National Forest·Colorado·1,839,117 acres
Rio Grande National Forest
Forecast issued Nov 9, 5:27pm ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Tuesday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Rio Grande National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Rio Grande National Forest around Sep 30, and the four days to aim for are Sep 29 to Oct 2.
The forest runs from about 8,469 to 12,152 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 17 days: the high stands around Sep 26, the low ground around Oct 6. That's 4 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the forest | 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 | 8,000 to 9,000 ft |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Just past peak |
- 12,000–13,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 268%
- 11,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2525%
- 10,000–11,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2432%
- 9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 3023%
- 8,000–9,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 610%
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 4 days later than our model alone would say. This September has been running warm, which shifts peak color.
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.
Tuesday, September 29 to Wednesday, September 30
You’ll find it just past peak up high, nearly peak lower down.
Up at 11,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 25; down at 9,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 6. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 11,000–12,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 25
- 10,000–11,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 24
- 9,000–10,000 ftPeak colorpeak Sep 30
- 8,000–9,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 6
- Where to drive
- Wolf Creek Pass (US 160), about 20 miles · Cumbres and La Manga passes (CO 17), about 50 miles · Owl Creek Pass, about 60 miles
- What turns
- quaking aspen, narrowleaf cottonwood, willow
What turns, and when
- quaking aspen87%
- narrowleaf cottonwood8%
- willow5%
Every one of these turns yellow or gold here. The shades only tell the species apart.
Also named across Colorado, outside what the canopy read measures here: 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.
Questions people ask about Rio Grande National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at Rio Grande National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at Rio Grande National Forest around Sep 30, and the four days to aim for are Sep 29 to Oct 2.
- Where is the best fall color at Rio Grande National Forest right now?
On Nov 9 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 8,000 to 9,000 feet, around Oct 6.
- How long does peak last at Rio Grande National Forest?
About four days at the top, Sep 29 to Oct 2, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 17 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 21 days.
- Is Rio Grande National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Sep 30, and on Nov 9 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Rio Grande National Forest?
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
South San Juan Wilderness and Weminuche Wilderness are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Sep 29 best Sep 28 to Oct 1
- Peak Oct 13 best Oct 12 to 15
- Peak Sep 21 best Sep 20 to 23
- Peak Oct 4 best Oct 3 to 6
Fall color roads near Rio Grande National Forest
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- Wolf Creek Pass (US 160)
South Fork to Pagosa Springs, aspen on the west side of the pass.
- Cumbres and La Manga passes (CO 17)
Antonito to Chama through the Conejos aspen, with the narrow-gauge train doing the same route.
- Owl Creek Pass
Ridgway to Silver Jack Reservoir on gravel, aspen under Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain.
- Million Dollar Highway (US 550)
Between Silverton and Ouray. The aspen-covered slopes above the road at Red Mountain Pass are among the most photographed fall scenes in America.
- Last Dollar Road
Telluride to Ridgway on gravel through the aspen under the Sneffels Range.
- 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.