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Forums · RMNP

Where to go the last week of October

Discussion

12 replies
Posted by Tien-Chien Chen on September 15, 2009 at 1:25 AM
I might take a couple days off the last week of October. Is there any place that I can go and still see fall colors? Smoky mountain seems like a good option but I'd prefer to go somewhere closer (say 2 hours of flight from Denver, like Zion?)..

Thanks a lot!
Tien-Chien
Posted by Bob Falcone on September 15, 2009 at 2:46 AM
Good question! I'll be in Vail for a conference the weekend of the 22nd-25th and was planning on spending a few extra days there,so I'd be interested in anything there during the last week in October.
Posted by John Mumaw on September 15, 2009 at 7:40 AM
Zion!
Also, the cottonwood trees in Canyon de Chelly may be at their peak right around then.
Posted by Phillip Noll on September 15, 2009 at 9:09 AM
Zion should be nice.

Another option is Guadalupe Mountains National Park. We had exceptional color last year over Halloween. You could fly in to El Paso and rent a car.

Good luck!
Posted by bill meikle on September 15, 2009 at 9:23 AM
I'm going to Scotland, hopefully there will still be some colour left.
Posted by Jackson Frishman on September 15, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Southern New Mexico has some good secret spots.
Posted by Joe Rogers on September 15, 2009 at 10:57 AM
The Buffalo National River in the Ozarks is beautiful........however.....check the the Central States forum for best timing...
Joe Rogers
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on September 15, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Definitely Zion for the last week of October.
Posted by Art Escobado on September 15, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Another vote for Zion!
Posted by Jim Greenwood on September 15, 2009 at 9:04 PM
I've been to Zion the past four years in the very late October to middle November time frame, and will be there again this year. My experience has been that the autumn colors peak in late October at the higher elevation areas such as east Zion (east of the tunnel along Route 9) and the Kolob Canyons and the Kolob Plateau. However, in Zion Canyon along the Virgin River and other low elevation areas, the color doesn't typically peak until towards the end of the first week in November. But I'd definitely recommend Zion in either case (or both cases).
Posted by Paul Beiser on September 15, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Yosemite!!
Posted by Tien-Chien Chen on September 16, 2009 at 2:46 AM
Thanks a lot guys! Sounds like Zion will be very top on my list!
Posted by Kurt Rinne on September 17, 2009 at 1:38 AM
I'm also planning a return trip to Zion, last year I was out there and did the narrows hike with Kalin and Stan. This was over Halloween wknd and I think we missed the colors by a week. Hoping to try the Subway hike this year, still not settled on the dates. I’m hoping I can find some reports of how the colors are doing as we get into October and make a decision on which wknd to head out there.