National Forest·Colorado·1,865,968 acres
San Juan National Forest
Forecast issued Nov 12, 5:26pm ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at San Juan National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at San Juan National Forest around Oct 13, and the four days to aim for are Oct 12 to 15.
The forest runs from about 7,064 to 11,977 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 23 days: the high stands around Oct 1, the low ground around Oct 24. That's 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 14 to Sep 20 | Still green | |
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Starting to turn | |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Starting to turn | 10,000 to 11,000 ft, 11,000 to 12,000 ft, 12,000 to 13,000 ft |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Nearly peak | 9,000 to 10,000 ft |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color | 7,000 to 8,000 ft, 8,000 to 9,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Just past peak | 6,000 to 7,000 ft |
| Oct 26 to Nov 1 | Fading | |
| Nov 2 to Nov 8 | Fading |
- 12,000–13,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 15%
- 11,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2914%
- 10,000–11,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2817%
- 9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 519%
- 8,000–9,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1223%
- 7,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1718%
- 6,000–7,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 244%
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 8 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.
Thursday, November 12 to Friday, November 13
You’ll find it with the leaves down.
Peak color was 31 days before you arrive, around Oct 13.
- 11,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 29
- 10,000–11,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 28
- 9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 5
- 8,000–9,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 12
- 7,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 17
- Where to drive
- Million Dollar Highway (US 550), along the forest · Wolf Creek Pass (US 160), along the forest
- What turns
- quaking aspen, Gambel oak, bigtooth maple, serviceberry
What turns, and when
- quaking aspen75%
- Gambel oak15%
- bigtooth maple5%
- serviceberry5%
Also named across Colorado, outside what the canopy read measures here: Narrowleaf Cottonwood, 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 San Juan National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at San Juan National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at San Juan National Forest around Oct 13, and the four days to aim for are Oct 12 to 15.
- Where is the best fall color at San Juan National Forest right now?
On Nov 12 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 6,000 to 7,000 feet, around Oct 24.
- How long does peak last at San Juan National Forest?
About four days at the top, Oct 12 to 15, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 23 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 27 days.
- Is San Juan National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 13, and on Nov 12 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at San Juan National Forest?
Quaking aspen is 75 percent of the trees that turn here, then Gambel oak (15 percent), bigtooth maple (5) and serviceberry (5). Quaking aspen turns yellow or gold; Gambel oak, bigtooth maple and serviceberry turn red. What turns, and when
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
Lizard Head Wilderness and Uncompahgre Wilderness and South San Juan Wilderness are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Sep 29 best Sep 28 to Oct 1
- Peak Oct 21 best Oct 20 to 23
- Peak Sep 29 best Sep 28 to Oct 1
Fall color roads near San Juan National Forest
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- 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.
- Wolf Creek Pass (US 160)
South Fork to Pagosa Springs, aspen on the west side of the pass.
- 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.
- Owl Creek Pass
Ridgway to Silver Jack Reservoir on gravel, aspen under Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain.
- Cumbres and La Manga passes (CO 17)
Antonito to Chama through the Conejos aspen, with the narrow-gauge train doing the same route.