When and where to see fall leaves in Colorado

DENVER — Autumn is one of the most beautiful times to live in Colorado. Hillsides turn stunning shades of gold, orange and red. Sometimes it seems to happen almost overnight. Leaves change color each fall when they stop photosynthesis so they can rest for the winter when there isn't enough sunlight. The green chlorophyll fades, leaving behind the other colors that had been hidden the rest of the year. More in Fall colors Typically, colors peak in Colorado's northern mountains throughout the month of September. The central Colorado mountains peak the last week of September. For our southern mountains, it's typically the first week of October. However, the 9NEWS Weather Impact Team is tracking an earlier peak colors this year due to ongoing drought conditions affecting Colorado, with the best conditions occurring 7-10 days earlier than average. The state's aspen leaves may also not be as vibrant this season, and the peak season may be shorter because of the stress on the trees. Colorado lacked adequate winter snowpack, which all melted off more quickly than usual, and insufficient summer rainfall. Trees that are stressed out from the lack of moisture can start to pull back and conserve moisture, then start to turn yellow sooner than later. Extreme drought can cause trees to consume available moisture early, triggering the color change process. In some severe cases of drought, trees may skip the colorful colors and turn straight to brown, or have a shortened fall display. See a map of the earlier expected peaks from the 9NEWS Weather Impact Team below. There's nothing like fall in Colorado and we want to highlight your photos. To submit a photo or video, share with the 9NEWS app. > DOWNLOAD APP FOR IPHONE HERE> DOWNLOAD APP FOR ANDROID HERE