Fall Is Back in the San Juans
Every year around mid-September, the aspens across the San Juan Mountains start turning, and by early October, the whole valley looks like it’s been dipped in gold. With crisp mornings, quiet roads, and snow already dusting the highest peaks, autumn is one of the best times of the year to visit Telluride, Colorado.
Two Drives (and a Pass) That Are Worth the Gas
Highway 62 over Dallas Divide is the drive that ends up on half the calendars sold in Colorado, and for good reason: the jagged Sneffels Range rises up behind a valley that goes solid yellow with aspen. Fair warning: the main pull-off (marked as the San Juan Mountain Scenic View) gets crowded, especially with the photo workshops that are there most weekends during peak color. Walk a little further down the fence line in either direction to get the same view without someone else’s tripod in your shot.
Last Dollar Road is a quieter option. The stretch closest to town, heading out toward the airport, is paved and honestly has some of the best overlooks on the whole drive. If you keep going, the road turns to dirt, at which point you’ll want four-wheel drive and some ground clearance, especially if it’s rained. Lower down, a lot of the land off the road is private, so if you pull over for photos, please be mindful of the neighbors.
Keep going south on the San Juan Skyway toward Trout Lake, and Lizard Head Pass gives you the same views of fall leaves from higher up, with fewer drivers on the road. You’ll pass the little town of Ophir along the way, and Lizard Head Peak itself is worth a second look if you’re a big hiker. It’s one of the tougher technical climbs in the area, and you’ll see why once you spot the sheer rock below the summit.
Fall Foliage Hikes In Telluride
With cool, sunny days and gold aspen groves covering the hillsides, autumn might be the best season to be out on the trails here. There are two easy-to-moderate hikes that are worth your morning.
The Jud Wiebe trail is about three miles, switchbacking up through aspen groves on the north side of the valley. It’s a bit of a climb, but the payoff is a view straight onto downtown Telluride, with the whole canyon lit up gold.
Bear Creek Falls starts a couple of blocks past the town library on Pine Street, so no driving is required. It follows an old mining road along Bear Creek, inside the Bear Creek preserve, and it’s popular enough that you’ll likely share the trail with a few mountain bikers coming down, so keep to the side when you hear one coming. At roughly five miles round trip with about 1,000 feet of climbing, most people take two to three hours. The trail ends at the waterfall itself, framed by dark evergreen forest the rest of the way up.
Take In the View From the Gondola
If you’d rather see all of it without breaking a sweat, hop on the free gondola between Telluride and Mountain Village. It’s still the only free public transportation of its kind in the country, and in the fall it floats you right over the canopy at 10,540 feet. A sunset ride is worth planning around if you can. No hiking boots required! This is a great option for kids, grandparents, or anyone with limited mobility who still want to enjoy some Telluride leaf-peeping.
A word to the wise: peak color usually only sticks around for two to three weeks, somewhere between late September and early October, and the exact timing moves depending on the year. Those weeks are the most requested on our calendar, so most of our guests book a year or more in advance. Just something to keep in mind as you’re planning your Telluride fall vacation.
Where to Land at the End of the Day
After a day on Last Dollar Road or up in the canyon, come back to a private SilverStar property, sink into the hot tub with Ajax Peak turning pink in front of you, or light up the fireplace and pour a glass of wine while the temperature drops outside.
Book Your Leaf-Peeping Getaway
Telluride’s aspens only look like this for a few weeks, and the best properties get snapped up well before that window opens. Whether you want a mountain home in the middle of an aspen grove or a penthouse a short walk from the gondola, now’s the time to book.
At SilverStar Telluride Luxury Properties, we know the best weeks to book for leaf-peeping and which properties book up first. Just ask us! Call 970-728-3001 or visit us online.