ORIC's Favorite Fall Things to Do

View to Holy Cross Wilderness from Crooked Creek Reservoir. Photo by Bryan Fons, USFS.

Mountain Biking

Denver Region

• Colorado Trail east and west from Kenosha Pass on US 285. West: ORIC Trail Map/Description Sheet (10). East: Panorak Adventure Network.
• Golden Gate Canyon State Park Trail System. Park trails webpage. Park trails map.

Eagle Region

• Two Elk Trail #2005. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. Between Vail Pass on I-70 and  Minturn.

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Scenic Driving

Alamosa Region

• Alamosa River. Colorado 15 and Forest Road 250 between La Jara and Platoro via Stunner Pass. Can be combined with Conejos River Valley drive below.
• Conejos River Valley. Colorado 17 west from Antonito to Cumbres Pass. Side trip north on Forest Road 250 from Orca to Platoro. Part of Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway. Can be combined with Alamosa River drive above.
• Medano Pass Primitive Road. 4WD road going northeast from Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Car camping available along road.

Aspen Region

• Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway. Especially  Colorado 82 between Twin Lakes and Aspen via Independence Pass. This leg has BEST ASPEN, closes in late fall.
• Snowmass Creek and Capitol Creek Roads. County Roads 11 and 9 south off Colorado 82 east of Basalt.

• West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway. Three best sections:
  • County Road 12 over Kebler Pass between Crested Butte and Anthracite Campground. Closes in late fall. VERY BEST ASPEN
  • Colorado 92 from Blue Mesa Dam west along the north edge of Curecanti National Recreation Area and the south edge of Black Mesa.
  • Colorado 133 from McClure Pass to Paonia Reservoir. BEST ASPEN  

Boulder Region

• Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway. Colorado 46, 72, and 7 from Black Hawk to Estes Park.

Buena Vista Region

• Cottonwood Pass Road. County Road 306 west from Buena Vista to the pass. Closes in late fall.
• Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway. Especially  Colorado 82 between Twin Lakes and Aspen via Independence Pass. This leg has BEST ASPEN, closes in late fall.

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Colorado Springs Region

• Divide to Cripple Creek. Colorado 67, west side of Pike's Peak.
• Gold Camp Road. County Road 8 (AKA Forest Road 370) from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek. Starts in Colorado Springs as Old Stage Road.
• Phantom Canyon Road (northern part). County Road 67 south from Victor. Part of Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway.

Craig Region

• Douglas Pass. Colorado 139 between Loma and Rangely. Part of Dinosaur Diamond National Scenic Byway.

Creede Region 

• Forest Road 510. Joins Colorado 149 at both ends with Bristol Head Camp Ground at the south end and North Clear Creek Falls at the north.
• Rio Grande Reservoir Road. Forest Road 520 west from Colorado 149 to the reservoir.

Denver Region

• Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway. County Road 381 south from Georgetown and County Road 62 north from Grant. BEST ASPEN
• Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway. Colorado 46, 72, and 7 from Black Hawk to Estes Park.
• Squaw Pass Road. Colorado 103 from Bergen Park on Evergreen Parkway to Echo Lake near Mount Evans.

Durango Region

• Lime Creek Road. Forest Road 591. Twelve miles long, north of Durango Mountain Resort, connecting to US 550 at both ends: Cascade Creek at the south end and Lime Creek at the north. High clearance required.
• San Juan Skyway. Two best sections:
  • Colorado 62 over the Dallas Divide between Ridgway and Placerville BEST ASPEN.
  • Colorado 145 along the Dolores River between Dolores and Lizard Head Pass. 
• West Dolores River. Forest Road 535 from Colorado 145 west of Stoner back to Colorado 145 north of Rico.

Eagle Region

• Crooked Creek Pass Road and Sylvan Lake State Park. Starts as Brush Creek Road south from Eagle. Follows County Roads 307 and 8 and Forest Road 400. BEST ASPEN
• Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway. County Roads 17, 132 and 8 via Dunkley Pass between Yampa and Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area near Meeker. Can be combined into a loop with the Williams Fork Yampa River drive under Steamboat Region below.
• Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway. Especially  Colorado 82 between Twin Lakes and Aspen via Independence Pass. This leg has BEST ASPEN, closes in late fall.
• Vail Valley. I-70 west from Vail Pass through the valley. BEST ASPEN

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Estes Park Region

• Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway. Colorado 46, 72, and 7 from Black Hawk to Estes Park.
• Old Fall River Road. Rocky Mountain National Park webpage, park map. One way from Horseshoe Park to Alpine Visitor Center. Closes in late fall.
• Trail Ridge Road Scenic Byway. US 34 in Rocky Mountain National Park. Closes in late fall.

Grandby Region

• Rabbit Ears Range north of Kremmling. From US 40 at mile marker 169 take County Road 27 northeast to Forest Road 103 to Country Road 53 ending at Colorado 14.

