View Fall Colors on the West Side of Rocky Mountain National Park

A stand of aspen with golden leaves in fall

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Planning a trip to the west side of Rocky? This is a great time of year to view fall colors!

September and October brings shorter days, cooler temperatures, bugling elk, and shifting colors. Explore the array of fall colors on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park from Harbison Meadows in the Kawuneeche Valley to the land above trees on the alpine tundra. 

At high elevations, the alpine tundra is cloaked in deep red and purple hues as plants go dormant for the season. At lower elevations, deciduous trees like aspen and cottonwood adopt their gold and orange palette before losing their leaves in preparation for winter.