I realized as I was trying to plan for fall color photography that it's been so long since I've been to Kebler Pass that I can't recall when the colors usually change in that area. Does anyone know the general time range for the Crested Butte/Kebler Pass area's color change?
Thanks!
CAZ
Posted by Kane Engelbert on September 16, 2014 at 5:50 PM
I think mid to tail end of the last week of sept would be safe. Although I think it was a bit later last year.
Posted by Tom Stermitz on September 16, 2014 at 7:32 PM
It depends on whether you like the green-orange-yellow of the aspen, the uniform yellow of mid-season, or the red-russet-browns of the Oaks.
The oaks tend to be later, even into the end of October.
Here is a link to the Crested Butte webcam It only shows the ski area. It’s kind of fun to control the camera using the pre-set pan and tilt settings.
Also a shot of Gold Link is on the page. It looks like Gold link has already turned yellow.
I too have experienced wonderful color on the West side of Kebler well after the east side has dropped all leaves. The first two weeks of October seems to be most productive for me, but this can change depending on conditions.
Posted by Rod Hanna on September 17, 2014 at 4:37 PM
I agree….normaly the eastern side is a week ahead of the western side so the last few days of September to the first week of October is bound to yield some good color and I’ll be checking it out around the 1st.
The Steamboat area had 5.36” of rain in August, the highest total in 100 years, followed by a wet first week of September. The second highest August total was in 2005 with 3.54” and that was a great year for fall color. Thanks to digital cameras we can look back and see when the leaves changed year to year. From what I’m seeing here today, it looks more like a normal year as far as timing is concerned, so who knows?
And, what is normal? Last year, the colors were 1-2 weeks later in many parts of western Colorado. That was certainly the case up here in NW Colorado, which nevertheless turned into an extraordinary bounty. For reference, my best from 2013 is Here. And then Zion NP was a week early. Go figure.
As my friend Bill Robertson would say, “How do you know if you don’t go!”
Discussion
7 repliesI realized as I was trying to plan for fall color photography that it's been so long since I've been to Kebler Pass that I can't recall when the colors usually change in that area. Does anyone know the general time range for the Crested Butte/Kebler Pass area's color change?
Thanks!
CAZ
The oaks tend to be later, even into the end of October.
Also a shot of Gold Link is on the page. It looks like Gold link has already turned yellow.
I too have experienced wonderful color on the West side of Kebler well after the east side has dropped all leaves. The first two weeks of October seems to be most productive for me, but this can change depending on conditions.
The Steamboat area had 5.36” of rain in August, the highest total in 100 years, followed by a wet first week of September. The second highest August total was in 2005 with 3.54” and that was a great year for fall color. Thanks to digital cameras we can look back and see when the leaves changed year to year. From what I’m seeing here today, it looks more like a normal year as far as timing is concerned, so who knows?
And, what is normal? Last year, the colors were 1-2 weeks later in many parts of western Colorado. That was certainly the case up here in NW Colorado, which nevertheless turned into an extraordinary bounty. For reference, my best from 2013 is Here. And then Zion NP was a week early. Go figure.
As my friend Bill Robertson would say, “How do you know if you don’t go!”