Fall colors

[BlasterBob]

While my Urologist was performing a Cystoscopy on me last week, he asked me about taking a train ride from Durango to ?? (I forgot where). His question was - when is the best month/week this coming Fall to see the Fall colors up around Durango area.
Yeah, now some wise ass will most likely tell me "in the Fall". Well with all the moisture this year, I am wondering if early October may be the prime time to view these Fall colors?? I have to see this Doc this coming Tuesday so hope to get a good answer by tomorrow night. Thanks.

[ray1970]

Sounds like your urologist is a bit chatty. Might be time to look for another one. [Coffee]

[hatidua]

Durango to Silverton.

Better to be a little too late than too early and I doubt anyone has a crystal ball that will peg the exact week with any degree of certainty this far out - one windy day can strip a lot of trees. I'd go the third week in Oct if I was a betting sort but that has more to do with my having driven all the way down there only to be early a couple of times and it's just too far for me to take that gamble again, I'd rather be one week late than a day early.

[Firehaus]

This is last years page for reference. If it stays really wet and IF the wind stays down, the fall colors should last longer.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/sanjuan/home/?cid=stelprdb5389668


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[Irving]

Consult the Farmer's Almanac?

[theGinsue]

I hunt down by South Fork, CO which is due East of Durango (over Wolf Creek Pass). By the third week of October most of the transition is done and most leaves have fallen. I'd hazard a guess that the best time would be the end of September/start of October.

Every year the wife and I go to RMNP up @ Estes Park in the middle of September. The leaves are usually transitioning at that point.

[Irving]

^^^ Good point. Hunting last year on this side of the divide the leaves were changing during the second or third week of September.

[BlasterBob]

Sounds like your urologist is a bit chatty. Might be time to look for another one. [Coffee]

I really don't feel that one quick question at the very end of the procedure makes the Doc appear "chatty". This question may have been made to kinda relax me somewhat to get my mind off the fact that there was a tube, light and camera shoved up my old peter to check out the condition of my bladder. Thanks.

[Bailey Guns]

This question may have been made to kinda relax me somewhat to get my mind off the fact that there was a tube, light and camera shoved up my old peter to check out the condition of my bladder. Thanks.

Damn...that made me laugh! Sorry, BB...I feel guilty for laughing but that was pretty funny.

[BPTactical]

Every year the wife and I go to RMNP up @ Estes Park in the middle of September. The leaves are usually transitioning at that point.

Wifey and I usually roll up the 3rd week of September. We should meet for dinner Thomas.

Keep in mind latitude plays a role, by the 3rd week in September the leaves in Jellystone are usually on the ground whereas in RMNP they are hitting well, Durango is still probably a week or two out yet.

Make sure he places his reservations soon, it books early and fast, heck he might even be too late for this year.

[The Norseman]

Colors usually get going last of September and peak early second week of October (plus or minus). Some years are much better than others. Don't book a round trip on the train as that is a forever event. Get someone to meet the train in Silverton and drive back to Durango. That would be my advice.

Norseman

[rondog]

Make sure he places his reservations soon, it books early and fast, heck he might even be too late for this year.

^THIS!^ Most definitely! That choo-choo is very popular, and tickets can be hard to get. I highly recommend taking warm clothing (it can get quite chilly), water and snacks. Seriously. Be prepared to keep warm, hydrated and fed.

[kidicarus13]

It changes slightly every year. Check the Denver Post around the beginning of October and they usually have a calendar with a more accurate estimation. Guessing now without knowing all of the variables from now until October will not produce the best results.

[kidicarus13]

http://lifehacker.com/this-interactive-map-predicts-peak-fall-foliage-times-i-1728275759

[roberth]

I was hiking last weekend near Frisco and some of the aspen had already started turning, there were golden leaves laying on the trail.

[Ah Pook]

Just starting to see color at 8500'.

[ray1970]

Going to be up at Copper Mountain this weekend. I'll report on foliage when I get back.

[tmjohnson]

Third week and fourth week of September is generally the peak of the season.
Hwy 165 from Colorado City to Westcliffe then over to Hwy 50 on the Arkansas is a very pretty drive in the fall

[hurley842002]

Took a drive up Guanella pass today, and they are already changing!

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/07/ea42e7c1b412b7fdfd36cdc510bd057a.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/07/b9c5e3b918cd8059a880f2bbb4422cef.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/07/6d8ec16c36983c9965610584320eec87.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/07/322585d5dee1f858e29d4ed7f893a726.jpg

[MarkCO]

There are starting to change in South Park as well. Not consistent, and smaller grooves vs. the large mature ones. Looks to me like it might be a week to 10 days earlier than normal. Looks a bit less than the photos above. The deer and elk sure look fat and sassy this year. :)

[ray1970]

Everything is still nice and green up near Copper Mountain.

[Ah Pook]

Expecting the leaf peepers around the end of Sept.

[NFATrustGuy]

I took this picture about 10 days ago near Gould, CO. It's east of Walden just before you head up the hill towards Cameron Pass and the Poudre canyon.

I picked up the new motorcycle about 6 weeks ago and have enjoyed a few rides over Trail Ridge and a trip to Mt. Evans and back so far. It's a nice time of year to ride. I just started thinking about getting down towards Durango in the next few weeks to see the colors so this thread will be on my watch list.

http://www.woodardfamily.com/nc700/sbs082815/aspens.jpg