'Mr. Aspen' explains what to expect and when to see peak 2026 fall colors

Reporting by Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan

Peak fall color is taking place now or soon in many areas of the state, but don’t expect the show to be as spectacular as the last couple of years.

Colorado State Forest Service entomologist Dan West, also known as “Mr. Aspen” because of his annual fall foliage forecast, told the Coloradoan the state’s severe drought is stressing aspen in many areas and gave his peak viewing times.

“I’m finding the colors are not as vibrant as in years past because of the drought but there is still a good show in some areas,” West told the Coloradoan. “Peak viewing might be a bit early in some areas but in others is still right on time.”

West said many aspen trees are showing signs of drought, including less vibrancy in color, brown margins on leaves, leaves falling without changing color and inconsistent color within aspen groves or clones.

Fall colors a mixed bag in Colorado due to the drought

West said his observations indicate the best aspen show will be in the northern part of the state because it hasn’t been as impacted by the drought as other parts of the state.

He said the popular Interstate 70 corridor and U.S. Highway 285 areas in the central mountains have been severely impacted by drought.

“The Steamboat area, Colorado Highway 14 (Poudre Canyon) and Rocky Mountain National Park are the least impacted by the drought,” West said. “The farther south and west you go, the worse it gets.”

Here are peak fall color viewing times in Colorado, according to Mr. Aspen

Generally, higher-elevation color changes sooner with lower-elevation color changing later. Viewing will be hit-or-miss in areas as aspen respond to the drought.

Here are peak viewing time predictions by West and the State Forest Service:

Northern Colorado: Peak color is underway in some areas and should continue into late September and possibly through early October. West believes the third week of September will be peak. Colors are not as vibrant but pockets of color can be found.
Central mountains: Mid- to late September. This area has been hardest hit by the drought. Expect very spotty viewing.
Southern Colorado and San Juan Mountains: Peak color has started in some areas with color expected to continue through September and maybe into early October.
Foothills and Front Range, 8,000 feet and below: Mid-September to early October. West said the upper Poudre Canyon along Colorado Highway 14 should offer good viewing.

Best fall color drives in Northern Colorado

Peak to Peak Highway: This drive on Colorado Highway 7 from Estes Park to Central City/Black Hawk takes you along the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park and offers excellent viewing.
Buckhorn Canyon/Soule Park loop: One of the more popular and closest aspen viewing drives to Fort Collins includes a loop consisting of Buckhorn Road (Larimer County Road 44H), Larimer County Road 63 (the road to Soule Park, formerly called Pingree Park), Colorado Highway 14, Larimer County Road 27 (Stove Prairie Road) and Rist Canyon Road (Larimer County Road 52E).
Upper Poudre Canyon: The Cameron Peak Fire burned much of this area, but many aspen in the stretch from Rustic to Cameron Pass have grown back and though shorter can offer a colorful show along Colorado Highway 14. The aspen viewing picks up around Rustic toward Cameron Pass, in the Gould area and all the way to North Park. Take a side drive on Long Draw Road for more aspen, and moose, viewing.
Rocky Mountain National Park: A good loop drive is to take the slower (and less crowded) gravel Fall River Road up and take the paved (and more crowded) Trail Ridge Road down. A Coloradoan reporter drove this route Sept. 18 and it showed spotty color with the best show around the Rainbow Curve area. Bear Lake Road also generally puts on a good show. Depending on what time of day you drive here, you might need a timed entry permit reservation.
Colorado State Forest State Park: Aspen abound around the Moose Visitor Center and in the 71,000-acre state park 70 miles west of Fort Collins.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan.