Fall Colors: Rocky Mountain National Park

Photo by: Zach Dischner via Flickr [CC BY 2.0]

Fall is a unique and wonderful time of year to be in Rocky Mountain National Park. As summer fades the crowds disperse and the chances of witnessing some of the park's impressive wildlife become much greater.

Expansive groves of aspen trees shimmer gold under snow-capped peaks and brilliant blue skies. And the shrubs and grasses in valley floors and alpine meadows turn to a carpet of orange, yellow, red and brown.

You can hear the eerie bugling of the Bull Elk throughout the park as they compete to show their dominance and begin assembling their harems for winter.

The peak time for fall color in the park is usually late September, and on a sunny autumn afternoon in late September when the air is crisp and clear and the aspen leaves sparkle gold against a pure blue sky... it is a scene that will almost take your breath away!