23 Best Places To Visit In Colorado In Fall

Fall is one of the best times to explore Colorado. Between mountain towns surrounded by golden aspens, scenic drives, hot springs, and cities full of seasonal events, there are a surprising number of places worth visiting.

I’ve lived in Colorado for more than 20 years and have visited nearly every destination on this list, many of them multiple times. I can confidently confirm, fall is easily one of the prettiest times of year here.

The best place to visit, however, really depends on what kind of trip you want and when exactly you’re visiting. You could spend a weekend chasing fall colors through the mountains, relax in a hot spring, or base yourself in a larger city to mix outdoor adventures with restaurants, museums, sporting events, and fall festivities.

Below are some of the best places to visit in Colorado in fall, including some of the state’s most famous leaf peeping destinations along with a few less obvious options.

A quick note about fall colors: Colorado’s fall colors change at different times depending on elevation and exact location. The high country generally starts changing in September, with many mountain destinations seeing their best color from mid-September into very early October. Lower elevations, including the Front Range cities, typically change later in October. Exact timing varies every year.

Best Places To Visit In Colorado In Fall

Crested Butte

Colorful mountain town surrounded by some of Colorado’s best fall foliage | ~4 – 4.5 hours from Denver

Crested Butte is one of my favorite places in Colorado during fall. The small mountain town is surrounded by huge aspen groves, with Kebler Pass being the most popular place to see them. The scenic drive passes through miles of changing aspens, with mountain views, hiking trails, and plenty of places to stop along the way.

There’s a lot more to do around Crested Butte too. You can drive Ohio Pass or Gothic Road, hike or mountain bike, then spend some time exploring town. Downtown Crested Butte is small and colorful, with historic buildings, local shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars centered around Elk Avenue.

Compared to some of Colorado’s larger resort towns, Crested Butte feels a little more tucked away and laid back. It’s a great choice if you want a fall trip with tons of outdoor access but still want a fun mountain town to come back to at the end of the day.

Where To Stay: Stay in downtown Crested Butte if you want to be within walking distance of restaurants and shops. Mt. Crested Butte, about 10 minutes away, has more resort-style accommodations and easy access to the mountain.

Getting Here: Crested Butte is about a 4 to 4.5 hour drive from Denver. The closest airport is Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, about 30 minutes away.

Aspen

Iconic fall scenery, an upscale downtown & plenty to do | ~3.5 – 4 hours from Denver

Aspen and Crested Butte actually sit fairly close to each other as the crow flies, separated by the Elk Mountains, so it’s no surprise that Aspen also has some incredible fall colors. But Aspen offers a very different experience. It’s much more built up and upscale, with a walkable downtown full of a wide variety of restaurants, shopping, galleries, and museums.

This makes Aspen a great fall destination if you want to mix time outdoors with plenty to do around town. Maroon Bells is the most well known place to see the fall colors, and while it’s famous for good reason, it’s far from the only option. You can hike among the changing aspens, explore Ashcroft Ghost Town, or head up Independence Pass for even more mountain scenery.

These are just a few ideas. I cover a lot more in my Things To Do In Aspen In Fall guide.

Where To Stay: Downtown Aspen is the most convenient place to stay if you want to walk to restaurants, shops, and attractions. There are tons of beautiful hotels here, ranging from smaller boutique properties to luxury resorts. Check out my Best Hotels In Aspen guide for more options.

Getting Here: Aspen is about a 3.5 to 4 hour drive from Denver. You can also fly directly into Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, just outside town.

Estes Park

Gateway to RMNP & one of the best places to see fall wildlife | ~1.5 hours from Denver

One of the biggest reasons to visit Estes Park in fall is the elk rut. Each year, large herds of elk gather around Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, and you’ll often hear the bulls bugling throughout the area. It’s one of the coolest wildlife experiences in Colorado.

Of course, you also have Rocky Mountain National Park right next door. Fall is a beautiful time for hiking and scenic drives in the park’s lower elevations, with changing aspens mixed among the evergreens and plenty of opportunities to see wildlife. I have a full Things To Do In RMNP In Fall guide if you’re planning to spend time inside the park.

Estes Park itself is also worth exploring. Downtown is walkable and packed with restaurants and shops, plus you’ve got river walks, the famous Stanley Hotel (supposedly haunted, and very popular for its ghost tours), and plenty of other things to do outside the national park. I cover more ideas in my Estes Park guides.

