Foliage map › National parks and forests › Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park fall foliage
Rocky Mountain National Park covers about 265,000 acres of the Front Range in northern Colorado, from mountain valleys around 7,600 feet to the summit of Longs Peak at 14,259 feet. The fall color here is mostly aspen, which turns gold on the slopes and in the valleys, typically from the second half of September, starting at the highest groves. Fall is also when the elk rut, and the bulls’ bugling echoes across the meadows.
- Typical peak
- Sep 24 – Oct 1
- Location
- Colorado
- Size
- About 265,000 acres
- Elevation
- About 7,600 to 14,259 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 1 at Estes Park. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s status and the five-week outlook.
Status shown for Estes Park, at 7,522 feet. See below for other parts of the park.
Peak by place and elevation
Bars show the typical best-viewing window for each place. The dark mark is the typical peak. The last column shows today’s status.
The season at Estes Park
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.
Where to see the color in Rocky Mountain National Park
Bear Lake Road climbs from Moraine Park through aspen groves to Bear Lake, high below the peaks of the Continental Divide, with stands of aspen along the road and around the lake. Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park, broad meadows near the east entrances, are where the elk gather in fall. On the west side of the park, the Kawuneeche Valley follows the young Colorado River through meadows and willow flats toward Grand Lake.
Scenic drive
Trail Ridge Road crosses the park for about 48 miles between Estes Park and Grand Lake, climbing above treeline to 12,183 feet, the highest point of any continuous paved road in the country, before dropping into the Kawuneeche Valley. The road closes for the season in fall, so check its status before you go. South of Estes Park, the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway runs along the foot of the Front Range through more aspen country.
Trees you’ll see turning
Scenic drive guide
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Rocky Mountain National Park?
In a typical year, the aspen at the higher elevations, around Bear Lake, turn first, in the second half of September, and the groves lower down around Moraine Park and Estes Park peak around the end of September and the first days of October.
Where is the best fall color in Rocky Mountain National Park?
Bear Lake Road and the aspen groves around it, the meadows of Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park, and the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side.