Fall colors in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado are a vibrant spectacle which I was lucky enough to have witnessed. The cornucopia of bright yellow of the aspen trees in Estes Park, the gateway town to the Rocky Mountain National Park, instills a delight that far outshines any of the minutely curated beautiful Instagram feeds. The fall foliage in Grand Lake is visual poetry. Grand Lake is another nearby town located just one mile from the west entrance of the national park. My trip to the Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake, and Estes Park, suffused with the golden glow of autumn, has acquired a permanent shelf-life in my memory. I hope this travel guide and memoir will inspire you to plan a trip to greet autumn amidst the majestic Rocky Mountains.
Fall Colors in Rocky Mountain National Park – A travel guide! #Travel #RoadTrip #Explore #RockyMountainNationalPark Click To Tweet
Reaching Rocky Mountain National Park with Map
After withstanding a sweltering summer in California, when the weather started getting discernibly cooler and the nights noticeably longer, on a misty autumn morning, we took a flight to Denver, Colorado from San Francisco. Although our flight got delayed, our enthusiasm to witness the golden aspen grew stronger, and the wait of a couple of hours for the flight passed swiftly. After landing and renting a car, we couldn’t wait to hit the road! Among everything else, what I love most is experiencing wide-open roads and wilderness with my family; me, Siddhartha, and our little daughter Chirantana. Vacation time is the best time; no hurry, no worry! On this trip, our first stop was the beautiful Grand Lake near the National Park’s west entrance. After spending two beautiful days in Grand Lake, our second stop was Estes Park. From here, we explored the Rocky Mountain National Park. Finally, after spending a couple of days at Estes Park, we returned to San Francisco Bay Area via Denver. Instead of a whirlwind trip, we drifted slowly from one place to another, seeing and soaking in the views adorned with lush colors of fall. We all should take advantage of the gift of the forest, which is abundant in America, and keep the living germ of wanderlust secured in us.
Where to stay near Rocky Mountain National Park
We divided our 5 days long trip into two parts. The first part was in Grand Lake, a beautiful town that displays spectacular fall foliage; every corner was sheer poetry. And the second part was in Estes Park, where I got to experience a rain-drenched autumn morning and became enamored with the fairytale town. In Grand Lake, I stayed at Western Riviera, beside the beautiful Grand Lake. If you are wondering about the places to see in Grand Lake, read a detailed post here.
Book your stay at Western Riviera
In Estes Park, I stayed at Rams Horn Village Resort, located at the entrance to spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park. Read my detailed review of my stay at Rams Horn Village Resort.
Book your stay at Rams Horn Village Resort
Top things to do and see during fall in Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Snow-capped peaks, gorgeous alpine lakes, and an abundance of wildlife – this national park has it all. Here are some beautiful ways to experience Rocky Mountain National Park during fall. So grab your camera and hit the road to capture the fall colors in Rocky Mountain National Park.
- One perfect way to savor autumn is to go for a revitalizing scenic drive and pull off the car whenever and wherever your heart desires. I often stopped my car in the middle of nowhere and enjoyed the explosion of color.
- Another way to soak in the spectacular foliage is to go for a hike. During my hikes, I was spellbound when I saw the foothills of the mountains ablaze in fiery golden yellow. The vistas are inextricably etched in my memory. Driving offers magnificent scale, and a hike helps to capture the detail.
- Look for moose and pronghorn antelopes along the way.
- Catch an autumnal sunset beside an alpine lake amidst the forest. A nearly unbroken tapestry of the foliage inspired Herman Melville to write,
Sunrises and sunsets grow side by side in these woods.
Herman Melville
I enjoyed capturing sunset reflections surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks at Sprague Lake. There are plenty of scenic paths that lead to a number of crystal blue waters within the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Snow-capped peaks, gorgeous alpine lakes, and an abundance of wildlife – this national park has it all. Here are some beautiful ways to experience Rocky Mountain… Click To Tweet
Fall colors along the Trail Ridge Road – A scenic drive
A drive through Trail Ridge Road is a must if you are visiting Rocky Mountain National park. Trail Ridge Road meanders through forests, above the tree line, and over the Continental Divide; it’s the highest continuous paved road in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet. Trail Ridge Road connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. We began our journey from Grand Lake and enjoyed every part of the scenic drive. The changes that occur en route are fascinating to observe from the comfort of the car. High elevations, hairpin turns, and magnificent sceneries are all a part of this drive.
