Foliage map › National parks and forests › White River National Forest
White River National Forest fall foliage
The White River National Forest covers about 2.3 million acres of the central Colorado Rockies, around Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, and Glenwood Springs. Its aspen groves turn gold through September, starting high and working down the valleys, with the peak in most places in the last week of the month.
- Typical peak
- Sep 25 – Oct 1
- Location
- Colorado
- Size
- About 2.3 million acres
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 1 at Aspen. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s status and the five-week outlook.
Status shown for Aspen, at 7,908 feet. See below for other parts of the forest.
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 Aspen
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 the White River National Forest
Near Aspen, the Maroon Bells rise above Maroon Lake, ringed by aspen. East of town, Independence Pass climbs past aspen and evergreen forest to the Continental Divide at more than 12,000 feet. Around Vail, aspen climb the slopes of the Gore Creek valley, and above Breckenridge, Boreas Pass Road follows an old railroad grade through dense aspen groves.
Scenic drive
Highway 82 climbs east from Aspen over Independence Pass, one of the highest paved passes in the state. The road closes for the season in fall, so check its status before you go. Near Vail, unpaved Shrine Pass Road runs from Vail Pass over to Red Cliff through aspen and evergreen forest.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in the White River National Forest?
In a typical year, the highest aspen groves, around places like Maroon Lake, peak first, in the last week of September, and the valleys around Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge follow within about a week.
Where is the best fall color in the White River National Forest?
The Maroon Bells, Independence Pass, Boreas Pass near Breckenridge, and Shrine Pass near Vail.