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 begun moving into the High Country. 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 just past peak. This is mostly due to the winter storms that have been moving through the Rocky Mountain Region during the last week. More snow is predicted for this weekend and if the storms move through the Region they will be the last nails in the coffin.

All of the forests in the Rocky Mountain Region agree that fall color viewing will pretty much be 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. As always, drive with care and be prepared for extreme weather changes. Check back next week to see if the fall color season in the Rocky Mountain Region has concluded.

	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
• The forest sent some photos only, they can be seen on the right
• 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 - estimate 95% in color, at peak
• Saguache District
• Expected to peak this weekend, estimate 90% in color
• Conejos Peak
• Peaking this week, est. 85% 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:

• Weekend of October 9th - 11th

Trees that are currently changing color:

• Aspens and oak brush, also ferns, currants, cottonwoods, golden willow trees on valley floor

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 –70% trees, brush past peak
• Silverton – Past peak
• Pagosa – Past peak
• Dolores/Rico – 75% trees, brush/aspen past peak

Areas with greatest amount of color / recommended viewing areas:

• Silverton area and Red Mountain Pass to Ouray

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.

• 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
• Northern Hills Ranger District - Call 605-642-4622 for information. 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.

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

Estimated percentage of current fall color

• 100%+

Areas with greatest amount of color / recommended viewing areas:

• With the recent cold temperatures and snow, most areas have turned and dropped leaves or are buried in the snow

Estimated peak viewing period:

• Fall colors have finished

Trees that are currently changing color

• None

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:

• 80 - 95% with lots of leaves fallen due to winds and snow storm this past weekend

Areas with Greatest Amount of Color:

• South Pass
• The Loop Road
• Limestone Road
• Sinks Canyon

Trees that are currently changing color:

• Aspens, cottonwoods, all shrubs and vegetation

Estimated Peak Viewing Period:

• Now through the first part of October
• Colors have a different look based on the available light 
• Morning and evening light will give a warmer, more defined, look to the colors; where mid-day light will be brighter 
• Clouds or a cloudy day can also effect the look of the colors, go several times at different times to see amazing differences in the colors

For more Information on fall colors please contact:

• Michelle Buzalsky 307-335-2175

Wind River RD

Estimated Percentage of Current Fall Color

• 60 - 90% with lots of leaves fallen from storm this past weekend

Areas with Greatest Amount of Color

• Union Pass
• Warm Springs Loop
• Horse Creek
• Long Creek Road
• Wiggins Fork
• Togwotee Pass

Trees that are currently changing color

• Aspens, a few cottonwoods, all shrubs and vegetation

Estimated Peak Viewing Period

• Now through the first part of October

For more Information on fall colors please contact:

• Wind River Ranger District at 307-455-2466

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 2

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