Rocky Mountain Region

The Rocky Mountain Region manages 17 national forests (NF) and 7 national grasslands (NG) throughout Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and most of South Dakota and Wyoming. On the Rocky Mountain Regional map below, click on the state you would like to see the fall color reports of.

Throughout the Rocky Mountain Region, Old Man Winter has definitely moved into the High Country and at lower elevations, also. At higher elevations, the fall colors are way past peak and the leaves are rapidly falling to the ground. Even at the middle to lower elevations, most of the fall colors are past peak. This is mostly due to the winter storms that have been moving through the Rocky Mountain Region during the last couple of weeks. More snow is predicted for next week and this will undoubtedly signal the end of this year's fall colors.

All of the forests in the Rocky Mountain Region agree that fall color viewing is over after this weekend. There will probably be some areas along rivers and creeks in valleys where there will be small groups of trees that have some late season color, but these will die out during the next week. As always, drive with care and be prepared for extreme weather changes. Check back next year to see the cycle start anew. We certainly appreciate your viewing trips into the Rocky Mountain Region and can't wait to welcome you back next year. Thanks again!

If you are still up for more fall colors, other than in the Rocky Mountain Region, please check the National Fall Color Report Web site to view fall color reports from around the country. You can also listen to audio reports of fall color conditions from other Forest Service regions, check out the National Fall Color Hotline Report.

	ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL MAP

ALERT!! Aspen forests in some areas of Colorado are experiencing widespread, severe, rapid dieback and mortality. This phenomenon, termed “Sudden Aspen Decline,” or SAD, affected 139,000 acres of Colorado aspen in 2006. In 2007 substantial new areas of mortality were seen and the affected area statewide more than doubled, reaching over 358,000 acres and affecting about 13% of the aspen acreage. more >>

This page will be updated weekly with reports from each of the national forests and grasslands in the Rocky Mountain Region. Get more information about each forest or grassland by clicking on the forest or grassland name below to be taken to their report page. You can visit the National Fall Color Report Web site to see fall color reports from other Forest Service regions around the country. To listen to audio reports of fall color conditions from other Forest Service regions, check out the National Fall Color Hotline Report.

HUNTING SEASON HAS BEGUN IN MOST AREAS!
CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL RANGER DISTRICT OFFICE
FOR MORE INFORMATION!
BE AWARE AND BE VISIBLE WHILE VISITING THE BACKCOUNTY!

THIS WILL BE THE LAST FALL COLOR REPORT FOR THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION UNTIL NEXT AUTUMN.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING AND HAVE A GREAT YEAR!

COLORADO

Arapaho & Roosevelt NFs and Pawnee NG: Located in north-central Colorado.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 970-295-6600 for information

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison NFs (GMUG): Located in the central and southern Rockies along the Western Slope of Colorado.

Grand Mesa National Forest:

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 970-874-6600 for information

Uncompahgre National Forest:

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 970-874-6600 for information

Gunnison National Forest:

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 970-874-6600 for information

Pike & San Isabel NFs and Comanche NG: Located in central to southern Colorado.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 719-553-1400 for information

Rio Grande NF: Located in southwestern Colorado.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 719-553-1400 for information

Routt NF: Located in north-central Colorado.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 307-745-2300 for information

San Juan NF: Located in the southwestern corner of Colorado.

Estimated percentage of fall color:

• Durango –70% trees, brush past peak
• Silverton – Past peak
• Pagosa – Most past peak, 80% cottonwoods on the San Juan river
• Dolores/Rico –75% on the Dolores river, brush/aspen past peak

Areas with greatest amount of color / recommended viewing areas:

• Lower elevation river valleys and creek sides

Estimated peak viewing period:

• Peak seems to be past for aspens and oakbrush
• Many cottonwood areas haven’t turned yet, so some low elevation valleys will be changing this weekend 
• Cold, wind and storms finished most leaves off this week

Trees that are currently turning color:

• Cottonwoods

For more information on fall colors please call:

• San Juan Public Lands Center, Durango (970) 247-4874

White River NF: Located in central Colorado.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 970-945-3229 for information

KANSAS

Cimarron NG: Located in southwestern Kansas.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 620-697-4621 for information

NEBRASKA

Nebraska NF, Samuel R. McKelvie NF and Oglala NG: Located in central and western Nebraska.

Nebraska National Forest

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 308-432-0300 for information

Oglala National Grassland

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 308-432-4475 for information

Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 308-533-2257 for information

SOUTH DAKOTA

Black Hills NF: Located in southwestern South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming.

Estimated percentage of fall color:

• 100% - Snow fell last week adding another dimension to the color viewing

Areas with greatest amount of color / recommended viewing areas:

• Spearfish Canyon Highway 14A
• Cement Ridge Lookout
• Forest Service Road (FSR) 850
• Mt. Roosevelt
• FSR 133 north of Deadwood
• Vanocker Canyon
• Forest Highway 26, south of Sturgis

Estimated peak viewing period:

• Colors are past their peak but there are still some very nice patches mixed in the forest

Trees that are currently turning color:

• Generally the understory bushes of poison ivy, chokecherry and ferns have already turned colors
• The aspen and birch are about 99% changed
• The cottonwood and willows at the north end of Spearfish Canyon are about 75% turned colors

For more information on fall colors please call:

• Northern Hills Ranger District 605-642-4622 - either the Front Desk or Bonnie Jones, Recreation Specialist

Buffalo Gap NG: Located in central and western South Dakota.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 605-279-2125 or 605-745-4107 for information

Fort Pierre NG: Located in central South Dakota.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 605-224-5517 for information

WYOMING

Bighorn NF: Located in north-central Wyoming along the Montana border.

Click on the small photo below to view a photo slideshow of fall color on the Bighorn NF.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at (307)-674-2600 for information

Medicine Bow NF: Located in south-central Wyoming.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 307-527-6241 for information

Shoshone NF: Located in north-western Wyoming.

Shoshone NF - Northen Half:

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 307-527-6241 for information
  

Shoshone NF - Southern Half:

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 307-335-2175 for information

Thunder Basin NG: Located in central Wyoming.

• Fall viewing has concluded
• Call the Forest Supervisor's office at 307-335-2175 for information

PREVIOUS 2009 FALL COLOR REPORTS

• SEPTEMBER 18
• SEPTEMBER 25
• OCTOBER 2
• OCTOBER 9

U.S. Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Region
740 Simms St
Golden, CO 80401
303-275-5350

TTD ⁄ TTY
Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
303-275-5367