Aspen Area Fall Landscapes from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado

When people think of fall colors, more often than not they think of the blazing maples and oaks of New England. Well, let me tell you something. Fall in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado can give New England a run for its money—especially around Aspen, Colorado. Here are some photos from my September trip to Aspen. I call it my Aspen Area Fall Landscapes Portfolio.

Shooting locations for my Aspen area fall landscapes

In the September and October, almost any direction you look will reward you with stunning scenes. However, I do have my favorite shooting locations.

Maroon Bells Scenic Area

The Maroon Bells reflected in Maroon Lake is one of the most iconic scenes in Colorado. Because of its beauty and, hence, its popularity, capturing your version of this scene will require some advance planning. Here are some dawn and sunset photographs of this very popular scene.

Warm morning light kisses the Maroon Bells just before dawn, near Aspen, Colorado.

Magenta morning light kisses the Maroon Bells just before dawn in the Maroon Bells Recreation Area near Aspen, Colorado.

A colorful sunrise is reflected in the still waters of Maroon Lake in the Maroon Bells Recreation Arez near Aspen, Colorado.

A view of the Maroon Bells in the crisp morning light in the Maroon Bells Recreation Area near Aspen, Colorado.

A lovely view of a coulee from Marron Creek Road, on the way to the Maroon Bells, near Apsen, Colorado.

A typical fall afternoon in the Maroon Bells Recreations Area near Aspen, Colorado. The sun peeks through the gray clouds to illuminate the beautiful gold aspens.

A group of photographers trying for shots of the Maroon Bells in the Maroon Bells Recreation Area near Aspen, Colorado.

A cascade of water flows out of the Maroon Bells into Maroon Lake in the Maroon Bells Recreation Area near Aspen, Colorado.

A view along the trail in the Maroon Bells Recreation Area showcases turning aspens and fireweed.

Colorful aspens and pine trees are reflected in the rippled water of Maroon Lake in Maroon Bells Recreation Area near Aspen, Colorado.

Access to this area is restricted during summer and fall. If you are not planning to camp in one of three campgrounds, go to the Aspen Chamber of Commerce site to get the latest information on bus service and parking options.

If you can drive your own vehicle along Maroon Creek Road, be sure to stop frequently at the available pull-offs. There’s lots to see and photograph!

Ashcroft Ghost Town

Located about ten miles south of Aspen is Ashcroft Ghost Town. Nine old, very photogenic, buildings still remain, providing an insight to life in the late 1800s. Here are some photographs of Ashcroft taken over several days.

Closeup of the fretwork along the eaves of an abandoned hotel in Ashcroft Ghost Town near Aspen, Colorado.

A view looking out from the "lobby" of the hotel in the ghost town of Ashcroft, Colorado.

An abandoned false front cabin, which was probably a store, in the ghost town of Ashcroft, Colorado, is framed by blazing aspens.

An old privy stands along a "street" in Ashcroft Ghost Town near Aspen, Colorado.

An abandoned miner's cabin in the ghost town of Ashcroft, Colorado, is framed by blazing aspens.

A sweet little log cabin sits in a field in Ashcroft Ghost Town near Aspen, Colorado.

A detail of the corner of a log cabin showing how the logs interlock in Ashcroft Ghost Town near Aspen, Colorado.

A close-up of a small grove of aspens exhibiting a spectrum of fall colors from red through orange, yellow, and green.

This is some information about the site from the Aspen Historical Society.

Crystal Mill Powerhouse

Be sure to take a side trip to the old Crystal Mill powerhouse, sometimes called Crystal Mill, along the Crystal River near Marble, Colorado. Here are some photos from our Crystal Mill adventure.

As the crow flies, the powerhouse is just on the other side of the Maroon Bells. However, if you are not a crow, you will drive northwest to Carbondale and then south to Marble on CO 133. From Marble, take County Road 3 for about 5 miles to the powerhouse.

The road from Marble to the powerhouse requires a high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle. Along this rugged road, you will need to negotiate potholes, a blind hill, and a talus field. But your perseverance will be rewarded by a breathtaking view of the bounding Crystal River, presided over by one of the most photographed buildings in Colorado—the Crystal Mill powerhouse. This article in the Colorado Encyclopedia has a lot more information about this historic site.

Around Redstone

Redstone is an historic village about 17 miles south of Carbondale on CO-133. It is most famous for Redstone Castle. The castle, just south of Redstone, is a large timber-framed mansion open for lodging, weddings, and tours. However, the reason we visited this village is because of the famous beehive coke ovens. Here are some photos.

Hayes Creek Falls, off CO-133 near Redstone, Colorado, is especially colorful because of the variety of rocks and the wet mosses.

These ovens in Redstone, Colorado, were used to reduce coal, mined nearby, to coke that was used in steel smelting.

These ovens at the end of the line are not fully restored. They are located in Redstone, Colorado, and were used to reduce coal, mined nearby, to coke that was used in steel smelting.

County roads near Aspen

Heading out of Aspen and Snowmass are several scenic county roads you should explore. They include Capitol Creek Road, W. Sopris Creek Road, Kebler Pass, and Snowmass Creek Road. Here are some photos we took along these various roads.

A run-down log barn is nicely backstopped with golden aspens, along Capital Creek Road near Aspen, Colorado.

A rolling expanse of aspens, oaks, and pines create a panorama along West Sopris Creek Road near Aspen, Colorado.

A nice view of Snowmass Mountain from Snowmass Creek Road near Aspen, Colorado.

Just past McClure Pass heading toward Paonia Reservoir is an overlook where I stopped to take this photo. The trees were brilliant and the scene was so peaceful. Notice the deer in the lowere right of the frame?

A panoramic view from CR12 southeast of Kebler Pass at a volcanic dike floating in a sea of aspens and fir.

A view from CR12 southeast of Kebler Pass at a volcanic dike floating in a sea of aspens and fir.

A view of golden aspens along Gunnison Country Road 12 below Marcellina Mountain, near Crested Butte, Colorado.

Looking through a forest of quaking aspens along CR12 near Kebler Pass in Colorado.

Incised lines on the bank show how the water level is shrinking in Paonia Reservoir as the water is being lowerd in preparation for winter and spring runoff.

More Rocky Mountain fall landsapes

Here are some more photographs of fall scenes in the Rocky Mountains: Fall Landscapes of the San Juan Mountains.

Purchasing our photographs

All of our scenic photographs are available as fine art prints. Use the contact form to the right to get more information. Or, go to our Fine Art Print page to learn about various pricing options.