Fall colors in Colorado go beyond aspen trees

Look beyond Colorado's shimmering yellow aspen trees and enjoy a wonderful view of the leaves this fall.

Adam Moore, chief forester at the Colorado State Forest Service's Alamosa field office, stressed that the foliage changes are not only seen in the mountains. “There are other trees and shrubs besides aspens that produce bright colors,” he said.

In addition to the trees in the highlands, take the time to look into the canyons or explore the streams and river banks to admire the bright yellows and reds.

Instead of sitting in a traffic jam in the mountains and looking at the fall foliage, you could plan a hike, river trip, or paddling adventure instead.

Or, if you want to stay closer to home, explore the urban forests in Denver or Colorado Springs. “Some cities have the most beautiful fall foliage,” Moore said.

Beyond the Aspen

There are other plant options and colors to consider in Colorado. Here's where to look:

Ponderosa pine stands: When you see the colors of ponderosa pines, they are mostly Gambel oaks, which turn orange, red and yellowish.

River or stream bank: Narrow-leaf cottonwoods turn yellow, prairie cottonwoods turn bright yellow, golden willows turn golden yellow, and wax currant and golden currant bushes turn orange to reddish.

Bushes and shrubs: Rocky Mountain sumac shrubs turn bright red; bird cherry bushes turn blood red; multi-stemmed caragana bushes turn yellow or red; and wild rose bushes turn yellow or bright red. (These plants are found throughout the state.)

“Whenever you drive through the Alps, look down into the canyons. That’s where you see the colors,” says Dennis Will, forest ranger for the city of Colorado Springs.

Get out of your car

Scott Mahoney of Colorado Adventure Guides says fall is the ideal time for hiking, biking, climbing or swimming.

“A lot of what we do is available year-round, but it’s nicer this time of year,” he said.

The company offers raft trips that allow you to admire the foliage from a raft, paddleboard or inflatable kayak on the Upper Colorado and Blue Rivers.

“This is a different way to see it,” Mahoney said. “You can see the foliage, but also a lot of wildlife – beavers, bighorn sheep, eagles and ospreys. It's family-friendly and suitable for children ages 5 and up, as long as you're seaworthy.”

The company also offers guided hikes outside of Breckenridge, mountain bike tours, rock climbing trips or paddle boarding adventures on Lake Dillon.

“This is a great time to visit,” Mahoney said. “The mountain towns are less crowded.”

Explore the vegetation in Denver or Colorado Springs

Ben Rickenbacker, Denver's forestry director, said those who want to see more than just the yellow aspen leaves can head to City Park or Washington Park to admire the reds and purples of the purple ash as it changes color in autumn.

“The parks are a great way to see colors. You can explore them on foot, which can be safer than looking up while driving. You can be completely immersed in the colors and not have to worry about traffic.”

In City Park alone there are more than 100 species of trees, including some oaks and maples that have orange and red leaves.

“We have some maple trees for the Northeast folks. We don't have the same selection of sugar maple trees that produce that beautiful orange color, but we do have bigtooth maples, silver maples and some red oaks that produce some beautiful red fall color,” Rickenbacker said.

He also recommends exploring other larger parks with old-growth trees, such as Sloan's Lake, Rocky Mountain Lake and Berkley Lake.

Other places to check out include the banks of the Platte River and Cherry Creek, as well as the Highline Canal Trail.

Rickenbacker also recommends a drive through the treetops of Monaco Street and Sixth Avenue, both areas characterized by orange-yellow American elms.

Will said the city's canopy is made up of ash trees, maples and Siberian elms. The ash leaves turn yellow, dull orange or bright red, while the maples turn red and the elms turn yellow or red.

“They are beautiful,” he said.

Leaf peepers will find the trees in Memorial Park, America the Beautiful Park and Garden of the Gods Park.

If you're looking for Gambel oaks, you can find them in Palmer Park, Red Rock Canyon or on the drive up Ute Pass to Divide, he said.

Best time to see colors

Rickenbacker predicts this fall's colors will be spectacular.

“The trees are healthy and not too affected by the drought,” he said. “The trees should be healthy and well-watered and not exposed to too much wind, rain or snow.”