Your Ultimate Guide To Aspen Colorado In The Fall

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Driving into Aspen, I couldn’t help but audibly gasp at the scenery surrounding us. The hills were filled with golden aspen trees and the mountains rose up around us, cradling us in their golden grasp.

As we drove through town, I was a goner. “Should we move here??” I excitedly asked my travel partner, Kelsey. The cute little mountain town had grabbed my heart, and it had only taken it 10 minutes.

The town of Aspen is a special place, and during the Fall it comes alive like no other time of year. In this blog post I will go over everything you need to know to have the best trip to Aspen Colorado in the Fall!

Table of Contents:

1. Where Is Aspen, CO?

2. How To Get To Aspen

3. What is the best month to visit Aspen

4. Where to stay in Aspen Colorado In The Fall

5. What to wear in Aspen in the Fall

5. Aspen CO Map

6. Best Locations To See Fall Colors In Aspen

6. Things to do in Aspen Fall 

Disclaimer: This blog post does have affiliate links in it- if you buy through any of the links I get a little kickback- at no extra cost to you!

Where is Aspen, CO located?

Aspen, Colorado is located Southwest of Denver, CO about a 3.5 hour drive away. This cute ski town is nestled in the heart of the White River National Forest and surrounded by the Elk Mountains.

Aspen is best known as a Winter destination for skiing but it is truly a beautiful destination in all seasons!

How To Get To Aspen Colorado In The Fall

There are a couple options you can take when traveling to Aspen, Colorado. If you are coming from out of state you will want to fly into Denver, CO OR you can fly directly into Aspen’s smaller airport (ASE) which is only 3 miles from town.

From here you can rent a car (I love using Discover Cars!) and then road trip to and around Aspen!

I would highly recommend renting a car to get around Aspen at is going to be next to impossible to really enjoy all that this area has to offer without one.

 What is the best month to visit Aspen? 

Aspen is best known for being a Winter destination because of it’s four ski mountains that make up the world-renowned Aspen Snowmass resort.

Many people would say the Winter months (December- February) are the best months to visit Aspen as it is truly a Winter wonderland. I, on the other hand, would highly recommend October!

Since the mountains here are filled with gorgeous Aspen trees (hence the name!) the scenery truly comes alive in the Fall. It also is a slower time in Aspen so you will have an easier time finding affordable hotels and the town is filled with locals rather than crowds of tourists.

Honestly though, I think you really can’t go wrong vising Aspen in the Winter, Fall or Summer! There are ton’s of things to do in every season, it really just depends on what you are looking for.

Is Aspen Worth Visiting in the Fall?

100% Yes! Aspen is STUNNING in the Fall. In October the leaves turn a gorgeous gold, covering the mountains and hillsides in this brilliant display of color.

The town is quieter, the wildlife is out and roaming around and you can still access many of the best hikes! There really is nothing quite like Aspen Colorado in the Fall.

The Best Time To See Fall Colors in Aspen, Colorado

Early- Mid October is generally the best time to see Fall Colors in Aspen Colorado!

This will change a bit each year, the peak time varying depending on weather so I would keep an eye on color reports. Generally though, the leaves will begin changing around late September and stay through October!

Where to stay in Aspen Colorado In The Fall

When visiting Aspen, Colorado there is a great variety of places to stay! You can find high end luxury resorts, as well as cute Inn’s- it really depends on your style and budget!

Top Accommodations:

The Inn at Aspen ($$) This lovely hotel is located right outside of the town of Aspen right next to the Buttermilk Mountain. They have a fitness center, gorgeous views, a heated pool and hot tub as well as outdoor fireplaces. I stayed here while visiting and it was perfect!

Tyrolean Lodge, Aspen ($$) Centrally located on Aspen’s main street is this cute hotel. It is designed for budget-conscious travelers and each room has it’s own kitchenette. This is a great lodging option for those looking to save a bit of money!

