There are many places in and near Summit County for spectacular fall foliage viewing, and it just depends on whom you ask as to which one is the best.
1. Boreas Pass
Elevation: 11,488 feet
Boreas Pass in Breckenridge is an option for phenomenal views year-round but even more so this time of year. The road is open to vehicles during the summer, or park in the lot and hike or bike up. The road has a gradual ascent to the summit, making it a relatively easy hike. Boreas offers an expansive view of the Blue River Valley and the Tenmile Range and also boasts views of Breckenridge Ski Resort.
“Boreas Pass showcases the best of both worlds, panoramic views and tight clusters of golden aspen,” said Rachel Zerowin, formerly with the Breckenridge Tourism Office. “You can drive the road or explore the singletrack, and both options give you that tunnel feel with the changing leaves on all sides.”
2. Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway
Elevation: 11,319 feet
In Summit County, the Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway starts at Copper Mountain and travels over Fremont Pass to Leadville, where travelers can take one route to Granite or, to loop back to Summit, follow the extension to Tennessee Pass through Camp Hale, Red Cliff and Minturn and back to Interstate 70 east.
3. Hoosier Pass
Elevation: 11,542 feet
“The wonderful thing about going to Hoosier Pass is it’s one of the highest passes in Colorado that you can actually drive to with a solid road that’s paved,” said Veronica Anderson-Bodnar, a sales clerk with the South Park Historical Museum and Visitor Center. “You can look over onto Summit County. You can also look over into Park County. Right on the top of that is Montgomery Reservoir. Montgomery Reservoir is a really nice place to go on a short hike. It’s not a very difficult hike. It’s also a great picture place; they have waterfalls there, and you can actually fish.”
4. Guanella Pass
Elevation: 11,670 feet
Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway is a paved 23-mile route through Pike and Arapaho national forest land that links Georgetown and Grant. Along the byway, catch views of Grays and Torreys peaks, both Colorado 14ers.
5. Kenosha Pass
Elevation: 9,997 feet
Take a drive through Park County toward Denver along U.S. Highway 285 to hit Kenosha Pass. The Colorado Trail crosses the summit of Kenosha Pass, and there are many hiking and biking trails nearby to take in the scene. There is a large parking lot at the top of the pass to stop, but it is super busy this time of year, especially on the weekends, so watch for slowing traffic and pedestrians when getting close to the top.
6. Kebler pass
Elevation: 10,007 feet
The West Elk Loop Scenic & Historic Byway includes the 30-mile Kebler Pass road and travels through the towns of Crested Butte, Gunnison, Montrose and Carbondale. The route also runs through Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park between Montrose and Gunnison. Although a decent drive from Summit County, Kebler Pass boasts major aspens.
