The National Parks Where Aspens Turn First
There's something in the air: it's the smell and look of fall. The aspens are turning their golden hues of yellow, orange, and red, and the crisp air is sweeping into the national parks. But not all aspen groves are changing at the same rate. There's a handful of national parks in the western part of the U.S. that have some of the earliest color changes in the nation. Part of what makes these aspen groves change early is the elevation and cooler mountain climates found in places like the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. You don't have to guess where to find the best aspen color show this year. This list of five national parks is where you can see them before anyone else.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The Rockies are home to most of the early aspen color changes on this list, but Rocky Mountain National Park, located in Colorado, is one of the earliest. Colors peak in mid-September in the subalpine zone at elevations of 9,000-11,000 ft (2,700-3,300 m), then they progress into lower elevations around late September. The best hiking trail to see the fall foliage is Glacier Gorge Trail. This trail has a lovely aspen-lined path that creates a golden tunnel of leaves in late September. But if driving is more your style, you can see the aspens glitter on either side of Bear Lake Road, a 9-mile (14 km) paved corridor that starts out at 8,200 ft (2,500 m) and winds its way up to 9,475 ft (2,887 m). However you get there, the gorgeous aspen groves in Rocky Mountain National Park are waiting to be seen.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
For a truly unique aspen-watching experience, head down to the southeast corner of Colorado to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. While this national park is popular for having the tallest sand dunes in North America, sandy hills, that's only 13% of the national park's terrain. 107,302 acres (605 sq. km) are made up of aspen groves that change color at the highest elevations in September. Morris Gulch, in particular, has gorgeous aspen groves that start popping with bright golden yellow colors around late September to early October. The best trail to see the changing aspens is the Mosca Pass Trail. It's about 7 miles (11.3 km) round-trip but is well worth it for its winding creek-side path that leads to vibrant aspen groves through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Glacier National Park
In the upper elevations of Montana, you can spot some of the earliest changing aspens in the country. Glacier National Park has over 1,00,000 acres (4,100 sq. km) worth of land, and some of them gift you with lower-elevation aspen groves along rivers and lakes that peak around late September to early October. Some of the best trails to see the changing colors are located on the eastern side of the Continental Divide, like the 6.8-mile (11 km) out-and-back round trip Bullhead Lake trail or the 3.7-mile (6 km) Redrock Falls trail. There, you'll be able to see shimmering golden aspens nestled next to serene waterfalls. If driving is more accessible, you can also see the aspens glow on the 11-mile (17 km) Looking Glass Highway, which has lots of native aspen groves that turn from gold to orange with lovely mountain views in the background.
Grand Teton National Park
Another Rocky Mountain-based national park to spot the early aspen colors is none other than Grand Teton National Park. This Wyoming-based national park delivers glowing golden aspen sights starting in mid-September, with its peak around late September to early October. They can be found in several places in the park, including the Willow Flats Overlook, a popular roadside pullout where pops of gold can be seen with the backdrop of the Teton Range. For hiking, the Taggart Loop offers a 3-mile (4.8 km) round-trip trail that winds through lots of quaking aspen groves. The dramatic Tetons in the background mixed with golden aspens at the forefront make this national park one of the most stunning for early fall foliage.
Yosemite National Park
The Rocky Mountains aren't the only place to see the aspens change colors early; the Sierra Nevadas also offer glowing foliage in Yosemite National Park. At the higher elevations, aspens can start changing colors as early as mid to late September, with their peak in late September to early October. The Tioga Pass and Summit Meadow near Glacier Point Road are two of the best places to spot the gold and orange hues. Cruise along either road and be amazed at the vibrant colors that surround you. You can also take an easy 3.3-mile (5 km) round-trip hike on the Badger Pass to the Bridalveil Creek Campground for similar views. Yosemite's quaking aspens are ready to pop any day now, so run, don't walk to the mountains before it's too late.
These Aspen-Filled National Parks are the Places to Be
Fall foliage can come and go before you know it. They pop in mid-September and vanish in mid-October. But there's no better place to be than these five national parks to spot the golden hues of the aspen trees before they're gone. The Rocky Mountains are a great place to be, with thousands of acres of aspen groves glistening in the forest and mountains. But the Sierra Nevadas also have a lot to offer and can often bring waterfalls and lakes into the picture. Wherever you are in the country, fill up the gas tank and speed to one of these national parks. The window is short, but the reward for seeing some of the best fall foliage in the nation is worth the trip.
