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The Best Scenic Drives in Colorado Springs (and Beyond) for Fall Leaf Peeping 2024
Does the hint of fall in the air have you itching to take some scenic drives in Colorado Springs and parts beyond when the leaves begin to change for autumn? Colorado is most famous for its aspens, which paint the hills in vibrant shades of gold in fall. It’s probably not the gold rush that the prospectors of old wanted to discover. But, it’s pretty nice for us modern folks. (To be fair, we’d all probably love some real gold, too).
As you’ll notice during your drive, aspens are not the only thing colorful Colorado has to offer in autumn. This stunning state has shades of orange and red, not to mention the colors of the last few wildflowers that dot the hillsides before winter. In short, be ready to watch Mother Nature put on a grand show.
We’ve broken these scenic Colorado drives down by distance from central Colorado Springs (downtown). You can pick between a short gas-sipper of a journey or a longer road trip. It all depends on what you prefer. We’ve also included the best time to check out the leaves so you don’t miss out. Let’s check out some of the best places for leaf peeping in Colorado!
This list was last updated on September 17, 2024.
Palmer Park
5 miles from Central Colorado Springs | Early October
Palmer Park is the shortest scenic drive on this list. You can only do a short loop through the park or get out and hike. It also isn’t home to many of Colorado Springs’ aspen trees (the official tree for obsessing over fall in Colorado). What it is home to, however, is a plentiful amount of radiant foliage that paints the park with orange, red and yellow. The colors begin at the very end of September and through October. It’s a great place to check out unique fall colors in Colorado Springs.
Even better, Palmer Park has a lot of features that make it a fun family destination, too. There’s a playground, ample hiking and even a dog park. You can take a drive through the park to the top and get a grand view of Colorado Springs in all its glory. Then, head back down the hill to play on the swings, hike or let the pupper out for a run. The easiest way to reach it is not using Palmer Park Boulevard. That would make too much sense. Instead, you can find the main entrance off of Maizeland Road and Academy Boulevard.
Be sure to check out our list for traveling with your companion pet for helpful tips.
Pikes Peak Scenic Highway
10 miles to gate from central Colorado Springs, 19.5 Miles to the Summit | Early October
If you take the Pikes Peak Scenic Highway, you won’t just see fall leaves in Colorado Springs. You’ll see them across the entire state. The summit of this world-famous fourteener allows you to see the majestic Rocky Mountains and up to five states on a clear day. That probably makes it the best leaf peeping in the Pikes Peak region. After all, what could possibly be better than viewing every tree, all at once?
Take Highway 24 west of Colorado Springs until you see the signs for the turn to Pikes Peak. You need to make reservations in advance for a timed entry slot through the end of September. The Peak also offers the occasional dawn time slot. If you’re feeling super ambitious, you can combine golden trees with a splashy sunrise. The Pikes Peak Highway has lots of places to stop and take photos or hike, and the brand-new Summit House has hot and fresh donuts all day long. We’ve heard donuts don’t have calories at 14,115 feet above sea level. Do what you want with that suspiciously convenient information.
Gold Camp Road
20 miles to Road from Central Colorado Springs | Early October
Gold Camp Road is a more precarious way to check out fall in Colorado Springs and one of the closer destinations for checking out those famous golden aspen leaves in Colorado. You take West Cheyenne Mountain Boulevard to Old Stage Road to begin the drive. It is a dirt road with lots of potholes and washboard, so it’s not really recommended for smaller cars – you’ll probably have to pay us a visit if you head up in a Fiat, for example. We recommend AWD/4WD and you’ll still need to watch your tires, rims, and brakes as you drive.
Leaf viewing and scenic viewing in general can be found all along the route. Some folks claim the road gets spooky after dark and local teens have passed down the urban legend that the tunnels are haunted for decades. Visiting those tunnels around Halloween is one of the more popular fall activities in Colorado Springs. Don’t worry though, you can’t see the leaves at night, so you should be home safe before you can test that theory for yourself.
Cripple Creek and Victor/Mueller State Park
45 miles from Central Colorado Springs | Late September through Early October
Located just 45 miles west of Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek offers a fun destination with an incredible autumn odyssey in the mountain passes along the way. Take Highway 67 out of Divide and enjoy an excursion you will revisit year after year. Golden aspens fill the hillsides and there are lots of places to stop and snap photos. Along the way, you’ll also find Mueller State Park, which has 5,000 acres for some of the best leaf peeping hikes in Colorado. In Cripple Creek proper, you can try to get a little gold of your own from one of the slot machines (although you’ll probably end up like many of the early prospectors – empty-handed).
Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway
45 miles from Central Colorado Springs | Late September through Early October
Although this drive literally begins in Cripple Creek (or Victor, depending on your direction), the Gold Belt Scenic Byway is worth its own highlight. Most locals make a lot of dad jokes about the road being named “Gold” for the aspens (it’s us, we’re making the jokes). Once you start your journey, you’ll probably agree. It’s also a pretty cool drive for reasons beyond the golden hills. You get to enjoy mountain views of Colorado aspen trees and see historic mining encampments and structures from the days when people came to the region to seek out their fortune.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can continue beyond Victor and check out the famous Phantom Canyon Road (we have a fantastic restaurant here in Colorado Springs that’s named after the route). You can plan your trip with this handy map. It’s worth noting that following the route into Cañon City will take you past a pumpkin farm on the outskirts of the city, antique stores in Florence and orchards in Penrose. Those all make great stops to stretch your legs.
Late Season Leaf Peeping
The leaves start changing in September, beginning northwest of Denver and rippling down through the state all the way to Trinidad in October. These trips are a little further than the scenic drives in Colorado Springs above, but their location further south will ensure you get to see more golds, reds and oranges later in the leaf peeping season in Colorado.
The Great Sand Dunes
160+ miles from Central Colorado Springs | September through October
You might be wondering how a sea of sand fits into leaf peeping, but you won’t for long. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Range, which has plenty of fall foliage to delight visitors to the region. Both aspens and cottonwoods contribute to the brilliant swaths of gold that dot the mountains. In addition to visiting the dunes themselves, take time to hike a few of the nearby trails to immerse yourself in the fall colors.
Observe signage regarding hunting in the area and dress in bright clothing if you are in the wilderness. Please note that many of the roads that go deeper into the mountains require high-clearance, 4WD vehicles. Medano Pass Primitive Road, for example, has nine creek crossings and sand pits that can leave you with a heft towing bill. Most cars and SUVs are not allowed to traverse this road. You can also continue your drive on Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic Byway and catch more leaves to the south in La Manga Pass. It is a spectacular part of Colorado that is worthy of the extra mileage.
Kebler Pass
160+ miles from Central Colorado Springs | Late September through Ealry/Mid-October
Kebler Pass has the bragging rights of being the proud home of one of the largest aspen groves in the United States. The pass begins beyond the town of Crested Butte. Although it is a dirt road that closes in the winter, the fall conditions are typically just fine for most cars. The road is packed and maintained. It does take a couple of hours to get through the 33-mile stretch at the posted speed of 30 mph but with all the gorgeous scenery, you’ll be grateful you can drive slow without creating an angry line of cars behind you.
Bring your camera. This is one of the most photographed fall scenic drives in Colorado for a reason! Once you are done with the pass, you can continue along the West Elk Loop Byway, which is awe-inspiring when it comes to Colorado beauty. Check road conditions before you go. This pass is closed in the winter and you never know when a few surprise blizzards might change things.
San Juan Skyway
315 miles from Central Colorado Springs | Late September to Mid-October
Have you ever heard of the San Juan Skyway? It is an incredibly loop that covers a diverse scenic landscape across 230+ miles of Southern Colorado. How expansive is this drive? It includes both the famous Million Dollar Highway and Mesa Verde National Park. Yes, it does take about six hours to complete the entire loop. More if you stop and visit the considerable number of historic locations, hiking trails, lookouts and charming towns. In fact, it may be a perfect final farewell to roadtrip season to make a weekend of it.
Because this scenic drive is located in the southwest, the leaf peeping season runs a little later in the lower elevations. The higher you go, the earlier the leaves will be turning. Since to drive to get there is longer, stay the night in Durango and start the trip early to maximize all the sunlight you can for leaf peeping. Be sure to time your drive so you hit the Million Dollar Highway in the daytime! It really is a treasure.
We hope you’ll love exploring these scenic drives in Colorado Springs in fall. We also think you’ll enjoy all the other destinations to see autumn foliage and golden aspen trees in Colorado. Before you go, be sure to stop by Honest Accurate for an inspection before those longer, high-elevation road trips. And remember, fall means that winter will be here before you know it. It’s time to start thinking about switching to winter tires and checking your car battery. We’ll be here to help. (We save our leaf peeping for our days off).
