As summer turns to fall, the extreme heat fades away and makes room for crisp fall days. 

Fall is a beautiful season filled with changing leaves, lower temperatures and endless hikes to be explored. The lower temperatures make fall a great opportunity to hike and get outside any time of day without having to plan around any unbearably hot hours. Pencil into your calendar a day to take advantage of this beautiful fall weather and explore one of these hikes with stunning fall colors. 

Where to see aspens in the fall near Denver

Abyss Trail to Helms Lake

Difficulty: Hard

Distance: 11.7 miles

Trail type: Out & back

Trailhead location: Abyss Trailhead - Grant, CO

At the beginning of this hike you might find yourself wondering where the fall colors are. The first 2.5 miles are varying shades of green and brown and then all of a sudden you find yourself amongst the aspens. The golden aspens create beautiful contrast against the pines and rocky hillsides. After spending as much time as you want to take in the aspens you will find yourself climbing above treeline up to Helms Lake. The trail continues past Helms Lake up to Abyss Lake if you want to continue your adventure in alpine country. If the distance of this hike feels like an obstacle, rest assured that the fall colors are mainly in the first three or four miles. This is a very popular trail in all seasons, but especially in the fall due to the vibrant colors showing off. Be prepared to share the trail with other folks and arrive early to get parking.

Bergen Peak Trail

Difficulty: Hard

Distance: 10.3 miles

Trail type: Out & back (with loop option)

Trailhead location: Bergen Peak Parking - Evergreen, CO

This challenging, yet rewarding, hike climbs up to the summit of Bergen Peak where you can take in the incredible views of the nearby foothills, western mountains and eastern plains. The trail begins with some mellow walking before entering a pine forest and climbing switchbacks up towards the peak. 

Throughout this hike you can enjoy the vibrant colors of the changing aspens. After reaching the summit you’re sure to be satisfied and hopefully you’ll take your time up there to enjoy a snack or lunch to thoroughly enjoy the views. To return you can either head back the way you came ,or turn this hike into a loop. 

To create a loop trail, you’ll descend the summit switchbacks and take a left at the trail junction onto Too Long Trail. Upon reaching the meadow below the tree line there will be another trail junction with Meadow View Trail. Regardless if you choose left or right, the trail will take you back to the beginning where you started. 

Horseshow Trail to Frazer Meadow

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 3.8 miles

Trail type: Out & back

Trailhead location:  Horseshoe Trailhead - Golden, CO

The hike to Frazer Meadow on the Horseshoe Trail is a gradual but steady climb uphill. This hike is well suited for a day hike but offers beautiful backcountry campsites if you are looking to extend your visit. The trail passes several small streams, meanders through aspen groves, and leads you to beautiful alpine meadows above. On your hunt for fall colors you are also likely to encounter the summer wildflowers fading away with potentially some beautiful blooms still holding on. This hike is located in Golden Gate Canyon State Park so be sure to check out their website for information on booking campsites, entrance fees and potential road closures.

Raccoon Trail

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 2.6 miles

Trail type: Loop

Trailhead location: Panorama Point Trailhead on Gap Road - Black Hawk, CO

With Thorodin Mountain and Star Peak towering above, this hike offers nothing less than outstanding views.

The trail winds through mature aspen groves, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in fall and all the vibrant colors it has to offer. The beauty of a shorter trail like this means you can take your time and fully enjoy every moment without feeling rushed to get the miles behind you. 

You can take this loop either clockwise or counter-clockwise, there are no wrong choices. Depending on what direction you choose, the panorama viewing deck will either be at the beginning or end of your hike. This viewing deck offers hard-to-beat views of the Front Range. This hike is located in Golden Gate Canyon State Park so be sure to check out their website for information on entrance fees and any potential seasonal trail closures for nesting raptors.

Rainbow Lake, Miners Creek and Peaks Trail Loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 4.8 miles

Trail type: Loop

Trailhead location: Rainbow Lake Trailhead, 464 Temple Trail - Frisco, CO

This hike offers it all – vibrant aspens, streams and lakes for pleasant background noise and views of the Tenmile Range. This trail is a favorite of locals due to the ease of accessibility from town and the opportunities to be immersed in nature. After enjoying your time on trail you can stop in town for a nice meal or grab a patio brew. While the loop described here is only 4.8 miles, you can really make the trail as long as you want – hiking all the way to Breckenridge if you’d like!

If you live anywhere in or near our luxury Denver apartments, then be sure to check out these aspen-abounding trails this fall to see these golden trees in all their shimmering glory!

Happy hiking!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/Steppinstars