Fact: This road remains open to visitors from late May through mid-October. We drove through this road in early September.
When we were up in the alpine tundra, the weather changed abruptly. It was windy and 20 to 30 degrees colder than Grand Lake. Since I love cloudy skies and mist-covered landscapes, it was like heaven for me. I stepped out of the car to witness the vast panorama of the Rockies.
Also, if you have time, don’t miss driving through the Peak-to-Peak Highway, a great place to see fall colors.
Top sights along the Trail Ridge Road
- While driving through Trail Ridge Road, I was enamored with the spectacular panoramic views of the fall colors that dot the park’s mountainous landscape. On the park’s western side, just inside the Grand Lake entrance, stop at Farview Curve, and see the beautiful Kawuneeche Valley, a favorite marshy hang-out spot for elk. This is a beautiful and interesting place to stop, especially in the fall when it’s elk bugling season. Stop and stay awhile. Enjoy the aspen-lined roads while driving through the Kawuneeche Valley.
- Explore any of the visitor centers present throughout Rocky Mountain National Park.
- At 10,759 feet in elevation, Milner Pass offers incredible views of the Rocky Mountains and Podre Lake. It is located on the continental divide.
- Stop at Medicine Bow Curve. From this viewing area, you can see two tree lines. The uppermost tree line separates the sub-alpine ecosystem from the Alpine Tundra ecosystem. The lower tree line, seen near the bottom of the valley, highlights the valley floor which is too wet for trees to grow. It is common to see Rocky Mountain elk and small alpine animals in this area.
- Consider stopping at the Rainbow Curve to appreciate a varied and spectacular view. If luck favors, you can see a beautiful rainbow here after a rain, giving the location its name.
Fall Color hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
The national park and its trails feel like an oasis. Under the fiery palettes of fall colors, I spent wonderful moments with my daughter while hiking. I always choose to hop out to explore both new and familiar trails. While I didn’t have enough time to cover all the beautiful trails, I enjoyed a short hike around Sprague Lake Loop and passed through several groves of aspen on the Loch Vale Trail.
Now, during the pandemic, when so much of our daily reality plays out on screens, remembering the days that I spent amidst nature, especially the memorable views of the foliage in the Rocky Mountains National Park, has been a real-world balm.
The national park and its trails feel like an oasis. Under the fiery palettes of fall colors, I spent wonderful moments #Travel #Nature #Autumn Click To Tweet
Witness the resplendent sunset reflections surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks at Sprague Lake
When we arrived at Sprague Lake, the cloud-shrouded Rockies looked mysterious. Millions of tiny sparkles on the lake and fall colors amidst green pines looked solemn. I poured hot coffee from the flask on my favorite fall leaves adorned coffee mug and sat quietly while feeling the warmth of the coffee on my palms. I love these quiet moments, they come unbidden!
I love these quiet moments, they come unbidden! #Travel #Nature Click To Tweet
I loved watching Siddhartha and my little daughter walking and soaking in all the scenery, greenery, and colors. I savored the moment as much as I could because time is like a snowflake in the hands; gradually as we study it, it melts between the fingers and vanishes. Places as peaceful as this blur the boundaries of past, present, and future in our minds.
Oh, the profound time and its passage!
I savored the moment as much as I could because time is like a snowflake in the hands; gradually as we study it, it melts between the fingers and vanishes. Places as peaceful as this blur the boundaries of past, present, and future… Click To TweetDissolve the floors of memory
And all its clear relations,
Its divisions and precisions.
T. S. Eliot
Autumn Travel Packing Tips
- A pair of leather boots is a must for atumn weather.
- A few coats and jackets that go with fall colors are essential additions.
- I always carry a hat both to beat the cold and to add a statement on to my photographs 😉.
- Long sleeve dresses with tights and leggings are my personal favorites.
- A light-weight raincoat or an umbrella are always good to carry.
- A scarf is another indelibly fall wardrobe staple that serves a dual purpose: it keeps you warm and adds some spunk to your outfits.
- I love packing an orange or a yellow sweater whenever I travel in atumn.
- Fall conjures images of sipping warm drinks, and this thermos is a must-have if you want to make that vision a reality!
misty clouds dance themselves into distant mansions.
Reflections unfold upon the autumn river ~ Yu Xuanji
Additional stops and resources for this trip
An itinerary on any trip depends on time. I enjoyed fall foliage in Grand Lake, Estes Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park on this trip. I wish I had a bit more time to explore more of Estes Park. Here are some additional resources and tours which you may enjoy!
