Where is the best fall color at Uncompahgre Wilderness right now?

On Nov 9 the wilderness is leaves down. The last band to peak was 9,000 to 10,000 feet, around Sep 29.

How long does peak last at Uncompahgre Wilderness?

About four days at the top, Sep 20 to 23, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the wilderness's elevations the color moves over about 10 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 14 days.

Is Uncompahgre Wilderness past peak?

Yes. Peak was around Sep 21, and on Nov 9 it's leaves down.

Back to the map

Wilderness Area·Colorado·98,876 acres

Uncompahgre Wilderness

Forecast issued Nov 9, 7:48am ET

Peak colorSep 21Aim for Sep 20 to 23

In the wilderness today, Nov 9Leaves down

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.

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

Around Uncompahgre Wilderness Hinsdale County holds most of the wilderness and is leaves down today. Ouray County, to the west, is 4 days behind. Gunnison County, to the northeast, is 4 days behind.

When is peak fall foliage at Uncompahgre Wilderness in 2026?

Our forecast puts peak color at Uncompahgre Wilderness around Sep 21, and the four days to aim for are Sep 20 to 23.

The wilderness runs from about 9,258 to 12,689 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 10 days: the high stands around Sep 25, the low ground around Sep 29. That's 4 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.

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

By elevation The wilderness runs from about 9,258 to 12,689 feet. That’s 10 days of season between the top and the bottom: the high stands peak around Sep 25, the low ground holds until about Sep 29, and the color comes downhill in between. The date at the top of this page is the 10,000 to 11,000 foot band.

12,000–13,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2528%
11,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2432%
10,000–11,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2223%
9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2914%

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 4 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

Sunday, September 20 to Monday, September 21

You’ll find it peak color.

That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.

12,000–13,000 ftNearly peakpeak Sep 25
11,000–12,000 ftNearly peakpeak Sep 24
10,000–11,000 ftPeak colorpeak Sep 22
9,000–10,000 ftNearly peakpeak Sep 29

Where to drive: Owl Creek Pass, about 8 miles · Million Dollar Highway (US 550), about 18 miles · Dallas Divide (CO 62), about 23 miles
What turns: quaking aspen, Gambel oak, narrowleaf cottonwood

What turns, and when

quaking aspen94%
Gambel oak4%
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 Uncompahgre Wilderness

When is peak fall foliage at Uncompahgre Wilderness?: Our forecast puts peak color at Uncompahgre Wilderness around Sep 21, and the four days to aim for are Sep 20 to 23.
Where is the best fall color at Uncompahgre Wilderness right now?: On Nov 9 the wilderness is leaves down. The last band to peak was 9,000 to 10,000 feet, around Sep 29.
How long does peak last at Uncompahgre Wilderness?: About four days at the top, Sep 20 to 23, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the wilderness's elevations the color moves over about 10 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 14 days.
Is Uncompahgre Wilderness past peak?: Yes. Peak was around Sep 21, and on Nov 9 it's leaves down.
What trees turn color at Uncompahgre 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

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison and Lizard Head Wilderness and Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Weminuche Wilderness are on the map above, with their own date.

Molas Pass National Recreation AreaCO · about 27 miles
Peak Oct 3 best Oct 2 to 5
San Juan National ForestCO · about 42 miles
Peak Oct 13 best Oct 12 to 15

Fall color roads near Uncompahgre Wilderness

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

Owl Creek Pass · about 8 miles, CO · 25 miles of road
Ridgway to Silver Jack Reservoir on gravel, aspen under Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain.
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 23 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.
Last Dollar Road · about 24 miles, CO · 18 miles of road
Telluride to Ridgway on gravel through the aspen under the Sneffels Range.
Kebler Pass Road (County Road 12) · about 56 miles, CO · 30 miles of road
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.
Wolf Creek Pass (US 160) · about 57 miles, CO · 38 miles of road
South Fork to Pagosa Springs, aspen on the west side of the pass.