Colorado's Awesome Autumn Colors Dazzle

DENVER, Aug. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In the fall, Colorado is transformed into an arena of shimmering colors. Byways, passes, trails, railways and parks all offer ways to soak in fall foliage that peaks between mid-September and mid-October. Click here for more on Colorado's fall colors.

• Rocky Mountain High. Trail Ridge Road, North America's highest paved road, winds from Estes Park to Grand Lake through Rocky Mountain National Park offering unrivaled vantage points. Inn-to-inn hiking offers a unique leaf-peeping experience in this area.
• Photographer's Favorite. Gunnison is home to Kebler Pass, a favorite of photographer John Fielder, which boasts the largest aspen grove in North America.
• Tires, Tracks and Trees. The San Juan Skyway, a 236-mile loop through the San Juan Mountains, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Soaring® Tree Top Adventures, all offer amazing arrays of fall colors in southwest Colorado.
• Iconic Views Outside of Aspen. The iconic Maroon Bells, located in the White River National Forest, provide access to hiking trails that offer unbeatable views of aspens, pines and alpine lakes.
• Classic Western Colors. Colorado's Western Slope is home to the Grand Mesa, the world's largest flat top mountain, where vibrant scrub oaks contrast with shimmering aspens along the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway. A bird's eye view is offered via chairlifts during Fall Fest at Powderhorn.
• Into the Wild. Buffalo Pass near Steamboat Springs is lined with rows of glowing aspens and winds eight miles to the Continental Divide and Summit Lake. Locals recommend the moderate hike to Zirkel Wilderness Area.
• Scenic Southern Colorado. La Veta Pass on U.S. Route 160 is one of the most scenic drives in the state during the fall. The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad is another way to explore fall foliage in southern Colorado.
• Gondola. The Free Telluride Gondola and the three-mile Jud Wiebe Trail both offer unmatched opportunities to view Telluride's colorful foliage.
• Vroom with a View. Colorado Highway 62 over the Dallas Divide offers epic views of Mount Sneffels. The route connects with Highway 145 and Lizard Head Pass, showing off Wilson Peak.
• Front Range Foliage. Begin a road trip in downtown Boulder and head up through Boulder Canyon to the small town of Nederland and along Highway 72, which connects to The Peak-to-Peak Scenic and Historic Byway.

Roland Alonzi / 646-442-6765, [email protected]

SOURCE Colorado Tourism Office