- Take a guided tour through the majestic wonders of Rocky Mountain National Park on Rocky Mountain National Park safari tour. There are multiple stops along the way. Book your tour and enjoy the grand scenery.
- If you are visiting Denver and want to see the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park in a day, then book this 8 hour long trip.
- If you are a passionate hiker then get out into nature on a 4-mile guided hike through the Rocky Mountain National Park. Admire the incredible panoramas of alpine lakes and snow-topped mountains as you hike up to stunning viewpoints. Book this beautiful guided hike.
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My odes to autumn!
I have greeted autumn sometimes amidst mountains, sometimes in a fairytale village in Switzerland, in a vineyard, and often amidst the wilderness in America. I still remember walking on the roads in Berlin to see the festival of lights around October. The memory of crisp autumn mornings, the warmth of coffee mugs and cakes in small cafes in Europe brighten even a dull winter day. I hope some of these articles will inspire you to recall fragments of memory from the past and perhaps some will inspire you to make new ones! So keep on adding height, depth, and distances of experiences to your travel, life, and being!
Keep on adding height, depth, and distances of experiences to your travel, life, and being! #Travel #Explore #Wanderlust Click To Tweet
Travel Realizations
My trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in September opened up possibilities for savoring the auburn colors of fall. #RoadTrip #Explore #RockyMountainNationalPark Click To TweetThere is no wealth but life, and vacations are my intangible assets which enhance the quality of my life by leaps and bounds. My trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in September opened up possibilities for savoring the auburn colors of fall. Crisp morning hikes, forests dotted with multicolored leaves, a profusion of colors everywhere in the nearby towns, beside the lakes, and early evening sunsets were like reading poems, one after the another. When leaves herald autumn, they blaze and hint at renunciation gracefully; a profound lesson to learn from nature. During my night stroll on a dimly lit road, sometimes I experienced a swell of melancholy, and sometimes I also felt a spark of awe which the rhapsody of autumn brings. By the end of this trip, I was rejuvenated from the core but a part of me still wanted to stay. A question surfaced in my mind; do we exist in time, or does time exist in us? The answer to this question is not an easy one but spending a few days seeing the fall colors in Rocky Mountain National Park may give you some clues. I hope this travelogue and travel guide will inspire you to spend a few days amidst the vibrant fall colors in the mountains. Go, live a dream and create a flood of memories. Bon voyage ✈ Leave a comment below if you have any questions or DM me on Instagram @travelrealizations
Crisp morning hikes, forests dotted with multicolored leaves, a profusion of colors everywhere in the nearby towns, beside the lakes, and early evening sunsets were like reading poems, one after the another. #Travel #Autumn Click To Tweet When leaves herald autumn, they blaze and hint at renunciation gracefully; a profound lesson to learn from nature. #Autumn #Travel #RockyMountainNationalPark Click To TweetI hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Fall Colors in Rocky Mountain National Park. You may enjoy these other fall colors, and National Park travel guides:
- Fall Foliage in Grand Lake, Colorado
- Fall colors in Paso Robles, California
- Fall Foliage in Princeton University Campus
- Fall Colors in Napa Valley – A Photo Essay
- Fall Foliage in Blue Ridge Parkway – A passage through paradise!
- Fall Colors in Blowing Rock – A beautiful mountain village in North Carolina, USA!
- Glacier National Park – A travel guide!
- Salt Lake City to Yellowstone – A road trip guide!
- San Francisco to Death Valley – A Super Scenic California Road Trip!
- Postcards from Pinnacles National Park!
- Rendezvous with Redwood trees in the Redwood National Park, California – The tallest trees on earth!
Catherine
Beautiful spot to spend the fall! I’ve only been in December and Estes Park was magical
Would love to return with the family to see the fall colors
Linda (LD Holland)
We are headed to the west coast in Canada in about a week so will be there for the fall. Not sure if we will get south across the border to enjoy the fall colours in Rocky Mountain National Park. But we sure hope at some point in our trip the border will open. It looks like there are many spots to enjoy the colours on a scenic drive or hike. It looks like a great spot to spend several days.
Krista
Your post has gotten me so excited for fall time! I love going to areas like this where you can see all of the different fall colours – so pretty!
Ellis
What a beautiful pictures. Would love to visit the Rocky mountains one day and I wiill make sure I visit in fall.
Linda Jane
I’d love to visit the Rocky Mountains and the fall colours make autumn a special time to go. Thanks for sharing your lovely pics & ideas