High Country leaf-peeping season is now in full effect.
Fall colors are peaking this weekend and next, bringing big crowds to the hiking trails and scenic roads of Summit County. Over the past two years, the final week of September has been busier than most holidays on the I-70 mountain corridor, summer and winter.
Already the trailheads for Lily Pad Lakes, Aspen Alley and other fall hotspots are filling up fast. Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons came on the Krystal 93 morning show with a few reminders for locals and visitors.
“There is no parking on county roads,” FitzSimons says. “Don’t jam up the trailheads. All the stuff that we know, and we will see people doing it, don’t overreact.”
Grace and patience are his top priorities this time of year, reminding folks we are all here for the same reason – the beauty of a High Country fall.
“Let’s not overreact, especially with violence,” “It seems like the go-to anymore is hit the overreact button and threaten with violence.”
FitzSimons says his deputies are not ramping up enforcement, like what’s happening on Guanella Pass in Clear Creek County, where dozens of cars were ticketed and others were towed in recent weeks.
But where to go?
It’s the million-dollar question. It depends on what you’re doing and how long you want to be doing it.
For hikers… Lily Pad Lakes via Buffalo Trailhead (Wildernest) or Meadow Creek Trailhead (Frisco). If those lots are full, try Salt Lick at the base of Wildernest.
For bikers… French Gulch trails in Breckenridge. Park at B&B, Reiling Dredge or the base of Sallie Barber (at the gate). The best tree rides are on the north side of the gulch.
For drivers… Boreas Pass Road east of Breck on weekdays or Frey Gulch Road near the shooting range on weekends.
For campers… The reserved campgrounds around Lake Dillon (Prospector, Peak One, Heaton Bay) tend to be slower this time of year. There’s also Blue River Campground just north of Silverthorne. Across the highway from there is dispersed camping up Rock Creek Road with trail access to
For porch loungers… Kenosha is a Breck favorite for its huge patio and views of Breck ski area. In Frisco, hit the rooftop bar at Uptown for stunning views of Peak One. In Silverthorne, try Red Buffalo Coffee for a quiet table on the creek.