National Forest·Colorado·2,965,451 acres
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Wednesday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
2 reports came in from Gunnison County this week, 1 of them past peak. They moved our date 8 days later. See the county on the map.
When is peak fall foliage at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests around Oct 4, and the four days to aim for are Oct 3 to 6.
The forest runs from about 6,768 to 12,141 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 19 days: the high stands around Sep 23, the low ground around Oct 12. That's 3 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 to Sep 6 | Still green | |
| Sep 7 to Sep 13 | Starting to turn | |
| Sep 14 to Sep 20 | Starting to turn | 10,000 to 12,000 ft |
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Nearly peak | 12,000 to 14,000 ft |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Peak color | 8,000 to 10,000 ft |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Peak color | |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Just past peak | 6,000 to 8,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Fading |
- 12,000–14,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 237%
- 10,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 1835%
- 8,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2940%
- 6,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1218%
Height off 3DEP inside the forest’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the forest stands in it.
That’s 3 days later than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 4
You’ll find it fading up high, nearly peak lower down.
Up at 10,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 18; down at 8,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 12. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 10,000–12,000 ftFadingpeak Sep 18
- 8,000–10,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 29
- 6,000–8,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 12
- Where to drive
- Kebler Pass Road (County Road 12), about 27 miles · Owl Creek Pass, about 27 miles · McClure Pass (CO 133), about 39 miles
- What turns
- quaking aspen, narrowleaf cottonwood, Gambel oak, willow, bigtooth maple
What turns, and when
- quaking aspen67%
- narrowleaf cottonwood12%
- Gambel oak8%
- willow8%
- bigtooth maple3%
- serviceberry3%
Also named across Colorado, outside what the canopy read measures here: Rocky Mountain Maple, Alder.
Colorado aspens are the main event, turning entire mountainsides gold and amber while Gambel oaks add russet and orange at lower elevations and cottonwoods line the rivers in yellow.
Questions people ask about Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
- When is peak fall foliage at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests?
Our forecast puts peak color at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests around Oct 4, and the four days to aim for are Oct 3 to 6.
- Where is the best fall color at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests right now?
On Nov 10 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 6,000 to 8,000 feet, around Oct 12.
- How long does peak last at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests?
About four days at the top, Oct 3 to 6, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 19 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 23 days.
- Is Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 4, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests?
Quaking Aspen, Narrowleaf Cottonwood, Gambel Oak, Rocky Mountain Maple, Alder. Colorado aspens are the main event, turning entire mountainsides gold and amber while Gambel oaks add russet and orange at lower elevations and cottonwoods line the rivers in yellow.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. Out here we score it against NASA's satellite record of when the canopy shuts down, read inside each unit’s own boundary: two dates in three land within 12 days of it. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
Uncompahgre Wilderness and Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Oct 7 best Oct 6 to 9
- Peak Sep 29 best Sep 28 to Oct 1
- Peak Sep 27 best Sep 26 to 29
- Peak Sep 29 best Sep 28 to Oct 1
Fall color roads near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- Kebler Pass Road (County Road 12)
Home to one of the largest aspen groves on earth. The drive from Crested Butte to Paonia is a wall of gold in late September.
- Owl Creek Pass
Ridgway to Silver Jack Reservoir on gravel, aspen under Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain.
- McClure Pass (CO 133)
Carbondale to Paonia through the Crystal River aspen, with Chair Mountain over the pass.
- Dallas Divide (CO 62)
Ridgway to Placerville. The Sneffels Range over a hillside of aspen at the divide, the most photographed fall view in Colorado.
- Maroon Creek Road
The Maroon Bells over a lake ringed with aspen. Shuttle only during the season.
- Grand Mesa Scenic Byway (CO 65)
Cedaredge up and over Grand Mesa, aspen around the lakes on top.