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.

	ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL MAP

Throughout the Rocky Mountain Region, hints of things to come can be found in the high country. The careful viewer can spot signs of the impending color change. With favorable weather conditions, the color should begin to intensify during the next week or so. With luck from the weather, there could be good color into the second week of October, or past, in some areas.

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!

SELECT A FOREST OR GRASSLAND BELOW TO VIEW THE REPORT:

COLORADO

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

Arapaho National Forest

• Estimated Percentage of Current Fall Color
• Boulder RD: 15% trees and 35% ground cover
• Clear Creek RD: 10% trees and 60% ground cover
• Sulphur RD: 30% trees and 40% ground cover
• Areas with Greatest Amount of Color
• Brainard Lake Road to fee booth
• Tolland Road to East Portal
• Buckhorn Road near Pingree Park
• Mount Evans Highway
• Peak to Peak Highway
• Many canyons have shrubs and ground cover plants turning to reds and yellows
• Boulder Canyon and South Saint Vrain Canyon both offer nice understory color change
• Trees that are currently changing color
• Alders, aspen, birches, cottonwoods, mountain maple, sumac species, willows
• Estimated Peak Viewing Period
• Starting the week of Sept 15: The nighttime temperatures have been in the mid to upper 30’s in the mountains. We’re receiving a good bit of precipitation. The changes will probably happen quickly now
• Laramie River Road will probably peak sometime between this weekend and next

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

Grand Mesa National Forest

• No reports available
• Call 970-874-6600 for information

Uncompahgre National Forest

• No reports available
• Call 970-874-6600 for information

Gunnison National Forest

• No reports available
• Call 970-874-6600 for information

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

Pike National Forest

• No reports available
• Call 719-553-1400 for information

San Isabel National Forest

• No reports available
• Call 719-553-1400 for information

Comanche National Grassland

• No reports available
• Call 719-523-6591 for information

Rio Grande NF:Located in southwestern Colorado.

• No reports available
• Call 719-852-5941 for information

Routt NF: Located in north-central Colorado.

• No reports available
• Call 307-745-2300 for information

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

• No reports available
• Call 970-247-4874 for information

White River NF: Located in central Colorado.

• No reports available
• Call 970-945-3229 for information

KANSAS

Cimarron NG: Located in southwestern Kansas.

• No reports available
• Call 620-697-4621 for information

NEBRASKA

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

Nebraska National Forest

• No reports available
• Call 308-432-0300 for information

Oglala National Grassland

• No reports available
• Call 308-432-4475 for information

Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest

• No reports available
• Call 308-533-2257 for information

SOUTH DAKOTA

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

• No reports available
• Call 605-673-9200 for information

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

• No reports available
• Call 605-279-2125 or 605-745-4107 for information

Fort Pierre NG: Located in central South Dakota.

• No reports available
• Call 605-224-5517 for information

WYOMING

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

• No reports available
• Call 307-674-2600 for information

Medicine Bow NF: Located in south-central Wyoming.

• No reports available
• Call 307-745-2300 for information

Shoshone NF: Located in north-western Wyoming.

Shoshone NF Northen Half:

• No reports available
• Call 307-527-6241 for information
  

Shoshone NF Southern Half:

• Call 307-335-2175 for information

Washakie RD -

• Estimated Percentage of Current Fall Color
• Currently between 25-40%
• Areas with Greatest Amount of Color
• South Pass
• The Loop Road
• Sinks Canyon
• Trees that are currently changing color
• Aspens, all shrubs, a few cottonwoods
• Estimated Peak Viewing Period
• Now through the first part of October

Wind River RD

• Estimated Percentage of Current Fall Color
• Currently between 25-35%
• Areas with Greatest Amount of Color
• Union Pass
• Warm Springs Loop
• Horse Creek
• Wiggins Fork
• Togwotee Pass
• Trees that are currently changing color
• Aspens, all shrubs, a few cottonwoods
• Estimated Peak Viewing Period
• Now through the first part of October

Thunder Basin NG: Located in central Wyoming.

• No reports available
• Call 307-358-4690 for information

PREVIOUS 2009 FALL COLOR REPORTS

• CURRENT REPORT
• SEPTEMBER 25
• OCTOBER 2
• OCTOBER 9

09/18/09 FALL COLOR PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION

 

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