Colorado Fall trip

Heya guys. I was wondering if I could get a little bit of help in regards to planning for some good fall color in the Rockies. I need best typical time frame to go and what resources yall use to hit it at peak. Also, any books/guide books for photographing the Rockies in Fall you'd recommend.

thanks
Jeremy

Hi, Jeremy.

Simple answer to every and any question about Colorado photography: Contact Todd Caudle. He's in the RM forum.

Hi Jeremy, if you post this in the RMNP forum, I'm sure you'll get a ton of info. But in a nutshell, prime time is typically the last week of September and the first in October, though there is certainly also color to be found outside that time frame. The really classic hot spots are around Telluride and Ridgway in the southwestern part of the state, and the Kebler Pass area near Crested Butte. But there are good aspen stands to be had in most parts of Colorado that have mountains (and in northern New Mexico as well).

As for resources, the RMNP forum is one of the best you'll find! There's already a thread for color updates stickied at the top. I'm sure there are guidebooks and such out there too, but someone else will have to point you towards those.

I would recommend a note over in the RMNP forum as well.

You'll definitely get a response focused on Maroon Bells, Kebler, Ouray and Telluride but there is alot more to fall photography in this state than those three locations and the aspen tree.

First off, there is a significant amount of color in the canyons consisting of cherry and maple and oak. In many areas cottonwoods also produce good fall color at lower altitude.

Second, there are aspen trees all over the mountainous regions of the state. It just happens that the three areas mentioned attract alot of attention because of their combination of good stands of aspen with excellent scenic backdrops.

The typical peak time is late September through the first week of October for aspen, but early storms can strip the trees early as was the case last year. In the case that the Aspens are a lost cause, you can try the canyons, especially in the front range which can offer more protection for the fall colors to run later.

Mel is absolutely right--but his advice is geared maybe towards a Colorado resident who is looking to shoot something different than the Maroon Bells for the upteenth time. I assume you want classic Colorado color, in which case the answer is quite simple: you start in the Sawatch, you work your way over to the Elks, and you end in the San Juans. Look at any road map and you'll see the obvious loop. Course, everyone and their cousin Louie will be there (last year i counted several world reknown photogs leading tours near Crested Butte). If you want hidden gems, you're gonna have to start emailing folks. But really, hidden gems require lots of time, patience and local familiarity/knowlege to work well--i think you are better off doing 'classic' (thats probably what im gonnna do this month! )
Oh--as to peak color, i am partial to going early for two reasons: 1) one storm can wreck the color 2) I like a mix of green with the yellow. So i prefer Sept 17-24, even though peak generally is Sept 24- Oct 7 depending on area/altitude etc. The one advantage of later (which is a big advantage, and worth the risk if you have time to work with) is that it is more likely the peaks will be snow covered after Sept 30.

I had bookmarked this article given in a response when another person had inquired.
http://mycolorado.org/fall_drives.html