September in Summit County is a beautiful time of year. All the leaves on the aspen trees change to a beautiful gold. Some will have a little more orange or red in them but mainly gold. Combine that with the deep, blue sky, the green, pine trees and if we are lucky, a light dusting of snow. It will astonish!
The leaves seem to be changing a little earlier this year, perhaps it’s the lack of moisture we’ve had this summer. It’s mid September in Summit County and the gold patches are everywhere. Like normal, there are still some reluctant, green leafed aspen around and some that have already dropped their leaves and are ready for winter. However, most are donning their gold in all their glory.
Where to Go
If you’re not sure where to go to check out the leaves, here are a couple of my favorite spots.
- Boreas Pass Road in Breckenridge. As you head all the way to the top of the pass the road will turn to dirt and the aspen line the road. It’s hard to drive too far down this stretch without stopping several times to take photos.
- Eaglesmere in Silverthorne. Near Heeney and Green Mountain Reservoir is the Eaglesmere Trailhead. Just a few steps on the trail and you are in a huge aspen grove. If you time it just right, there will be gold everywhere. Gold leaves will cover the ground and some will still shimmer in the sunlight on the trees. While you’re here, check out Cataract Lake. The trailhead is very close to the Eaglesmere trailhead. You can combine the beautiful aspen groves with a reflective mountain lake.
During September in Summit County there are aspen everywhere. Take a drive down any road around the county and you’re bound to see areas that just take your breath away. September is a beautiful time to be in Summit County but we can have a wide variety of weather. Because of that, it’s good to be prepared for warm, sunny days as well as chilly, snowy days and everything in between.
Leave a Reply