The fall color season in Rocky is quickly wrapping up and losing steam. Each day that passes, more and more of our beautiful autumn palette falls to the ground, turns brown and is blown away. As I’ve repeated a numerous times over the past two months, its been a banner fall for color in Rocky Mountain National Park but as always, its somber to see it come and go so quickly.

The positive so far is that its been very mild in Rocky. We’ve had snow above 10,000 ft. a couple of times this fall, but we have not had a really hard freeze as of yet. This has kept some color in the grasses and caused the pace of the color change to occur slowly and evenly. The color that remains in the park at this point is isolated and located in the lower elevations of the park, below 8500 ft and it could be found in small patches.

Winds, which have mostly behaved themselves over the course of this years fall color season, have also begun to pickup with each new weather system that passes over RMNP. Obviously, as this late a stage in the fall season, high winds will quickly strip the remaining trees and ground cover of their leaves. If I had to take a guess, I would be most if not all of the fall color will be wrapped up by the middle of next with a possibility of some small intimate type scenes of leaves of the ground or an individual tree here or there.

While the wind is likely to finish up most of the color in the coming week, we have had a very mild fall with very moderate temperatures. This looks like this is going to continue through the next week which bodes well for keeping the lakes and streams of Rocky unfrozen and flowing. If that occurs, we should have a nice transition from autumn to the ‘Shoulder Season’, aka the ‘Brown Season’. That means hiking should remain relatively snow and ice free for a little while longer while also keeping water and streams open for reflection images during a time when we can get some dramatic morning and afternoon light.

So while I never like to say goodbye to fall, it’s always a bit of a relief when it wraps up. The intensity to not miss a day out in the field, the busy nature of the park this time of year, and the ability to shoot what nature is giving you instead of focusing on autumn themed images is freeing. While I’m looking forward towards changing seasons, winter and snow, I’m sure I’ll find a pocket or two of fall here and there in Rocky where autumn still lives on for yet another day.

Autumn in Rocky Mountain National Park is now it in waining stages. What was a spectacular crescendo of color is slowly slipping to back to browns and grays as the length of days continue to shorten, nights get colder, and those showers instead of producing rain, now often produce snow flakes. The best of the fall color in RMNP is now behind us, but with that said there are still many opportunities for photographers in the park.

Trail Ridge Road had reopened last week but was closed again this weekend as snow was predicted to fall. While little snow actually fell, we will have to see if the NPS reopens Trail Ridge Road for a few more days or decides to call it good for the season.

Lakes and streams are still free from ice and offer good opportunities on those windless mornings. Trails are mostly still free of snow except for those in shade at or near timberline. Access overall to Rocky and its trails are still very good so we still have a little time before snowpack starts to build and covers the trails and the lakes and ponds ice over.

As far as the remaining fall color goes, there are some good patches, especially in the lower elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park and some locations in and around Lumpy Ridge and the town of Estes Park. Higher elevations such as the Bierstadt Moraine are for the most part now bare or only have a few random aspen trees here and there with leaves remaining.

Park still has some color as does Beaver Meadow and Horseshoe Park. Willows, wind sheltered trees and those in and around streams such as the area near the Alluvial Fan still have some potential. Intimate landscape scenes will tend to work better if one is just looking for fall color. Think of aspens leaves on the forest floor and covering the shores of a river or stream.

The weather looks like its going to be seasonal for the rest of the week in Rocky with it trending towards cold and unsettled by next weekend. While there is still much to photograph, straight up fall color photography in Rocky Mountain National Park is quickly becoming more challenging and will required some creativity moving forward.

While Autumn in Colorado is such an amazing time of year, it comes and goes way too quickly but its still worth searching for those hidden gems that may only remain for an even shorter time before the brown season moves on in.

Just a quick update on both the fall colors in Rocky Mountain National Park as well as the ability to currently access RMNP with the government shut down in place. While much of the current National Park service staff is either furloughed, or unpaid, Rocky Mountain National Park is open. Many of the services are limited in the park, but access to Rocky is possible at the time of this writing. At this time, it appears the National Park Service will keep RMNP open with limited services. Of course this is all subject to change at anytime. If you decide to visit the park, please be courteous, plan on packing out any garbage and to use leave no trace principles as you should assume responsibility for any impact you have.

As to the status of the fall colors, there is still plenty of good fall color to be found and photographed in RMNP at this time. With that said, most areas above 9000 ft are now past peak. The winds are quickly stripping the leaves in these area though patches of good color can be found. Bear Lake and the Bierstadt Moraine are past peak but there are pockets of good color. The area above Cub Lake is also past peak. Moraine Park is nearing peak as is Horseshoe Park. Most of the west side of Rocky is well past peak. The elk rut while slowing, still quite active with the best areas to view being Moraine Park and downtown Estes Park near the golf course.

while there is a lot of uncertainty right now with much of the federal government shut down or impacted by the funding impasse, Rocky Mountain National Park remains open with lots of great opportunities for fall color and wildlife photography. We probably have another week to ten days before we can put a bow on the fall color season but that of course is always dependent on future weather. Have fun out there!

Good morning all. Been a whirlwind of a few weeks here in Rocky Mountain National Park. We are quickly moving towards the back nine of autumn color in RMNP as we close out September. All I can say is what an autumn its been so far in Rocky. Culminating with snow and rain back on September 23rd, the fall color has been nothing short of spectacular this year. I’d go so far as to say this is the best fall color season in Rocky Mountain National Park that I can remember.

