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, the timeless fall color change is in full force. At higher elevations, the fall colors are either at their peak or just about to reach their peak. Fall colors can generally peak during the last two weeks of September and sometimes into the first week of October but this can vary depending on the exact location. Unfortunately, the most vibrant colors only last about a week in most areas.

With favorable weather conditions, the color should continue 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.

	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!

SELECT A FOREST OR GRASSLAND BELOW TO VIEW THE REPORT:

COLORADO

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

Estimated percentage of current fall color:

• 70 – 90% trees depending on elevation
• 80 % ground cover
• Some high elevation areas already have bare aspen

Areas with greatest amount of color:

• West of Boulder
• Pingree Park Road (CR 44H)
• Brainard Lake Road to fee booth
• Peak to Peak Highway
• Tolland Road to East Portal
• Nederland and Eldora areas
• West of Fort Collins
• Buckhorn Road near Pingree Park
• Laramie River Valley (CR 103)
• Poudre Canyon
• Idaho Springs area
• Mount Evans Highway
• Granby area
• Highway 125
• Cottonwood Pass

Estimated peak viewing period:

• Snowfall last week caused a rapid color change in some areas and many stands have lost their leaves

Trees that are currently changing color:

• Alders, aspen, birches, cottonwoods, mountain maple, sumac species, willows

For more information on fall colors please contact:

• Boulder Ranger District: (303) 541-2500
• Canyon Lakes Ranger District: (970) 295-6700
• Clear Creek Ranger District: (303) 567-3000
• Pawnee National Grassland: (970) 346-5000
• Sulphur Ranger District: (970) 887-4100

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.

Estimated percentage of current fall color:

• The percentage of color at this time can be anywhere from 10% - 100%.  These two forests range from Leadville, Colorado all the way south to Trinidad, Colorado

Areas with greatest amount of color / recommended viewing areas:

• The greatest amount of color would be in all higher locations. This includes several of our areas near Guenella Pass / South Platte RD
• Wilkerson Pass / South Park RD
• The San Isabel NF - the areas of Twin Lakes / Leadville RD and Cottonwood Pass/ Salida RD
• All these districts report that they “peaked” with color on 9/19/09, making them at 100% today
• These districts report very cold nights and if the wind holds out they hope to keep some color for the next couple of weeks
• We also have color starting west of Pueblo near Lake Isabel and down by Laveta
• The Westcliffe Work Center reports “patches” in the Sangre’s. This would make these areas around 25% - 40% today
• They also report very cold weather and we hope to get the color change with the best of the best… and keep the color before the weather moves in
• So, keep your fingers crossed and give us a call if you need any suggestions

Estimated Peak Viewing Period:

• 9/1/09 – 10/3/09

Trees that are currently changing color:

• Aspen, gamble oak, cottonwood and chokecherry bushes

For more Information on fall colors please contact:

• Please feel free to call our headquarters in Pueblo at (719) 553-1400 or any of our District offices for more information.
• Pike NF
  South Platte RD / Morrison CO (303) 275-5610
  South Park RD / Fairplay CO (719) 836-2031
  Pikes Peak RD / Colorado Springs CO (719) 636-1602
• San Isabel NF
  Leadville RD / Leadville, CO (719) 486-0749
  Salida RD / Salida, CO (719) 539-3591
  San Carlos RD / Canon City, CO (719) 269-8500

Rio Grande NF: Located in southwestern Colorado.

Estimated percentage of current fall color:

• Divide District
• South Fork to Creede - est. 75% in color, peaking this week
• Saguache District
• Expected to peak this weekend, est. 90% in color
• Conejos Peak
• Expected to peak next week, est. 75% in color

Areas with greatest amount of color / recommended viewing areas:

• Conejos Peak
• Platoro Reservoir and Alamosa Canyon above 9000 feet
• Divide District
• Park Creek and Del Norte Peak
• Saguache District
• CO Hwy 285 north to Poncha Pass, both sides of road

Estimated peak viewing period:

• Week of September 28th

Trees that are currently changing color:

• Aspens and oak brush, also ferns

For more Information on fall colors please contact:

• Sam Suazo at (719) 274-8971

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.

Estimated percentage of fall color:

• Durango – 10% trees, 30% brush
• Silverton – 90% aspens
• Pagosa – 15% overall
• Dolores/Rico – 20% trees, 30% oak brush

Areas with greatest amount of color / recommended viewing areas:

• Silverton area and Red Mountain Pass to Ouray

Estimated peak viewing period:

• Highest country - this weekend 
• Silverton area peak - Sept 26-30

Trees that are currently turning color:

• Aspens, grasses and low scrub oak

For more information on fall colors please call:

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

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.

Estimated percentage of current fall color:

• Currently 30%

Areas with Greatest Amount of Color / Recommended Viewing Areas:

• Spearfish Canyon Highway 14A
• Cement Ridge Lookout, Forest Service Road 850
• Mt. Roosevelt
• Forest Service Road 133 north of Deadwood
• Vanocker Canyon
• Forest Highway 26, south of Strugis
• Iron Mountain Road

Estimated peak viewing period:

• Weekend of September 26th

Trees that are currently changing color:

• Generally, the understory bushes of poison ivy, chokecherry and ferns are quickly turning or have already turned colors
• Aspen and Birch are about 30% changed to yellow
• Cottonwood and willows are just barely starting to turn

For more Information on fall colors please contact:

• 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.

• 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.

Estimated percentage of current fall color

• Currently between 25-40%

Areas with greatest amount of color / recommended viewing areas:

• On the southwest side of the Forest:
• Hwy 16, near the Deer Haven Lodge and Tyrrell Ranger Station, colors are turning rapidly
• On the southeast side of the Forest:
• From the Hunter work station to the Crazy Woman Canyon, many aspen pockets are turning rapidly
• On the northwest side of the Forest:
• On Hwy 14, near the turnoff to the Shell Ranger Station, colors are in mid-swing
• Hwy 14A, colors are turning rapidly, and areas near creeks and rivers are spectacular
• On the north end of the Forest:
• Near Burgess Junction, aspen are just beginning to turn, willows have turned
• On the northeast side face, colors are really turning fast

Estimated peak viewing period:

• For the next 2 weeks

Trees that are currently changing color

• Aspen, willow, boxelder, cottonwood, underbrush in all shades of red and orange

For more Information on fall colors please contact:

• Kat Oropeza, (307)-674-2600

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:

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 18
• SEPTEMBER 25
• 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