Aspen photographs: I invite input from any and all of you who travel to photograph. Where can I find some of the places I have seen some of the most beautiful photos of Aspen trees at...

Ted Evans Loc: Jasper, AL

I invite input from any and all of you who travel to photograph. Where can
I find some of the places I have seen some of the most beautiful photos
of Aspen trees at the peak of color? I would like to combine this trip in
with one of the national parks. I have heard that Colorado has the best
views. I have been to RMNP in the summer, saw Aspen trees, hard to judge
then. Glacier NP? never been. I am open for your travel experiences.

BenB

Aspen trees are not found at really high elevations depending on your latitude. In Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming they are all over at elevations at 6000 or 7000 feet. One really great place is in American Fork Canyon Utah. The drive starts at American Fork City and ends near Sundance Ski Resort (owned by Robert Redford).
Ben

MtManMD Loc: Beaverton, Oregon

"Aspen" Colorado area and Maroon Creek/Castle Creek roads are magical places and certainly a favorite. For a little more remote of an area, the drive to Crested Butte is great with many very large stands of Aspens. The west side of Glacier NP can be really nice around the Many Glaciers area. Aspen color there is a little later than CO.

Along Castle Creek road out of Aspen

(Download)

BullMoose Loc: Southwest Michigan

Tetons National Park in mid to late September.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

The area down near Silverton and Durango, Colorado can be very good. Drive the loop of the San Juan Skyway.

Here is a link I had bookmarked in the past. It will provide some additional info that hopefully is helpful to you.

http://www.colorado.com/articles/10-places-see-colorados-fall-color

Chris F. Loc: San Francisco

North of Flagstaff Arizona, not far from Grand Canyon National Park is a great place for Aspens....maybe they were Birch. Still very awesome either way.

Chris

Ted Evans wrote:

I invite input from any and all of you who travel to photograph. Where can
I find some of the places I have seen some of the most beautiful photos
of Aspen trees at the peak of color? I would like to combine this trip in
with one of the national parks. I have heard that Colorado has the best
views. I have been to RMNP in the summer, saw Aspen trees, hard to judge
then. Glacier NP? never been. I am open for your travel experiences.

dvan7117 Loc: Colorado

Cottonwood Pass road west of Buena Vista. Kebler Pass road between Crested Butte and Paonia. Dallas Divide Near Ridgeway, and of course Maroon Bells and Castle Creek Roads near Aspen. These are some of my favorite aspen viewing areas in Colorado

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Ted Evans wrote:

I invite input from any and all of you who travel to photograph. Where can
I find some of the places I have seen some of the most beautiful photos
of Aspen trees at the peak of color? I would like to combine this trip in
with one of the national parks. I have heard that Colorado has the best
views. I have been to RMNP in the summer, saw Aspen trees, hard to judge
then. Glacier NP? never been. I am open for your travel experiences.

Finding them at the right time is the trick, and fall foliage is variable year to year and location to location.

Some of my best finds have been:

the Eastern Sierras the 2nd week of October, from Lee Vining to Bishop and all into those little roads up into the mountains. I stayed in Lee Vining (cheap!) and made forays into Yosemite though the foliage in the Valley was not turning much by then.

Northern half of New Mexico around first of October, nice contrast between greens and yellows

Grand Teton last week of September, lots more to see there then too, with the Elk in their finest form, bugling and rounding up the ladies.

I've always wanted to go to Maroon Bells for that time of year, but I've read that it is a total madhouse of jostling for tripod space before sun up. I really prefer uncrowded places where I can explore. My next adventure for western yellow foliage will be to Capitol Reef. I've seen it in summer and it looks like it would be wonderful when it's all yellowed up, and probably not crowded. I've heard Zion is good, too.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Ted Evans wrote:

I invite input from any and all of you who travel to photograph. Where can
I find some of the places I have seen some of the most beautiful photos
of Aspen trees at the peak of color? I would like to combine this trip in
with one of the national parks. I have heard that Colorado has the best
views. I have been to RMNP in the summer, saw Aspen trees, hard to judge
then. Glacier NP? never been. I am open for your travel experiences.

Along Colorado Hwy 82 on both the Aspen and Leadville sides.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Arizona's rim country. Along highway 260, there are lots of areas of aspens. Timing is everything!

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

Ted Evans wrote:

I invite input from any and all of you who travel to photograph. Where can
I find some of the places I have seen some of the most beautiful photos
of Aspen trees at the peak of color? I would like to combine this trip in
with one of the national parks. I have heard that Colorado has the best
views. I have been to RMNP in the summer, saw Aspen trees, hard to judge
then. Glacier NP? never been. I am open for your travel experiences.

I used to make an annual trip to RMNP in the fall when my brother lived in Estes Park. However, I seemed to be a week late or a week early. The problem was that the conditions vary year to year. When I retired I thought it would be more flexible, but it was not. Moving would have put me in a California economy with a Kansas budget, but the most successful Aspen photographers live there.

Another hint: Do not travel with a spouse who has no concept of light and is not ready to go until 10:30-11 in the morning and has a severe case of altitude sickness. One summer I went out alone a little before dawn and got back about 9, having already broken fast. I was lecture about the cost of gasoline.

I plan to go in August this year and would appreciate some decent storms over Long's Peak and Pike's Peak while I photograph them from the summit of Mt Evans. But I know aspens are out.

idrabefi Loc: Michigan

Estes Park YMCA. Absolutely beautiful in Sept.

andypop Loc: Carmel CA

Along the road between Teton and Yellowstone

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

Also do some research of areas that have had wild fires. Aspen are one of the first things to grow after a fire. Cheers.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Of course I am prejudice toward the Durango/Pagosa Springs are as that is where I was born (Pagosa Springs) but a little to far for me to travel as now I don't have far to go to find great Aspen color shots (45 mi) The Sierras of CA has good aspen groves along it's 4 major routs 120 in Yosemite, 4 over Ebbits pass, 88 Carson Pass ( my favorite) 89 from Monitor pass to So. Lake Tahoe late Sept to mid Oct.

Photographer Jim wrote:

The area down near Silverton and Durango, Colorado can be very good. Drive the loop of the San Juan Skyway.

Here is a link I had bookmarked in the past. It will provide some additional info that hopefully is helpful to you.

http://www.colorado.com/articles/10-places-see-colorados-fall-color