When the aspens peak
Around Ouray, peak color usually runs from mid-September into early October. Higher stands turn first, then the color works its way down the valleys. Most places hold their color for only about a week, so the exact dates move around every year with the weather.
In the wider San Juans, color usually starts mid-September near Silverton and finishes early to mid-October around Pagosa Springs and Durango. The Forest Service posts a fall-color report during the season.
Drives worth it
- Last Dollar Road. A dirt back road from near Ridgway toward Telluride that the Forest Service calls a popular fall-color drive. Bring high clearance, and skip it when it's wet. (source)
- Dallas Divide (Highway 62). Paved, west of Ridgway, with aspen groves under the Sneffels Range. The classic photo stop. (source)
- Owl Creek Pass. A gravel pass east of Ridgway under Chimney Rock. It reopened on September 15, 2026 after the Gold Mountain Fire closures. (source)
- The Million Dollar Highway (US 550). Ridgway through Ouray to Silverton, paved the whole way. (source)
- The San Juan Skyway loop. About 236 miles, so you can catch several stages of color in one long day. (source)
Beat the crowds. Last Dollar Road and Dallas Divide get busy on late-September weekends, and photographers line up at Dallas Divide at sunrise. Go on a weekday or early in the morning.