Fall is rapidly approaching and will be official on the 22nd of September. The leaves are already changing in the high country and the typically dry and mild fall weather creates a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy some of the beauty Colorado has to offer. My favorite place to go in the state in near the Twin Lakes area just south of Leadville and of course the San Juan Mountains in SW Colorado and areas in and surrounding Estes Park. Typically the second or third week of September is prime for maximum color in the mountainous regions of the state. The great colors do not last long as wind and rain/snow will strip the trees of their leaves. The NWS in Grand Junction has a news of the day subject covering why leaves change their color in the fall. Lets leave it to the NWS to best describe how leaves change their color:
In the Autumn, the decrease in the intensity and duration of sunlight, as well as cooler temperatures, causes the leaves to stop their food-making process (photosynthesis). The chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down, causing the green color to disappear, and the yellowish pigments, known as carotenoids, become visible. The Autumn foliage of some trees, including aspen, birch and ash, are mostly yellowish colors. Also, the reddish pigments, the anthocyanins, become more visible in the leaf veins and cells in some leaves, such as maples.
The whole web page with additional information can be found by clicking here.
If you have fall foliage pictures you would like to share with others please send them to us so we can add them to our gallery or even post on our website. Thanks!