Where is the best fall color at West Elk Wilderness right now?

On Nov 13 the wilderness is leaves down. The last band to peak was 7,000 to 8,000 feet, around Oct 9.

How long does peak last at West Elk Wilderness?

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 wilderness's elevations the color moves over about 17 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 21 days.

Is West Elk Wilderness past peak?

Yes. Peak was around Oct 4, and on Nov 13 it's leaves down.

What trees turn color at West Elk Wilderness?

Quaking aspen is 97 percent of the trees that turn here, then Gambel oak (3 percent). Quaking aspen turns yellow or gold; Gambel oak turns red.

Back to the map

Wilderness Area·Colorado·176,431 acres

West Elk Wilderness

Forecast issued Nov 12, 5:26pm ET

Peak colorOct 4Aim for Oct 3 to 6

In the wilderness today, Nov 13Leaves down

Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.

2 reports came in from Gunnison County this week, 1 of them past peak. They moved our date 7 days later. See the county on the map.

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

Around West Elk Wilderness Nearly all of the wilderness is in Gunnison County, which is leaves down today.

When is peak fall foliage at West Elk Wilderness in 2026?

Our forecast puts peak color at West Elk Wilderness around Oct 4, and the four days to aim for are Oct 3 to 6.

The wilderness runs from about 7,938 to 11,565 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 17 days: the high stands around Sep 22, the low ground around Oct 9. That's 4 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.

West Elk 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	9,000 to 10,000 ft, 10,000 to 11,000 ft, 11,000 to 12,000 ft
Sep 28 to Oct 4	Peak color	8,000 to 9,000 ft
Oct 5 to Oct 11	Peak color	7,000 to 8,000 ft
Oct 12 to Oct 18	Just past peak
Oct 19 to Oct 25	Fading

By elevation The wilderness runs from about 7,938 to 11,565 feet. That’s 17 days of season between the top and the bottom: the high stands peak around Sep 22, the low ground holds until about Oct 9, and the color comes downhill in between. The date at the top of this page is the 8,000 to 9,000 foot band.

11,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2215%
10,000–11,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2130%
9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2731%
8,000–9,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 318%
7,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 96%

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.

Today from the snodgrass3 camera, 19 km from West Elk Wilderness — See it now PhenoCam Network, SNOD-MA camera, 19 km away, captured Nov 12.

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

Friday, November 13 to Saturday, November 14

You’ll find it with the leaves down.

Peak color was 41 days before you arrive, around Oct 4.

11,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 22
10,000–11,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 21
9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 27
8,000–9,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 3

Where to drive: Kebler Pass Road (County Road 12), along the wilderness
What turns: quaking aspen, Gambel oak

What turns, and when

quaking aspen97%
Gambel oak3%

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 West Elk Wilderness

When is peak fall foliage at West Elk Wilderness?: Our forecast puts peak color at West Elk Wilderness around Oct 4, and the four days to aim for are Oct 3 to 6.
Where is the best fall color at West Elk Wilderness right now?: On Nov 13 the wilderness is leaves down. The last band to peak was 7,000 to 8,000 feet, around Oct 9.
How long does peak last at West Elk Wilderness?: 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 wilderness's elevations the color moves over about 17 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 21 days.
Is West Elk Wilderness past peak?: Yes. Peak was around Oct 4, and on Nov 13 it's leaves down.
What trees turn color at West Elk Wilderness?: Quaking aspen is 97 percent of the trees that turn here, then Gambel oak (3 percent). Quaking aspen turns yellow or gold; Gambel oak turns 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

All of Colorado

Nearby, and when they turn

Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and Fossil Ridge Wilderness are on the map above, with their own date.

Uncompahgre WildernessCO · about 44 miles
Peak Sep 21 best Sep 20 to 23
Collegiate Peaks WildernessCO · about 45 miles
Peak Sep 22 best Sep 21 to 24

Fall color roads near West Elk Wilderness

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

Kebler Pass Road (County Road 12) · along the wilderness, 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.
McClure Pass (CO 133) · about 28 miles, CO · 37 miles of road
Carbondale to Paonia through the Crystal River aspen, with Chair Mountain over the pass.
Maroon Creek Road · about 31 miles, CO · 10 miles of road
The Maroon Bells over a lake ringed with aspen. Shuttle only during the season.
Owl Creek Pass · about 39 miles, CO · 25 miles of road
Ridgway to Silver Jack Reservoir on gravel, aspen under Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain.
Independence Pass (CO 82) · about 46 miles, CO · 32 miles of road
Aspen to Twin Lakes up the Roaring Fork. The pass closes for the winter around the first of November.
Cottonwood Pass (CO 306) · about 47 miles, CO · 40 miles of road
Buena Vista to Taylor Park, with the aspen on the east side of the pass.