Aspen Leaf Peeping (Denver: neighborhood, garden, activities)

[JrzDefector]

So my best friend is getting here from the East Coast right around Halloween. Will the aspens still be nice and golden then? (And any other "seasonally appropriate" ideas about what we should do the long weekend she will be visiting?)

Thanks!

[Snikt]

Maybe *some* but pretty much gone that late

[Neditate]

If you are asking about Denver proper, I am not sure. There may still be a little color left but there really are not a lot of aspen in the city. Aspen don't thrive in the lower and hotter elevations. At higher elevations the leaves start turning around the middle of September and last through the first week of October (sometimes a little later if we're lucky and weather cooperates). You won't see any golden aspen trees in late October in the mountains.

You can check this website before your trip: Colorado State Parks

[denverian]

We have a fair number of Aspens in our neighborhood, but they really don't turn very yellow. They look good all Summer though. Last Halloween we still had decent tree color on Halloween, but two Halloweens ago, we had hardly any color at all and trees were bare by Halloween. You just never know as October weather is all over the place.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by JrzDefector

So my best friend is getting here from the East Coast right around Halloween. Will the aspens still be nice and golden then? (And any other "seasonally appropriate" ideas about what we should do the long weekend she will be visiting?)

Thanks!

You will miss it. Fall color comes much earlier to the Rockies than most other places in the country. You can stalk the foliage sites and watch the news closely for exact peak but the span is generally the last two weeks in Sept through he first week of Oct.

They should be updating this page with 2011 info soon I imagine: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/colors

[JrzDefector]

Shoot! I thought we might catch the tail end of it if we drove out into the mountains. Any other ideas for fun fall activities in Denver and the surrounding area?

Thanks for the information!

[Snikt]

Pumpkin Spice Latte, one of the best things about fall

[woob]

the mountains in october can be icy and snowy so be prepared if you go hiking. you could even go skiing at abasin or loveland pass. i would suggest checking out the lower elevation foothills, especially around red rocks.

[JrzDefector]

@woob, good to know. She is not a winter fan (she's coming out here on business). We'll stick to Red Rocks and Garden of the Gods most likely, based on your statements. Maybe a quick trip to some of the lower elevation parks. Thanks!

@Snikt, no doubt. She'll love that.

[WhereTheSidewalkEnds]

Going to a corn maze is a great fall activity. Lots of fun in the dark especially.