Where to stay: There are tons of places to stay around Estes Park, including riverside cabins, historic lodges, and locally owned hotels. I’ve rounded up my recommendations in Best Hotels In Estes Park.

Getting here: Estes Park is about 1.5 hours from Denver, making it one of the easiest mountain destinations on this list to reach.

Telluride

Historic mountain town surrounded by dramatic San Juan scenery | ~6.5 – 7 hours from Denver

Telluride is easily one of the most beautiful mountain towns in Colorado, especially in fall. The historic downtown sits at the end of a box canyon surrounded by steep mountains, waterfalls, and huge stretches of aspens. The town itself is pretty remote, but once you arrive, it’s an incredibly easy place to explore.

One of the fun things about Telluride is the free gondola connecting downtown with Mountain Village. The ride is beautiful any time of year, but especially when you’re looking down over changing aspens. There are also tons of hiking trails that start right from town, while nearby spots like Last Dollar Road, Trout Lake, and Lizard Head Pass give you even more ways to see the fall colors.

Downtown is compact and walkable, with restaurants, shops, bars, museums, and historic buildings. I have several Telluride guides with more ideas for planning your trip.

Where to stay: There’s a wide range of accommodations between Telluride and Mountain Village, from historic hotels and smaller inns to luxury resorts and vacation rentals. Check out my Best Hotels In Telluride guide for my recommendations.

Getting here: Telluride is about a 6.5 to 7 hour drive from Denver. You can also fly into Telluride Regional Airport or nearby Montrose Regional Airport.

Lake City

Remote mountain town with scenic drives, huge aspen groves & fewer crowds | ~4.5 – 5 hours from Denver

If you’re looking for somewhere a little quieter, Lake City is one of the best options. It’s a tiny, remote town tucked into the San Juan Mountains, surrounded by huge stretches of public land, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and some incredible fall scenery.

Driving is one of the best ways to explore the area in fall. The Silver Thread Scenic Byway passes right through Lake City, while Slumgullion Pass has sweeping mountain views and tons of aspens. Lake San Cristobal is also just outside town, and there are plenty of hiking trails and backroads if you want to spend more time outside.

Lake City itself is much smaller and less developed than most towns on this list. The historic downtown has a handful of restaurants, shops, and local businesses, but the main reason to come here is the surrounding scenery and easy outdoor access. If you want a Colorado fall trip that feels a little more off the beaten path, Lake City is a great choice. You can also find more places like this in my Underrated Colorado Mountain Towns guide.

Where to stay: Accommodations are fairly limited, with a mix of small hotels, cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals in and around town.

Getting here: Lake City is about a 4.5 to 5 hour drive from Denver. Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is the closest commercial airport, about 1.5 hours away.

Breckenridge

Popular mountain town with easy fall hikes, scenic drives & a lively downtown | ~1.5 – 2 hours from Denver

Breckenridge is one of the easiest places to plan a fall getaway in Colorado. It’s close to Denver, there’s a ton to do, and unlike some of the smaller towns on this list, you have a huge selection of restaurants, shops, bars, and places to stay right in town.

You also don’t have to venture far to see the fall colors. Boreas Pass is one of the most popular scenic drives in the area, winding through large aspen groves above town, and there are plenty of hiking and biking trails nearby. Aspen Alley is favorite if you want to get out among the changing trees.

Breckenridge’s historic Main Street is worth prioritizing too. It’s very walkable and packed with shops, restaurants, breweries, and colorful historic buildings. Overall, Breckenridge is a great choice if you want plenty of fall scenery without giving up the amenities of a larger resort town. You can find more ideas in my Breckenridge guides.

Where to stay: Breckenridge has one of the largest selections of accommodations on this list, including hotels, condos, vacation rentals, and luxury resorts. Check out my Best Hotels In Breckenridge guide for recommendations.

Getting here: Breckenridge is about a 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Denver, making it one of the easiest mountain towns on this list to reach.

Steamboat Springs

Fall colors, hot springs & a laid back mountain town | ~3 – 3.5 hours from Denver

Steamboat Springs is a great fall destination if you want to combine the changing leaves with hot springs. There are a few places to soak here, including Strawberry Park Hot Springs, which is one of the most famous hot springs in Colorado.