Until our rain and snow even on the 23rd of September, we have had very mild weather. Temperatures have not gotten below freezing which has allowed the various types of foliage to change colors and for the leaves to remain vibrant and colorful in a coordinated manner. Pair that with a wet spring, wet early summer and then a warm and dry late summer early fall and the colors in RMNP have really popped this year. Golden yellows, fiery reds, and vibrant oranges have all been easily found not only amongst the aspen trees in Rocky, but also amongst the smaller ground cover, bushes and small plants. The weather and timing of peak fall color has merged this year to make it one for the books.

I’ll have lots more images to share in future blog posts but as we are turning the corner here on fall in RMNP, I suggest getting out sooner than later to enjoy what has been a season to remember. All its going to take is a cold snap, snowstorm or big wind event and most of the fall color will be done for the season. This is what makes autumn in Rocky both amazing and a bit somber. Fall sneaks up on you and can be gone just as quickly. Get out and enjoy it while you still can.

Lake Helene, a spectacular lake located at the base of Notchtop Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. A great place to hike to or take a break on one of the longer circuit hikes in RMNP. Helene is also a great spot for autumn colors in Rocky Mountain National Park is you are interested in photographing something other than Colorado’s golden aspen trees.

I hiked in to Lake Helene early last week hoping for both a good sunrise as well as a chance to reconnoiter the area around Lake Helene to see how the autumn colors where coming along. The willows and underbrush around Lake Helene tend to display some of the earliest signs of autumn in Rocky.

After bumping finding my friend and fellow photographer Erik Stensland already setup along the shoreline, I found a spot myself and waited for sunrise. The weather forecast looked promising and the winds were calm at Lake Helene which can be a rarity, especially as we move out of summer towards fall.

There were some high clouds floating over Notchtop Mountain before sunrise, but there appeared to be less than forecast. As is often the case in Rocky Mountain National Park, one needs to stay patient as a lot of the action in the skies, both good and bad will happen right before sunrise. 90% of the time, the clouds you’re chasing may dissipate just before the sun rises. But that other 10% of the time you may get lucky and have a bunch of clouds show up just before the skies explode with color.

This morning last week was just one of those types of mornings. The winds stayed mostly calm and a bunch of low hanging clouds moved in over Lake Helene and Notchtop Mountain just as the sun was coming up. Pair that with the moon setting almost between the notch in Notchtop Mountain and it was a memorable morning.

After shooting the breeze with Erik for a few minutes, I took in the spectacular fall colors along the shores of Helene. Reds, oranges and yellows all could be found. So while the higher elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park are looking great, the aspens and elk rut are now rounding into shape. In other words, the most exciting time of year for photographers in Rocky Mountain National Park is upon us.

Finally had a little bit of time yesterday to get over to the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park for sunrise. Conditions on the east side of the park were clear and very windy. These types of mornings on the east side of RMNP are perfect for exploring the west side of Rocky for a few reasons.

For one, if there are strong westerly winds on the east side of Rocky, It likely the winds are very calm or non-existent on the west side of the park. This is obviously important for a few reasons, but foremost would be the chance to capture reflections and the second reason would be to keep objects like trees, leaves and blades of grasses and wildflowers mostly still when photographing them.

Another reason these are the perfect type of mornings for the west side of Rocky is that even on clear mornings, the west side of the park seems to me to have a better chance for clouds or fog to be present or to form. The east side of Rocky is basically in the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains, its the dry side and its practically a desert type environment on the east side of the park. The west side gets more moisture, is colder and feels less of the effect of the rain shadow, hence the better chance you may get some interesting atmospherics.

Leaving the wind behind, I headed over to the west side of the park and photographed from one of my favorite little ponds in the Kawuneeche Valley. This pond, near the former Green Mountain NPS Cabins which were almost all destroyed by the East Troublesome Fire, has a beautiful view of Baker Mountain, as well as Bowen and Baker Mountain.

With some light frost on the grasses and the feel of autumn in the air, the pond had a little bit of fog over its surface just as some clouds appeared over Baker Mountain at sunrise. A little bit better of a location than the windy east side this morning and its a great place to head up to Big Meadows after sunrise for a hike as well. All the more reason to head over the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park when conditions are the east side of RMNP are less than ideal.

Sometimes the morning works out nothing like you thought it would, in fact this is probably most times. This morning was one of those mornings. After what has felt like weeks of smokey, clear sunrises and hot dry days in Rocky Mountain National Park, the forecast called for showers, most cloudy skies and a cool down. Almost autumn like weather you might say.

I debated on where to head for sunrise this morning and ended up at Lake Haiyaha as I figured I’d had not photographed there this year and I could keep my options open depending on the light at sunrise. It was a beautiful morning and great little hike over to Lake Haiyaha but sunrise ended up being a bust.

On my hike back down from Lake Haiyaha, I spied what looked like some really nice fall color below. I stopped along the exposed part of the trail and in fact there were quite a few aspen trees turning between Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. Down I scampered and to my surprise, there was a set of aspen trees in their autumn glory.

While this particular set of aspens are often some of the first to peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, August 25th is certainly the earliest I can remember photographing an entire grove of aspen trees in their fall splendor. You can always find a few leaves or branches here or there by Labor Day, but this is early. The heat and dry weather appears to be stressing the trees and causing them to turn earlier than most.

I setup as there is a great view across Glacier Gorge and Longs Peak from this location. The sun broke through the clouds for a few brief moments and cast light on the aspens while rain showers floated over Longs Peak. Not bad for August 25th in RMNP!. Before everybody panics, my guess is this will just be a few trees and when its all said and done it will be more on schedule then this early. Regardless, nobody knows as of yet but I can say it was certainly and early fall surprise.