Fall In Colorado. 09-03-2025

Geraint September 3, 2025 8 Comments

Greetings from New Mexico. This week, some images of fall colors taken in previous years on trips to Crested Butte. I’ll have some of these images as prints in the upcoming Artist Combo Show in Taos on September 12-14 at the Stables Gallery. I look forward to seeing you there.

Kebler Pass road Fall colors, Colorado — Aspens, peaks, and clouds, Colorado.

Near Crested Butte, Colorado — Close-up of the peaks and colors.

Aspens and peaks, Colorado — Near Lost Lake, Colorado.

Last Dollar road, Colorado — Taken from Last Dollar Road, Colorado.

I love making prints. In days past, it wasn’t a photograph until it was printed. This is the first time I’ve printed this image. You can see it at the show next week.

Aspens and peaks print — Print 11″x18″ Aspens and Peaks, Colorado.

New Mexico is stunning in the fall, but I’ve always considered the last week of September a must for a trip to Colorado.

Crested Butte, Colorado, is renowned for its stunning fall colors, making it a popular destination for photographers, hikers, and nature lovers. The area is particularly famous for its vibrant aspen groves, which turn brilliant shades of yellow, gold, and sometimes red during the autumn months.

Best Time to Visit.
The peak color in Crested Butte typically occurs from late September to early October. However, the exact timing can vary each year based on weather conditions, altitude, and other factors. It’s a good idea to check local reports or contact local businesses for the most current information on the status of the leaves.

Best Places to See Fall Colors.

Kebler Pass – Often cited as one of the best places in Colorado to see fall colors, Kebler Pass is accessible via a scenic drive on Gunnison County Road 12. The area is known for having one of the largest aspen groves in the United States.
Gothic Road – Leading north from Crested Butte towards the ghost town of Gothic, this route offers spectacular views of aspen-lined valleys against a backdrop of rugged mountain peaks.
Ohio Pass – Connecting Gunnison to Crested Butte via Ohio Creek Road, this less-traveled pass offers stunning views of the Castles, a unique rock formation, amidst the golden aspens.
Brush Creek Road – Southeast of Crested Butte, this area provides a mix of aspen forests and open meadows, offering a different perspective on the fall colors.
Slate River Road – This route provides beautiful vistas of the surrounding mountains and valleys filled with colorful aspens, especially stunning with early morning or late afternoon light.

As always, thanks for looking and following along. G

Autumn, Out and About, Around the Block. 09-27-2023

Geraint September 26, 2023 18 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, New Mexico. Autumn! It’s time to get out and make trips around the block.

The phrase “around the block” refers to day-long road trips we frequently take. A journey that will ultimately bring us back to where we started, and perhaps, because of the sights we’ve seen, we have been reminded of the home that is within us, wherever we go.

This week a few pictures from past trips around the long block in Colorado and a reminder of the upcoming autumn colors that are gradually manifesting here in northern New Mexico. My October schedule for private workshops and tours is almost full. I have a few days still open if you are going to be in the area and want to sign up.

Autumn, road in Colorado — On the road in Colorado, 2012.

Aspen reflections in the car windshield Ohio Creek Pass, Colorado.

A pond in the high country near Grand Mesa, Colorado.

Blue Mesa, reservoir, Colorado — Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado.

Aspens in northern New Mexico — Aspens in Garcia Park, northern New Mexico.

Maybe I’ll see you out and about or going… “around the block”.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G.

Sunflower, Standing Tall, Taos Valley Wetlands

Geraint October 25, 2020 4 Comments

Sunflower, all it’s sunny fires out but standing tall in the Taos Valley wetlands. I particularly like sunflowers in their decay as much as I do when they herald the beginning of August lining the highways and byways of northern New Mexico. Here, in this photo, they usher in the early throes of winter while maintaining a continuous golden glow. Snow on it’s way over the next few days. Stay warm where you are and thanks for looking. G

Traffic Halt, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Geraint October 7, 2020 4 Comments

Traffic halt, on the Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. I’m going to stand here for a while (the animal didn’t move for ten minutes) until I’m good and ready to move on. Thanks for looking. G

Last Dollar Road, Ridgway, Telluride, Colorado

Geraint October 6, 2020 6 Comments

Last Dollar Road, between Ridgway and Telluride, Colorado. Heading down Last Dollar Road we just had to stop for this view. In 1989 I climbed Mount Sneffels, the peak on the far left of the image with my good friend Harry. When we got to the top I was exhausted. It was a little humiliating to see a father and his seven-year-old son sitting there fresh as the morning eating lunch and me huffing and puffing. 14,000+ feet will do that to you. We shared some stories with them while eating our lunches. On the way down I reinjured the meniscus in my right knee, or was it the left? Fortunately, we had ridden our bikes up to 12,000 feet and hidden them behind a large boulder. Riding down to our camp at 6,000 was a very nice and welcome cruise. Back to the present, on this day it was very pleasant to see the area in its fall finery. Thanks for indulging in my reminiscing and for looking. G

Evening Grosbeak, Crabapple Tree, San Cristobal, NM

Geraint September 28, 2020 4 Comments

Evening Grosbeak, in one of our crabapple trees, San Cristobal, NM. Besides colorful hillsides and mountains, fall brings an abundance of food and birds to eat it. This week the Evening Grosbeaks arrived in flocks to indulge themselves of the crabapples. Great individual shots picked out of the thirty or so birds camoflaged by the branches and leaves. Thanks for looking. G

Bull Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Geraint September 10, 2020 4 Comments

Bull Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Fall has definitely arrived early this year. I’d lay odds these males are in rut already. Such a wonderful time of year, and hearing the elk’s soulful bugle echoing through the mountains and canyons makes fall even more magical. Thanks for looking. G

Winter’s Past, Saint Francis Church, Ranchos De Taos

Geraint December 6, 2019 2 Comments

Winter’s past, Saint Francis Church, Ranchos De Taos, NM. Not the dead of winter but the beginning winter, the way it looks when the moods of autumn shift into winter and back again. The adobe monolith, on the south end of the Ranchos valley stands steadfast in all seasons. Thanks for looking. G

Last Leaves Of Fall San Cristobal, NM

Geraint November 22, 2019 No Comments

Last leaves of fall on the elm tree in San Cristobal, NM. Or perhaps I should title it “the last leaves to fall” off the elm tree. Either way, after yesterday’s blustering snow and wind, these are the only leaves left on the tree and not on the lawn. Thanks for looking. G

Elk, Sunlight, Yellowstone, Wyoming

Geraint November 8, 2019 No Comments

Elk, Sunlight, Yellowstone, Wyoming. Elk are spotlighted on the hillside by the last pocket of sunlight in Yellowstone, Wyoming. Flashback to my trip with my two young children in 2005. In Yellowstone it was so cold, although it doesn’t look like it from this image, we stayed in hotels and lodges. On the way home through Utah we camped for a few nights in Canyonlands. Here’s an expanded view from Canyonlands. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Fall