For fall colors, you’ve got a lot of options around town. Buffalo Pass is one of the best places to explore near town, with large aspen groves and plenty of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding along the way. You can also head toward Rabbit Ears Pass or stick to the trails closer to Steamboat.

The town itself is large but has a more relaxed, local feel than many of Colorado’s ski destinations. Downtown Steamboat sits along the Yampa River and has plenty of restaurants, shops, breweries, and coffee shops, perfect for an afternoon exploring town. Between the hot springs, outdoor activities, and everything going on around town, it’s an easy place to fill a fall weekend. I cover a lot more in my Steamboat Springs guides.

Where to stay: You can stay around downtown if you want easy access to restaurants and shops, or closer to the ski resort for more resort-style accommodations. Check out my Best Hotels In Steamboat Springs guide for my recommendations.

Getting here: Steamboat Springs is about a 3 to 3.5 hour drive from Denver. You can also fly into Yampa Valley Regional Airport, about 30 minutes outside town.

Grand Lake

Charming lake town with fall colors & easy access to RMNP | ~2 – 2.5 hours from Denver

Grand Lake has a different feel from most of the destinations on this list. The tiny mountain town sits right along its namesake lake, with a small, walkable downtown and Rocky Mountain National Park practically in its backyard.

Fall is especially beautiful here, when the aspens around the lake and surrounding mountains start changing. You can hike, kayak or paddleboard if the weather is warm enough, or head into the quieter west side of Rocky Mountain National Park for scenic drives, wildlife watching, and even more fall colors.

Grand Lake itself is small but super charming, with locally owned shops, restaurants, and a boardwalk running through downtown. It’s a great choice if you want a quieter mountain getaway where you can mix time at the lake with exploring the national park. I have several Grand Lake guides with more ideas for your trip.

Where to stay: Cabins are especially popular around Grand Lake and really fit the feel of the destination, although you’ll also find small hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals. Check out my Best Cabins In Grand Lake guide for my recommendations.

Getting here: Grand Lake is about a 2 to 2.5 hour drive from Denver.

Colorado Springs

City attractions, incredible outdoor access & fall scenery | ~1 – 1.5 hours from Denver

Colorado Springs is one of the best options on this list if you want easy access to the outdoors while still staying in a larger city. Garden of the Gods is right in the city, you can hike through North Cheyenne Cañon, and Pikes Peak and the surrounding high country are only about an hour from downtown. Add in museums, restaurants, breweries, and nearby Manitou Springs, and you can pack a lot into a fall weekend here.

Where you’ll find the best fall colors depends on when you visit. Earlier in the season, head to the higher elevations around Pikes Peak to see Colorado’s famous yellow aspens. As October moves along, the color works its way down to lower elevations, and you’ll start seeing more changing leaves around Colorado Springs itself. The foliage in the city isn’t as dense as in the mountains, but places like North Cheyenne Cañon can still be really beautiful later in fall.

For more ideas of things to do, check out my Colorado Springs Fall Guide.

Where to stay: Colorado Springs has everything from downtown hotels to historic properties and 5-star resorts. You can also stay in Manitou Springs if you’d prefer a smaller, more walkable base right against the foothills.

Getting here: Colorado Springs is about a 1 to 1.5 hour drive from Denver. You can also fly directly into Colorado Springs Airport.

Durango

Historic Southwest Colorado town with fall scenery & one of the state’s most iconic train rides | ~6.5 hours from Denver

Durango feels a little different from most of the Colorado mountain towns on this list. It’s larger, with a lively historic downtown, tons of restaurants, breweries, shops, and a bit of a Southwestern feel. If you want beautiful fall scenery but also want plenty to do around town, Durango is a really good option.

One of the biggest draws is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The historic train travels from Durango into the San Juan Mountains, following the Animas River through scenery you can’t access by car. It’s beautiful any time of year, but the changing leaves make fall an especially fun time to ride.

There are plenty of ways to see the colors by car or on foot too. You can head north from Durango toward Coal Bank and Molas passes, explore La Plata Canyon, or spend some time hiking and biking around the area. Durango also makes a great base for exploring more of Southwest Colorado, especially if you want the amenities of a larger town to come back to each day. You can find even more ideas in my Durango guides.

Where to stay: Durango has a wide range of accommodations, including historic downtown hotels, familiar chains, and resorts outside town. Check out my Best Hotels In Durango guide for recommendations.

