20 replies to this topic

[Misspeppy]

Hi everyone!
My husband and I are coming to RMNP September 16th-23rd. I really hope to see the gorgeous Aspens in their glowing yellow splendor, but a website I looked at said that most of the trees turn in earlier September. Is this true? I'd hate for the only pretty leaves I get to see be the ones on the ground. Oh well, the trip is set. It's not like I can convince my boss to move up my vacation time based on foliage! *HA!*

[Aaron]

I'm sure our local friends will chime in on this but from what I've learned it seems to be hit or miss. I'm not really sure that there's any definite window of time to catch the aspens at their peak color.

--Aaron

[DeeCeeM]

Actually, it's quite possible there will still be color on some of the trees then.

Tress turn at different times in different years, so it's really just a guessing game as to when "peak week" will be. The other factor to keep in mind is that the trees turn at different times at different altitudes. This means that on any given week, some trees will be just starting to turn while others at higher elevations will be in full blaze.

Last year I was there right around the first of October & saw plenty of beautiful trees - so don't despair!

[John]

The trees start turning at the higher elevations and then work their way down, if I remember right. This means you can see beautiful golden aspens over several weeks, depending on where you drive.

[Malok]

You can relax! The trees in RMNP change depending on elevation. They begin at Bear Lake in just a week or two and slowly make their way down to Horseshoe Park finishing around the end of the first week of October. Any time between then, you can find an area where the trees are changing. I think your dates are just fine for viewing trees, though to see them at their best you need to stay the entire time which is beyond what most people's vacations will allow.

Ooops I see that John beat me to the punch by a minute. I thought he was supposed to be on the road right now.

[Qbert]

As Malok said, don't worry about it. I made the trip the last weekend of September\first of October the last two years and have not been disappointed. I always worried that I'd be too late and both times proved that I didn't need to worry at all.

All years\conditions are different, so you can't guarantee anything, but here's how my last two years around this time went: Malok will start posting beautiful Bear Lake area pictures in the next few weeks and it'll start freaking you out that you picked the wrong week. Then people will start posting reports about how beautiful the aspens are and how lucky they were to see them but the leaves are dropping like rain. You'll start thinking of how you could switch your plans up a week, but there's no way. You'll eventually come to accept the fact that it wasn't meant to be and start thinking about how next year you'll go earlier.
However, once you drive into the Park you'll see Moraine Park's aspen stands in full glory and breathe a sigh of relief. You'll find tons of great aspen stands and swear to come back every year.

As others have said, altitude makes a difference. You could be too late for the Bear Lake\Bierstadt aspens (which are absolutely stunning), but that probably means the Fern Lake trail is peaking*....or you could be right on time for Bear Lake and Fern is still greenish.
*Now for the asterik*.....A major storm with huge winds and snow could change everything. Again though, this will effect the higher elevations more than lower, but anything can happen.

With all that said, I again had the last weekend in September planned this year and I wouldn't have worried about the leaves. (I've canceled because I just had a baby).

Here's a trip report from last September if you're interested in the conditions. You'll see bare trees around Bear Lake, but Fern Lake didn't have that problem!

[Misspeppy]

Oh goodie, what a relief. Thanks for all the info! We're planning on doing lots of hikes and drives in all diferent parts of the park, so hopefully we'll get our fair share of fall scenery.

Thanks for all the info!

[ozarksgf]

I'm glad to hear those reports too. We will be in the park that same week and I was afraid that we might be too early. This will be our first trip in the fall. Our other trips have all been in the summer, so we are looking forward to seeing the colors.

Can anyone give me an idea of the type of temperatures & weather to expect in mid-September? I see from some posts that the peaks just received snow. We won't be going that high, but we are planning on going to Mills Lake and the Wild Basin trails. We are planning on bringing layers, but do not want to find ourselves unprepared.

Jim

[DeeCeeM]

Mid September temperatures can be all over the place, so you really need to be prepared for just about anything. You can enjoy one day of shirtsleeve, balmy weather and wake up the next day to several inches of snow on the ground. (It's happened to me before.) I know we say it all the time, but the key really is to layer when it comes to clothing.

[Joyce]

We always go to RMNP and Estes Park the last week in Sept. and 1st. week of Oct. and have never been disappointed in the fall colors or the weather. We have had a couple of days when TRR was closed because of snow but opens back up in a day or two. Always cold and windy on top of TRR but like DeeCee said warm one day and snow the next. There have been times when we actually needed a coat in Estes that time of year. I don't think you will be disappointed going that time of year. We have been there many years in every season and the fall can not be replaced, it is a yearly vacation now for over 10 yrs.

[Johnkykong]

Any signs of the trees turning yet? We will be out next Wednesday and we were hoping to see a little color.

[Tracy]

We always go to RMNP and Estes Park the last week in Sept. and 1st. week of Oct. and have never been disappointed in the fall colors or the weather. We have had a couple of days when TRR was closed because of snow but opens back up in a day or two. Always cold and windy on top of TRR but like DeeCee said warm one day and snow the next. There have been times when we actually needed a coat in Estes that time of year. I don't think you will be disappointed going that time of year. We have been there many years in every season and the fall can not be replaced, it is a yearly vacation now for over 10 yrs.

Joyce,
I hope that just you, Dad, Grandpa, and Janet have to bundle up like polar bears and a big black cloud follows you everywhere...that is what you get for going without me and Peanut this year!!!

No...bad weather for the rest of you who will be in the park at that time...the family has just rubbed it in so much that they are goping and I can't...it is now time to retaliate!!!!

Tracy

[ywguide]

Last week on TRR there were a few Aspens below Many Parks Curve that were slightly going green to a yellowish tinge. Next week should really be good.

[Jeannette]

Hello All...I'm another one from Missouri that will be coming out the week of Sept 16th. We've been visiting RMNP for years either the 2nd or 3rd week of September and have always found the aspens to be quite bright and beautiful and picture perfect. I want to say a big THANK YOU to all you guys on this forum. I have been researching here since after our trip last fall, and although you don't know me, I sure feel like I know you guys. I've learned a lot about the hikes we want to take, how to keep safe out there, special things to look for on trails, etc. Special thanks to Aaron, JD Green, Rhonda, Igloo Ed, John, Mr Jinks and Miss Lucy. Your reports, comments, and retorts are very inspiring and informational. Oh yeah, and I'm looking forward to stopping at Erik's shop too!

Glad I found this place,
Jeannette

[AlexanderDelarge655321]

Hello All...I'm another one from Missouri that will be coming out the week of Sept 16th. We've been visiting RMNP for years either the 2nd or 3rd week of September and have always found the aspens to be quite bright and beautiful and picture perfect. I want to say a big THANK YOU to all you guys on this forum. I have been researching here since after our trip last fall, and although you don't know me, I sure feel like I know you guys. I've learned a lot about the hikes we want to take, how to keep safe out there, special things to look for on trails, etc. Special thanks to Aaron, JD Green, Rhonda, Igloo Ed, John, Mr Jinks and Miss Lucy. Your reports, comments, and retorts are very inspiring and informational. Oh yeah, and I'm looking forward to stopping at Erik's shop too!

Glad I found this place,
Jeannette

Have a fantastic trip.