Day Trip Through the Guanella Pass Summit to See The Gorgeous Fall Foliage

Yesterday, we took a drive through the Guanella Pass Summit to view the fall foliage. As we made our way up, we couldn’t help but be amazed by the breathtaking views of the gold aspen trees, calm flowing creeks, and big horn sheep seamlessly walking around. The leaves transforming from shades of green to vibrant yellows and oranges are one of the reasons I love fall, along with the lowering temperatures. Fall in Colorado is truly something else, and this scenic byway is a must-visit if you’re in or near the area.

The Guanella Pass begins in Georgetown and passes through two national forests on its way up Arapaho National Forest and Pike National Forest. Arapaho National Forest climbs to 11,669 feet in 12 miles. After crossing into the Pike National Forest, the drive ends in Grant. The entire drive is breathtaking, and you’ll find yourself making various stops along the way to take in the beauty and capture pictures. The entire drive takes about an hour, but if you plan on stopping to stop for pictures or to explore the area, expect a longer drive. We stopped many times to take pictures and explore the area, so the drive took us about three hours.

In addition to the fall foliage, there are many forests and mountains to explore. We found a trail as we drove and stopped to walk around. The trail is surrounded by gold aspen trees with yellow leaves on the ground, and a creek that runs through it. The views of the mountains were something else, capped with snow and green and yellow trees surrounding them.

I took a myriad of photos; I simply couldn’t stop. To see just how beautiful the Guanella Pass Byway is during this time of year, browse my photos on my SmugMug site, and check out my TikTok video as well.

Where do you love to go in Colorado in the fall to take in nature’s changing beauty? Share in the comments!