Getting here: Durango is about a 6.5 hour drive from Denver. You can also fly into Durango-La Plata County Airport, about 20 minutes outside town.

Silverton

Historic mining town surrounded by dramatic San Juan Mountain scenery | ~6.5 – 7 hours from Denver

Silverton is the rugged, much smaller counterpart to Durango. The tiny historic mining town sits deep in the San Juan Mountains, surrounded by peaks in practically every direction. It feels remote even by Colorado mountain town standards.

The drive into Silverton is also part of the experience. Highway 550 passes through some incredible fall scenery around Coal Bank and Molas passes coming from Durango, while the Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray takes you through Red Mountain Pass. There are tons of aspens along the way, mixed with the rugged, high alpine scenery the San Juans are known for.

You can also arrive aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which brings tons of day trippers into town. I actually think Silverton is underrated as an overnight destination though. Once the train crowds leave, things quiet down considerably, and you have more time to explore the historic town, surrounding trails, and mountain scenery. You can find more ideas in my Silverton guides.

Where to stay: Silverton’s accommodations are all smaller historic hotels, inns, and vacation rentals rather than large resorts. Check out my Best Hotels In Silverton guide for my recommendations.

Getting here: Silverton is about a 6.5 to 7 hour drive from Denver, be aware of potential winter driving conditions on the Million Dollar Highway. There’s no commercial airport in town, so the closest major options are Durango-La Plata County Airport and Montrose Regional Airport, each about 1.5 hours away.

Boulder

Flatirons, great fall colors & a lively college town atmosphere | ~30 minutes from Denver

Boulder is a great fall destination if you want to spend a lot of time outside without giving up the energy and amenities of a city. The Flatirons rise right behind town, with hiking at Chautauqua and tons of other trails starting right from the city. Downtown, you’ve got Pearl Street, excellent restaurants, breweries, shops, and plenty going on throughout the season.

If you visit earlier in the season, you can easily day trip into the mountains to see the aspens changing (Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is a great spot near Boulder!). Later in October, the color moves down to Boulder itself, and in my opinion, Boulder has some of the best in-city fall colors in Colorado. The parks, neighborhoods, and trails around town fill with changing cottonwoods and other colorful deciduous trees.

Fall is also when CU Boulder is back in session, which gives the city a particularly fun energy. I definitely recommend catching a CU football game or least go for a walk through the beautiful campus. I cover even more ideas in my Best Things To Do In Boulder In Fall guide.

Where to stay: Staying around downtown or near Pearl Street puts you within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and nightlife, while other parts of Boulder can put you closer to the trails. Check out my Best Hotels In Boulder guide for my recommendations.

Getting here: Boulder is about 30 minutes from Denver and roughly 45 minutes from Denver International Airport.

Palisade

Colorado wine country with beautiful fall weather, vineyards & orchards | ~4 hours from Denver

Palisade offers a completely different kind of Colorado fall trip. The small Western Slope town is surrounded by vineyards and orchards, with more than 30 wineries in the area, and fall brings some of the best weather of the year. Summers can get very hot here, so the cooler temperatures make it much more comfortable to spend the day outside exploring wineries, farms, and the surrounding area.

Fall also overlaps with harvest season, adding another reason to visit. You can bike portions of the Fruit & Wine Byway, stop at tasting rooms along the way, explore the small downtown, and spend plenty of time outside without the intense summer heat.

Palisade gets some fall color of its own too, although it looks very different from the huge aspen groves in the mountains. The leaves here generally change much later, often around late October into early November. If you visit earlier in the season though, you can still use Palisade as a base for a day trip into the nearby mountains and Grand Mesa to see Colorado’s iconic yellow aspens.

Overall, Palisade is a great choice if you want a fall trip that isn’t entirely centered around hiking and scenic drives. You still get beautiful scenery and easy access to the mountains, but can mix that with wine tasting, great food, and a very relaxed pace.

Where to stay: Palisade has a smaller selection of accommodations, including inns, vacation rentals, and a few larger properties.

Getting here: Palisade is about a 4 hour drive from Denver. You can also fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport, about 15 minutes away.

Buena Vista

Laid back mountain town with huge peaks, hot springs & fall scenery | ~2.5 hours from Denver

Buena Vista is another one of my favorite options if you want a relaxed, outdoorsy fall weekend without the resort town feel. The town sits right below the Collegiate Peaks, so you get some seriously impressive mountain views almost everywhere you go.

