Where is the best fall color at Lizard Head Wilderness right now?

On Nov 10 the wilderness is leaves down. The last band to peak was 9,000 to 10,000 feet, around Sep 28.

How long does peak last at Lizard Head Wilderness?

About four days at the top, Sep 28 to Oct 1, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the wilderness's elevations the color moves over about 6 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 10 days.

Is Lizard Head Wilderness past peak?

Yes. Peak was around Sep 29, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.

Back to the map

Wilderness Area·Colorado·41,586 acres

Lizard Head Wilderness

Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET

Peak colorSep 29Aim for Sep 28 to Oct 1

In the wilderness today, Nov 10Leaves down

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.

No new reports from the ground here this week.

Still greenStartingNearly peakPeakPast peakNo fall canopy we forecastInside the line, each band of elevation is painted on its own date.

Around Lizard Head Wilderness San Miguel County holds most of the wilderness and is leaves down today. Dolores County, to the southwest, is 5 days ahead.

When is peak fall foliage at Lizard Head Wilderness in 2026?

Our forecast puts peak color at Lizard Head Wilderness around Sep 29, and the four days to aim for are Sep 28 to Oct 1.

The wilderness runs from about 9,574 to 12,651 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 6 days: the high stands around Sep 25, the low ground around Sep 28. That's 3 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.

Lizard Head Wilderness, fall color week by week, 2026
Week	In the wilderness	Elevation at peak
Sep 7 to Sep 13	Starting to turn
Sep 14 to Sep 20	Starting to turn
Sep 21 to Sep 27	Nearly peak	10,000 to 11,000 ft, 11,000 to 12,000 ft, 12,000 to 13,000 ft
Sep 28 to Oct 4	Peak color	9,000 to 10,000 ft
Oct 5 to Oct 11	Just past peak

By elevation The wilderness runs from about 9,574 to 12,651 feet. That’s 6 days of season between the top and the bottom: the high stands peak around Sep 25, the low ground holds until about Sep 28, and the color comes downhill in between. The date at the top of this page is the 9,000 to 10,000 foot band.

12,000–13,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2511%
11,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2327%
10,000–11,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2244%
9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2816%

Height off 3DEP inside the wilderness’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the wilderness stands in it.

That’s 3 days later than our model alone would say. This September has been running warm, which shifts peak color.

Plan this trip

If you can only come on certain days

Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.

ArrivingLeaving

Monday, September 28 to Tuesday, September 29

You’ll find it just past peak up high, peak color lower down.

Up at 12,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 25; down at 10,000 feet they hold on until about Sep 28. Pick your elevation for the day you come.

12,000–13,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 25
11,000–12,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 23
10,000–11,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 22
9,000–10,000 ftPeak colorpeak Sep 28

Where to drive: Last Dollar Road, about 13 miles · Million Dollar Highway (US 550), about 18 miles · Dallas Divide (CO 62), about 19 miles
What turns: quaking aspen, Gambel oak, narrowleaf cottonwood

What turns, and when

quaking aspen95%
Gambel oak3%
narrowleaf cottonwood2%

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 Lizard Head Wilderness

When is peak fall foliage at Lizard Head Wilderness?: Our forecast puts peak color at Lizard Head Wilderness around Sep 29, and the four days to aim for are Sep 28 to Oct 1.
Where is the best fall color at Lizard Head Wilderness right now?: On Nov 10 the wilderness is leaves down. The last band to peak was 9,000 to 10,000 feet, around Sep 28.
How long does peak last at Lizard Head Wilderness?: About four days at the top, Sep 28 to Oct 1, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the wilderness's elevations the color moves over about 6 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 10 days.
Is Lizard Head Wilderness past peak?: Yes. Peak was around Sep 29, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
What trees turn color at Lizard Head Wilderness?: 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

All of Colorado

Nearby, and when they turn

San Juan and Uncompahgre Wilderness and Weminuche Wilderness and Powderhorn Wilderness are on the map above, with their own date.

Mesa Verde National ParkCO · about 48 miles
Peak Oct 21 best Oct 20 to 23
Curecanti National Recreation AreaCO · about 52 miles
Peak Oct 8 best Oct 7 to 10

Fall color roads near Lizard Head Wilderness

Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the wilderness, so allow more by road.

Last Dollar Road · about 13 miles, CO · 18 miles of road
Telluride to Ridgway on gravel through the aspen under the Sneffels Range.
Million Dollar Highway (US 550) · about 18 miles, CO · 25 miles of road
Between Silverton and Ouray. The aspen-covered slopes above the road at Red Mountain Pass are among the most photographed fall scenes in America.
Dallas Divide (CO 62) · about 19 miles, CO · 24 miles of road
Ridgway to Placerville. The Sneffels Range over a hillside of aspen at the divide, the most photographed fall view in Colorado.
Owl Creek Pass · about 35 miles, CO · 25 miles of road
Ridgway to Silver Jack Reservoir on gravel, aspen under Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain.
Wolf Creek Pass (US 160) · about 71 miles, CO · 38 miles of road
South Fork to Pagosa Springs, aspen on the west side of the pass.
Grand Mesa Scenic Byway (CO 65) · about 84 miles, CO · 55 miles of road
Cedaredge up and over Grand Mesa, aspen around the lakes on top.