The first hints of gold are starting to shimmer in the Colorado Rockies, signaling the arrival of one of the most magical times of year. Fall in Colorado means crisp mornings, bluebird skies, and mountainsides ablaze with yellow, orange, and red.
With summer’s heat behind us and snow still on the horizon, autumn is one of the best times to explore. One of our favorite ways to do just that is with a scenic drive—windows down, camera ready, and plenty of pull-offs to soak up the views. Use this interactive fall color map from Explore Fall to help time your trip and then check out a few of our favorite drives for leaf peeping in Colorado - all easily accessible from our luxury vacation rental homes in Vail and Beaver Creek.
Plug Piney River Ranch into your GPS and head out from Vail. You won't even notice the bumpy ride on the dirt road you'll be so in awe of the spectacular colors. And it gets even better once you arrive at the ranch, with incredible views of the surrounding peaks and a stunning lake. Stretch your legs after the drive with a hike up the Upper Piney Lake Trail to the waterfall.
Enjoy this designated scenic byway with lots of pull-offs for the perfect photo opportunities. Take Highway 24 south through the historic town of Minturn up the winding pass toward Redcliff. From here, loop back to Vail on Shrine Pass Road, a well-graded gravel road.
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This drive begins about 30 minutes west of Vail in Eagle on a paved road. Enjoy the golden colors as you drive along. As you near Sylvan Lake, the road turns into a gravel. Take in all the views at this tucked-away haven.
Then park your car at one of our luxury vacation rental homes and continue to enjoy the scenery and the fall colors from the deck!