St Regis, Aspen: ($$$) Looking to experience Aspen in style? The St. Regis Aspen Resort is just that! It is a stunning luxury hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain. Here you can enjoy world class skiing as well as easy access to the downtown area. The hotel also features a spa and gorgeous, elegant design.

The Sky Residence at W Aspen ($$$$) The absolute best Aspen has to offer, this hotel features stunning, multi bedroom, suites all designed in 70’s decadence. This hotel has stunning views of the surrounding mountains as well as a private rooftop lounge.

What To Wear In Aspen Colorado In Fall

Aspen, Colorado Map

 Best Locations To See Fall Colors in Aspen Colorado

While exploring Aspen Colorado in the Fall, one of the top thing’s on your must-do list is go out and see the stunning Fall foliage.

The best places to see Fall colors in Aspen include:

– The Maroon Bells

– Maroon Creek Road

– Castle Creek Road

– Independence Pass

– The Gondola up to the top of Aspen Mountain

9 Things to do in Aspen Colorado In The Fall

1. Go Hiking In The Rocky Mountains

 One of the best way’s to experience Aspen Colorado in the Fall is on foot! Situated right in the heart of the Elk Mountains there are TONS of stunning trails for you to get out and explore.

This time of year, the air is crisp, the foliage is golden and the peaks have a light dusting of snow- making for gorgeous strolls through the forest or up into the high mountains.

Make sure to download an offline map for your adventure- I personally trust All Trails!

Some of the best trails to explore are:

– Cathedral Lake (moderate): This is the trail we did (pictured above!) The lake is gorgeous and the entire trail was really scenic. You can find more trail information here.

– Conundrum Hot Springs (moderate): What better of a reward than a natural hot springs with a gorgeous valley view?! Find more trail information here.

– Rio Grande Trail (easy): Right outside of the town of Aspen you can find this gorgeous trail that follows along the river. This easy, paved trail is perfect for those looking for a nice easy stroll from town. Find a trail map and info here.

– Red Butte Trail (easy) : A short hike leads you to 360 degree views of the Aspen Valley and Independence Pass. This is a great, easy option for getting outdoors! Find more trail information here.

–Grizzly Lake (moderate): A moderate hike that takes you to a gorgeous alpine lake! Find more trail information here.

READ MORE: What To Wear Hiking In The Fall– A Beginners Guide

2. Take A Scenic Drive Up Independence Pass

One of the best drives to take to see fall colors in Colorado is Independence Pass! This pass is apart of the Colorado State Highway 82 and passes over the Continental Divide between Leadville and Aspen.

The road is around 32 miles long and the drive can take anywhere from 45mins- 1.5 hours depending on the amount of stops you make.

The road follows the Roaring Fork river and makes it way through some gorgeous groves of aspens. We spent a few days driving this pass and stopping to take pictures in the aspens!

If you are feeling adventurous, you can also road bike this pass.

Some great stops to make are:

– The Grottos: A beautiful area for exploring! With a waterfall, an ice cave and short trails this is a great spot to pull off and have lunch.

– Ruby: This little town is an abandoned mining camp! You have to have a 4wd vehicle to make it all the way to the town but it seems like an awesome adventure.

– Lost Man Trail: A great hike with easy access to meadows and lakes. Here you will find gorgeous views and a network of trails that lead you around this gorgeous area. Find more trail information here.

Check Out My Colorado Wall Art!

3. Photograph The Maroon Bells

The most photographed mountains in North America- The Maroon Bell’s in Aspen, Colorado!

To explore the Maroon Bells you will need a reservation from May- November. You can reserve a parking reservation or shuttle reservation for a day or night option.

If you find that the reservations are sold out you can also try your luck at a day of, walk up tickets.

From my experience, these reservations do go quickly, especially in the Fall and we unfortunately were not able to get any (shout out to the photographers from Unsplash for letting me use their images in this blog!)

If you do manage to get reservations here are some wonderful things to do:

Go Hiking- there are 6 trails you can follow here that will take you through beautiful meadows and along the beautiful Maroon Lake!