Cottonwood Pass is one of the most popular places to see the fall colors nearby, with aspens lining portions of the drive and huge views from the top. Cottonwood Lake is another beautiful option, or you can spend the day hiking, mountain biking, or exploring St. Elmo Ghost Town.

The hot springs are my favorite reason to visit Buena Visit though. There are several in the surrounding area, including Mount Princeton Hot Springs, and the cooler fall weather makes soaking especially nice after a day outside.

Buena Vista itself is small, casual and outdoorsy, with a few restaurants, breweries, and shops nestled along the Arkansas River. It’s a good choice if the mountains are the main reason for your trip, but you still want enough going on around town to fill a weekend.

Where to stay: Buena Vista has a mix of small hotels, cabins, vacation rentals, and more unique accommodations, with additional options around the nearby hot springs.

Getting here: Buena Vista is about a 2.5 hour drive from Denver.

Salida

Artsy river town with a walkable downtown & easy access to the mountains | ~2.5 – 3 hours from Denver

Salida is only about 30 minutes from Buena Vista, but the two towns have surprisingly different vibes. While Buena Vista feels a little more rugged and outdoorsy, Salida has a stronger downtown and arts scene, with galleries, shops, restaurants, breweries, and historic buildings packed into a really walkable area along the Arkansas River.

You’re still surrounded by plenty of fall scenery here. The mountains around Salida fill with changing aspens, and you can head toward Monarch Pass for a scenic drive or explore the many hiking and biking trails around the area. The Arkansas River runs right through town too, with trails and a whitewater park along the waterfront.

You also don’t necessarily have to choose between Salida and Buena Vista. Since they’re only about 30 minutes apart, you can easily stay in one and split your time between both.

Where to stay: Salida has a good mix of historic hotels, motels, vacation rentals, and smaller locally owned properties, with several options within walking distance of downtown.

Getting here: Salida is about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Denver.

Vail

Walkable resort villages with easy access to fall colors | ~2 hours from Denver

Vail is another one of the easier mountain towns to visit in fall, especially if you want a trip where you can park the car and spend a lot of your time right around town. Vail Village and Lionshead are both pedestrian-friendly, with tons of restaurants, shops, hotels, and trails starting nearby.

You’ll find plenty of fall colors immediately around Vail too. The mountain is covered in pockets of aspens, so you can hike or bike directly from town, and scenic gondola rides are another fun way to take in the views. There are also plenty of beautiful drives and trails throughout the surrounding valley if you want to explore further.

Vail definitely has more of a polished resort feel than many of the mountain towns on this list, but that can be part of the appeal. It’s a great option if you want to spend your mornings hiking among the aspens and your afternoons wandering around town, grabbing a long lunch, or simply enjoying the villages. I cover a lot more ideas in my Best Things To Do In Vail In Fall guide.

Where to stay: Vail has a large selection of accommodations, particularly around Vail Village and Lionshead, ranging from condos to luxury resorts. Check out my Best Hotels In Vail guide for recommendations.

Getting here: Vail is about a 2 hour drive from Denver, making it one of the more accessible mountain destinations on this list. Eagle County Regional Airport is also located just outside town.

Leadville

Historic high elevation mountain town, great fall colors | ~2 hours from Denver

Leadville has a much more rugged, old school feel than Colorado’s polished resort towns. Sitting at more than 10,000 feet, the historic mining town is surrounded by some of the state’s tallest mountains, with a preserved downtown that still feels closely tied to its mining history.

Fall is a beautiful time to explore the area, whether you’re hiking, biking the Mineral Belt Trail, driving around Turquoise Lake, or riding the Leadville Railroad through the aspen groves. There are plenty of fall colors around Leadville, but the huge Sawatch Range views are just as much a part of the scenery here.

I’d also make time for Twin Lakes, about 20 minutes south of Leadville. The tiny community sits beside two beautiful lakes at the base of the mountains, and the combination of fall colors, water, and massive peaks looks completely different from what you’ll see around downtown Leadville. It’s close enough that you can easily experience both during the same trip.

Where to stay: Leadville has mostly smaller hotels, inns, cabins, and vacation rentals.

Getting here: Leadville is about a 2 hour drive from Denver.

