby destinations
- Crested Butte, COTypical peak Sep 28, 3 days earlier. 24 miles away.
- Vail, COTypical peak Sep 30, about the same time. 39 miles away.
- Breckenridge, COTypical peak Sep 25, 6 days earlier. 46 miles away.
- Kenosha Pass, COTypical peak Sep 24, 7 days earlier. 59 miles away.
- Steamboat Springs, COTypical peak Oct 4, 3 days later. 89 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Aspen?
In a typical year, fall color in the Aspen area peaks around October 1, with the best viewing from roughly September 30 to October 8. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Aspen?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around September 19, and most leaves are down by about October 14.
Is Aspen early or late compared with the rest of Colorado?
Aspen peaks close to the middle of the Colorado season, about Sep 29 on average across the 8 Colorado destinations we track.
What trees color up around Aspen?
The main fall color in this area comes from quaking aspen, narrowleaf cottonwood, and willow. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.