Fall Al fresco

Experience Colorado during one of the state’s best kept secrets: autumn. Mother Nature has blessed Colorado with unrivaled beauty, especially during the fall months when the mountains shimmer with golden leaves. It’s the perfect time of year to get out and explore the state’s many natural attractions and participate in an array of outdoor activities. With a variety of fun festivals, harvest celebrations, and spooktacular events, Colorado offers something for every visitor. Below are a few ideas to inspire a fall staycation in Colorado.

For the Adventurer

Hike to Crater Lake in Aspen. The Maroon Bells are known as the most photographed peaks in Colorado and are some of the most famous mountain peaks in the US. All of the hikes near the Maroon Bells provide breathtaking views, but a local favorite is the hike to Crater Lake, especially during the fall as the trail wanders through a thick aspen forest. The hike is 3.6 miles roundtrip and ends with gorgeous mountain views.

Bike the Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville. It’s not time to put away the bicycles just yet! Take a ride on the 11.6-mile Mineral Belt Trail that loops around the city. Wildflower meadows, conifer forests, and aspen groves lit up in dazzling fall colors make for a bike ride with plenty of photo ops. Not only are there fall colors, but many historical sites along the way include remnants of the city’s once-bustling mining history.

For the Fam

Explore a Corn Maze at the Frederika Fall Festival (Avondale). From Sept. 12 through Halloween, the Frederika Fall Festival welcomes visitors to their 10-acre “Colorado” corn maze with 3.5 miles of trails. The maze is located on a 75-acre, multi-generation farm. Join them on Halloween for some enjoyable pumpkin decorating, a costume contest, and trick-or-treating with the kids. Throughout the fall, take the opportunity to launch pumpkins with a sling-shot for the pumpkin fling.

Pick a Pumpkin at Tigges Farm in Greeley. This fall, head to Tigges Farm, a family-run farm since 1935, and choose the perfect pumpkin to carve. From August through October, the family-friendly farm will showcase some of the original equipment used to till the land. Check out the produce stand that offers Colorado fresh produce including roasted chilies, tomatoes, sweet corn, melons,
and onions.

For the Foodie

Savor the Season at Lyons Farmette in Lyons. At the eastern edge of the town, the Lyons Farmette offers many fresh farm-to-table dinners throughout the season. The farm also offers classes and workshops on topics ranging from how to keep bees to how to brew beer or make cheese from chefs and agriculture experts from the Front Range community.

For the Ghost Hunter

Get Scared on Banjo Billy’s Ghost Tour in Boulder and Denver. Boulder and Denver are often known for stunning mountain views and an active beer scene, but most don’t know about the ghosts that haunt the streets. Banjo Billy’s offers ghost tours, with historians and legend-keepers who share the haunting stories of ghosts in the shadows. The bus passes by haunted mansions and streets where mysterious sights and sounds can often be heard.

Find frights in the Haunted Mines in Colorado Springs. Ever had to endure a death-defying descent into the depths of a mine? At the Haunted Mines, this is just one of the ways to get spooked. From Sept. 19 through Nov. 1, come to the one-of-a kind outdoor/indoor haunted house attraction on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Visitors will crawl for their lives to escape a vent shaft and explore their way through the maze of tunnels, wondering if they’ll ever get out!

For the Leaf Peeper

Ride the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Antonito. Nothing like viewing fall foliage from the windows of a historic train. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is the highest and longest authentic steam-powered, narrow-gauge railroad in the US. With all the rain we had over the summer, this fall is expected to be one of the best. The train starts out in terrain resembling the Old West, and continues into the San Juan Mountains with lush aspen groves turned completely red, orange, and gold.

Drive Kebler Pass (Crested Butte). One of the most famous drives for leaf peeping is the drive on Kebler Pass to Marble and the Crystal River Valley — it’s home to the largest aspen grove in the US. Head north on Whiterock Avenue out of Crested Butte and continue on this road as it turns into County Road 12. One of the best places to stop and take in the views? Horse Ranch Park, which offers breathtaking views of the Anthracite Range.

Plan your own fall outing at Colorado.com.