Pagosa Springs

Hot springs, fall colors & laid back San Juan Mountain scenery | ~5 hours from Denver

Pagosa Springs is an especially fun place to visit once the weather starts cooling down. The town is best known for its natural hot springs, with several places to soak right along the San Juan River, and chilly fall mornings and evenings make them even better.

When you’re ready to get out and explore, there’s plenty of fall scenery in the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Wolf Creek Pass is one of the most popular drives nearby, or you can head out toward East Fork Road and some of the quieter roads and trails around town. Hiking, mountain biking, and fishing are all great ways to spend a fall day here too.

Pagosa Springs itself is small and laid back, with the San Juan River running right through town and restaurants, breweries, shops, and the hot springs all close by. It’s a particularly good choice if you want an outdoorsy fall trip with something relaxing built in — spend the day exploring the mountains, then come back and soak in the hot springs.

Where to stay: You’ll find hotels, cabins, vacation rentals, and several properties centered around the hot springs. Staying near downtown puts you within easy reach of the river, restaurants, and soaking pools.

Getting here: Pagosa Springs is about a 5 hour drive from Denver. The closest commercial airport is Durango-La Plata County Airport, about an hour away.

Fort Collins

College town, beautiful fall colors & easy access to Poudre Canyon | ~1 – 1.5 hours from Denver

Fort Collins is another Colorado city that really comes alive in fall. Old Town is packed with restaurants, shops, breweries, and coffee shops, while CSU being back in session brings plenty of energy to the city. You can catch a football game, wander through campus, spend an afternoon brewery hopping, bike around town, or head over to Horsetooth Reservoir for some time in the foothills.

If you’re visiting earlier in fall, head up Poudre Canyon to see the aspens changing at higher elevations. The Cache la Poudre–North Park Scenic Byway follows the river into the mountains toward Cameron Pass, with hiking trails, picnic areas, and plenty of beautiful scenery along the way.

Later in October, the fall colors reach Fort Collins itself. You’ll find changing trees throughout the city, including around Old Town, the CSU campus, parks, and the city’s extensive trail system. Again, the foliage here looks different from the dense yellow aspen groves in the mountains, but it can still be a really beautiful time to explore the city.

Where to stay: Downtown Fort Collins is the most convenient option if you want to walk to Old Town’s restaurants, breweries, and shops. You’ll also find plenty of familiar hotels and more affordable options elsewhere around the city.

Getting here: Fort Collins is about a 1 to 1.5 hour drive from Denver and Denver International Airport.

Ouray

Dramatic San Juan scenery, hot springs & incredible fall drives | ~5.5 hours from Denver

Ouray is a great fall destination if you want to combine some of the best scenery in the San Juan Mountains with hot springs and a small, historic downtown. The town sits along the Million Dollar Highway, putting you within easy reach of Red Mountain Pass, waterfalls, hiking trails, and tons of changing aspens.

The Million Dollar Highway is a favorite reason to visit, connecting Ouray with Silverton through Red Mountain Pass and some seriously dramatic mountain scenery. You’ll find plenty of fall colors along the way, or you can stay closer to town and hike, visit Box Cañon Falls, or explore some of the surrounding mountain roads.

Ouray is also known for its hot springs, it has a ton of options both indoor and outdoor. While the town itself is small and walkable, with restaurants, breweries, cute shops, and historic buildings lining Main Street. You can find even more ideas in my Ouray guides.

Where to stay: Ouray has a good selection of historic hotels, smaller inns, vacation rentals, and properties near the hot springs. Check out my Best Hotels In Ouray guide for my recommendations. Ridgway, about 15 minutes away, is also worth considering as a quieter alternative. It puts you close to Ouray while offering easy access to Dallas Divide, another incredible place to see the San Juan Mountains and fall colors.

Getting here: Ouray is about a 5.5 hour drive from Denver. Montrose Regional Airport is the closest commercial airport, about an hour away.

Marble

Tiny mountain town with Crystal Mill, huge aspen groves & beautiful scenic drives | ~4 hours from Denver

Marble is a tiny, remote mountain town that makes a great fall destination if you’re mostly interested in scenery and getting outside. It’s surrounded by huge aspen groves, with plenty of hiking and backcountry roads nearby, but the biggest reason to visit is Crystal Mill.