Take Photos– Maroon Lake is one of the best spots for photography, and the best time for it will be at sunrise. In fact, according to this blog, you want to be there far before sunrise to set up your tripod and get a good spot!

Sunrise is best as you will get light on the mountain peaks. During sunset the sun will be behind the peaks making it difficult to photograph.

Go Camping– If you are lucky and you visit Aspen in the first weeks of October you can get camping reservations at one of three campgrounds in the Maroon Bells Wilderness!

Learn more by going to this post by the Aspen Chamber of Commerce!

4. Explore The Town of Aspen, Colorado

If you plan on visiting Aspen Colorado in the Fall, you can’t leave without spending a day exploring Aspen’s cute downtown! 

Grab a coffee in the morning and take a stroll through the cute mountain town of Aspen. Here you will find luxury shopping options, antique stores, art galleries, cute bookstores and adorable boutiques!

On Saturday morning’s through October 8th you can also browse the local market!

There are also some wonderful restaurants and night life options to check out. You can find everything from fondue (pretend your in Switzerland for the night!) to family friendly restaurants to craft cocktail bars!

The understated luxury of this mountain town is the perfect compliment to the gorgeous scenery that surrounds it and is a big part of why I loved Aspen so much!

5. Biking In Aspen

Biking in Aspen looks like an absolute dream! Whether you are a road biker or mountain biker there is something here for you.

With more than 50 miles of paved bike trails and beautiful highways the road biker in you will be stoked! You can find some great road biking options here.

If you are more of a mountain biker, no worries, Aspen has you covered! With over 50 miles of cross country trails here there are some awesome trails for all levels. You can even get tickets to the Snowmass Bike Park where you can find 25 miles of trails! Find more information here.

If you didn’t bring your bike along with you, no worries- you can rent one! Check out this page to find the best spot for bike rentals in Aspen.

6. Go Paragliding

If you want to experience Fall in Aspen Colorado in a way that few ever will you can book a trip to go paragliding! Paragliding is a great way to get above the mountains in Aspen and to have a truly memorable trip.

I personally wish I could have gone paragliding when I was in Aspen! Floating above the endless gold of the aspen trees and looking across to the mountains sounds like an absolute dream! You can book a tandem paraglide with Aspen Paragliding.

7. Go Rock Climbing

Craving adventure? Head out on a rock climbing tour! Aspen has some gorgeous rock climbing and views!

If you have your own gear you can head out on your own but if you are just looking to try it out you can hire a guide to take you out on a 4 or 6 hour climb!

This is a great option for those who have no prior experience and want to challenge themselves to try something new.

8. Take A Gondola Ride

One way to get high above the valley is to hop on the Aspen Mountain Gondola and head to the peak of Aspen Mountain! At 11,212 ft high a trip to the top of the mountain is a great way to see the surrounding scenery and spend a great day. 

At the top of the mountain you can find great restaurants and beautiful views! Unfortunately this is only available in September during the Fall.

You can find more information here. 

9. Explore A Ghost Town

Get in the spirit of October and embrace your festive side with a trip to a ghost town!

Surprisingly, there are actually a number of ghost towns surrounding Aspen. Most of them are abandoned mining towns and are perfect places to explore as well as great locations to see Fall foliage! 

Ghost towns to explore:

Ashcroft Ghost Town: Located 11 miles up Castle Creek Road (a great place to see Fall foliage!

Independence Ghost Town: Located on Independence Pass this ghost town is one of the first mining sites in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Ruby: Another ghost town located off of Independence Pass! This abandoned mining town required a 4wd vehicle to get there but is worth the excursion!

Conclusion

Aspen Colorado in the Fall is a spectacular sight and a great place to spend a weekend (or entire week!) You can find so many adventures here it will be hard to fit them all in!

I hope this blog post helped you when planning your trip to Aspen Colorado! I would love to hear from you if you do end up exploring Aspen in the Fall.

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