Grand Junction Region

• Douglas Pass. Colorado 139 between Loma and Rangely. Part of Dinosaur Diamond National Scenic Byway.
• Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway. Colorado 65 from I-70 to Cedaredge. Huge concentrations of BEST ASPEN north and west of Cedaredge.

• McClure Pass. Colorado 133 from McClure Pass to Paonia Reservoir. BEST ASPEN. Side trip: Forest Road 265 northwest across Grand Mesa.

• West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway. Three best sections:
  • County Road 12 over Kebler Pass between Crested Butte and Anthracite Campground. Closes in late fall. VERY BEST ASPEN
  • Colorado 92 from Blue Mesa Dam west along the north edge of Curecanti National Recreation Area and the south edge of Black Mesa.
  • Colorado 133 from McClure Pass to Paonia Reservoir. BEST ASPEN  

Gunnison Region

• Ohio Creek Road. Forest Road 730 from Gunnison north to Ohio Pass and Kebler Pass.
• West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway. Three best sections:
  • County Road 12 over Kebler Pass between Crested Butte and Anthracite Campground. Closes in late fall. VERY BEST ASPEN
  • Colorado 92 from Blue Mesa Dam west along the north edge of Curecanti National Recreation Area and the south edge of Black Mesa.
  • Colorado 133 from McClure Pass to Paonia Reservoir. BEST ASPEN  

Montrose Region

• Cimarron Road / Owl Creek Pass Road. Forest Road 858 and County Road 8 from Cimarron on US 50 to Silver Jack Reservoir to Owl Creek Pass to US 550. BEST ASPEN west of the pass.

• Divide Road. Forest Road 402 along the top of the Uncompahgre Plateau between Colorado 141 near Whitewater and Colorado 90 west of Montrose.

North Park Region

• Buffalo Pass Road -- lower elevations on either side of the Continental Divide. County Road 60 from Steamboat Springs northeast toward Walden.

South Park Region

• Boreas Pass Road - South Half. County Road 33 from Como north toward Breckenridge.

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Steamboat Region

• Any road near Steamboat Springs. BEST ASPEN everywhere. Especially:
  • Buffalo Pass Road -- lower elevations on either side of the Continental Divide. County Road 60 from Steamboat Springs northeast toward Walden.
  • Seedhouse Road. County Road 64 and Forest Road 400 from Glen Eden to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness.
• Elkhead Mountains. County Road 11 to Freeman Reservoir from Colorado 13 north of Craig.
• Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway. County Roads 17, 132 and 8 via Dunkley Pass between Yampa and Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area near Meeker. Can be combined into a loop with the Williams Fork Yampa River drive below.
• Gore Pass - west side. Colorado 134 east from Toponas.
• Williams Fork Yampa River adjacent to the Flat Tops Wilderness. From Hamilton, south of Craig, take Colorado 317 to County Road 29 to County Road 27 to Colorado 131 at Oak Creek south of Steamboat Springs. Can be combined into a loop with the Flat Tops Scenic Byway above.

Summit County Region

• Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway. Especially  Colorado 82 between Twin Lakes and Aspen via Independence Pass. This leg has BEST ASPEN, closes in late fall.

Telluride Region

• Cimarron Road / Owl Creek Pass Road. Forest Road 858 and County Road 8 from Cimarron on US 50 to Silver Jack Reservoir to Owl Creek Pass to US 550. BEST ASPEN west of the pass.
• Dallas Creek East Fork Road. County Road 7 south from Colorado 62 west of Ridgway.
• Dallas Creek West Fork Road. County Road 9 south from Colorado 62 west of Ridgway.
• Girl Scout Camp Road. County Road 5 south from the southwest edge of Ridgway.
• Illium Road. County Road 63L and Forest Road 625 south from Colorado 145 west of Telluride. Follows the South Forth of the San Miguel River until the road reconnects with Colorado 145. Has both aspens and cottonwoods.
• Last Dollar Road. Forest Road 638 off Colorado145 just west of Telluride. Access road to Telluride's airport and beyond. BEST ASPEN
• San Juan Skyway. Two best sections:
  • Colorado 62 over the Dallas Divide between Ridgway and Placerville. BEST ASPEN
  • Colorado 145 along the Dolores River between Dolores and Lizard Head Pass. 

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Train Riding

Alamosa Region

• Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Denver Region

• Georgetown Loop Railroad

Durango Region

• Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Wildlife Viewing

Alamosa Region

• Sandhill Cranes at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. Refuge map.

Estes Park and Granby Regions

• Elk Rutting Season in Rocky Mountain National Park. East side: Horseshoe Park, Moraine Park. West side: Kawuneeche Valley. Park map. The preponderence of opinion seems to be that peak rutting season is 10 days centered on the autumnal equinox, Sept. 22. But non-peak rutting can go on before and after that period. Phone the park -- 970-586-1206 -- for current rutting conditions.

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