Located about six miles outside town, Crystal Mill is one of the most photographed places in Colorado, and it’s especially beautiful surrounded by fall colors. Getting there is a bit of an adventure — the road requires a capable 4WD vehicle, but you can also hike, mountain bike, or take a guided Jeep tour from Marble. (But keep in mind the owners may close this road at any time, so it’s important to double check before heading out.)

The drive to Marble is another highlight. Highway 133 follows the Crystal River through the mountains, and nearby McClure Pass is covered in large stretches of aspens. Redstone is also right along the way and makes an easy additional stop.

Marble itself is very small and quiet, but it has an interesting history. The town is known for its marble quarry, which produced stone used in famous landmarks including the Lincoln Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. If you’re looking for tons of restaurants, shopping, or nightlife, this isn’t the destination for you, but for a quiet fall trip with some really unique things to see, Marble is hard to beat.

Where to stay: Accommodations in Marble are limited, with mostly cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals. Nearby Redstone and Carbondale have additional options if you want more restaurants and amenities.

Getting here: Marble is about a 4 hour drive from Denver, with the final stretch along Highway 133 and the Crystal River Valley being part of the experience.

Denver

Fall events, city foliage & easy access to the mountains | Colorado’s largest city

Denver is probably the most versatile fall destination on this list. You can spend an entire weekend downtown visiting museums, restaurants, breweries, and neighborhoods around the city, head into the mountains for hiking and fall colors, or lean fully into the season with pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and other farms around the metro area.

There’s also a seemingly endless lineup of fall events. Oktoberfest celebrations, fall festivals, Halloween events, concerts, and sporting events fill the calendar, so there’s usually something going on no matter when you visit.

The variety is really what makes Denver stand out as a fall destination. I cover more ideas in my Things To Do In Denver In Fall guide.

Like other front range cities on this list, where you’ll find the best fall colors depends on when you come. Earlier in the season, Denver makes a great base for day trips into the mountains to see the aspens changing, check out my guide to the best Fall Foliage Spots Near Denver for ideas. Later in October, the color reaches the city itself, with places like Washington Park, City Park, the High Line Canal, and Denver’s tree-lined neighborhoods becoming especially beautiful. The foliage isn’t as dense as the mountain aspen groves, but you get a much wider variety of trees and colors.

Where to stay: Denver has a huge range of accommodations across very different neighborhoods. Downtown is convenient for major attractions and sporting events, while neighborhoods just outside downtown can give you more of a local feel.

Getting here: Denver International Airport is about 25 miles from downtown.

Glenwood Springs

Hot springs, Glenwood Canyon & great starting point for day trips | ~2.5 – 3 hours from Denver

Glenwood Springs is another well-rounded place to visit in Colorado during fall. The town is best known for its hot springs, and cooler temperatures make this an especially nice time of year to soak. You’ve also got Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, a walkable historic downtown, restaurants, shops, and plenty of hiking and biking nearby.

Fall adds some beautiful scenery to the mix. Glenwood Canyon is especially pretty as the leaves along the Colorado River start changing, and you can head south toward Carbondale and Redstone for even more color. Highway 133 eventually climbs toward McClure Pass, so you can also day trip into higher elevations if you’re visiting earlier in the season and want to see the big aspen groves.

One of Glenwood Springs’ biggest advantages is its central location. Aspen, Maroon Bells, and Vail are all easy day trips, so you can explore some of Colorado’s most popular fall destinations while using Glenwood Springs as your home base.

Where to stay: Glenwood Springs has everything from historic downtown hotels to familiar chains and properties near the hot springs. Staying around downtown makes it easy to walk to restaurants, the train station, and several of the town’s major attractions.

Getting here: Glenwood Springs is about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Denver. You can also take Amtrak’s California Zephyr directly from Denver to Glenwood Springs.

Fall is such a fun time to explore Colorado, whether you’re chasing golden aspens through the mountains or enjoying the cooler weather and fall festivities in one of the state’s cities.

No matter where you end up, there are plenty of ways to make the most of fall in Colorado.

Any questions? Please leave a comment below or reach out on social media!

Looking for more ideas? Below are additional Colorado guides.

More Information For Your Colorado Vacation:

• Best Colorado Mountain Towns For First-Time Visitors
• Underrated Colorado Mountain Towns Worth Visiting
• Luxury Mountain Towns In Colorado
• Colorado Travel Guide (everything to know for planning your trip!)
• All Colorado Guides