In the period from September to mid-October, the colors of autumn in Colorado shine in the foliage colors gold, orange, purple and red. This phenomenon is known as the Indian Summer. The following street tours (Scenic Byways) are particularly beautiful.

Georgetown and Guanella Pass – Front Range Colorado

According to campingship, about 45 minutes west of Denver, the 23-mile alpine Guanella Pass passes through the Pike and Arapaho National Forests west of Georgetown, Colorado. It is one of the earliest places to see the coloring of aspen leaves. Numerous trails lead from the Guanella Pass into the surrounding forests. On the other side of the pass, one of the most beautiful valleys in Colorado awaits the visitor. On Hwy 285 west of Grant to Como, Colorado, you can drive over Boreas Pass to Breckenridge, Colorado and see other foliage colors.

Aspen and Independence Pass – Northwest Colorado

Near Aspen, Colorado, the Maroon Bells Mountain Range and White River National Forest are the backdrop of jagged purple peaks that rise above a valley of golden aspen leaves. A hike to the heights of the Buckskin Pass offers a beautiful view. If you follow Hwy 82 over Independence Pass from Aspen to Twin Lake, Colorado, you will find more foliage colors and an old ghost town.

San Juan Skyway – Southwest Colorado

The 236-mile Sank Juan Skyway is one of Colorado’s most famous scenic routes year-round. It connects the mountain towns of Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride, Dolores and Mancos. The Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray offers a view of the colorful San Juan Mountains.

Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway – South Central Colorado

The Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway follows an ancient mine route and reveals glowing golden foliage in the fall. The road runs through Phantom Canyon and the former mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor and gives an impression of the former gold mining towns. There are also views of Pikes Peak, the Sangre de Christo Mountain Range, Royal Gorge Bridge and the adjacent highland landscapes.

Pioneer Trails Scenic Byway – Northeastern Colorado

The Pawnee National Grasslands north of Sterling, Colorado epitomize timelessness. Especially in autumn, Colorado’s largest prairie offers impressive sunsets. The Pioneer Trails Scenic Byway gives a good impression of the prairie landscape: open and endless. Only the Pawnee Buttes interrupt the endless horizon.

• Highway of Legends and Cuchara Pass – Southeast Colorado

The 120 mile drive begins and ends in Trinidad. The highway runs through the San Isabel National Forest over the Cuchara Pass and offers views of the Spanish Peaks and the surrounding vegetation.

SKI RESORTS IN COLORADO

The four ski areas Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone offer with almost 4,400 hectares of extensive slopes first-class deep snow conditions (“champagne snow”) and advertise with 300 days of sun per year.

With the “Colorado Ticket” ski pass, you can visit all four areas, which are connected by a good, chargeable shuttle bus system. In 2000 there were around 5 million visitors, but there is still no crowd. The prices are based on the expected demand. The day visitor has to pay an average of $ 70, a so-called Colorada ticket for 14 days costs $ 900, cheaper packages can be booked from Europe.

Up to the summit, strap on your skis and hit the slopes. But before you travel, you should check that you have everything with you: Checklist for a skiing holiday in the USA.

Vail

has the largest single-mountain ski area in North America, known for the “back bowls” – slopes and hollows with very good deep snow conditions. The “Blue Sky Mountains” area is new. Half of the entire ski area is concentrated here with 33 lifts. 193 pistes are marked as “Expert / Advanced” and therefore require good to very good skiing. There is a special snowboard fun park for snowboarders. The pedestrian zone is modeled on a mountain village.

Beaver Creek

is about 20 minutes drive from Vail, more exclusive and quiet in a secluded valley (Nort America’s Grand Mountain Resort). In 1999 the ski professionals showed their skills at the Alpine World Ski Championships. 13 lifts are used for transportation.

Breckenridge

is an old gold rush town with some Victorian houses and a Wild West atmosphere (Colorado’s Historic Ski Town). 25 lifts take guests to the starting positions. There is also a golf course designed by the well-known professional Jack Nicklaus.

Keystone

is a planned ski resort with Colorado ‘s largest night skiing area (floodlights until around 9 p.m. on 19 night pistes). 22 lifts lead to the slopes, there are also two golf courses and North America’s highest gourmet restaurant (2,835 m).

Vail	Beaver Creek	Breckenridge	Keystone
Distance from Denver Airport	193 km	210 km	166 km	144 km
Restaurants / bars	89	23	82	31
shops	148	59	225	24
Lift operation approx.	08.30-16. 00	08.30-16.00	08.30-16.00	8.30am-8pm
Height of the valley station	2,475 m	2,255 m	2,926 m	2,835 m
Height of mountain station	3,527 m	3,488 m	3,962 m	3,718 m
Height difference	1,052 m	1,233 m	1,036 m	884 m
Snowfall / year	866 cm	840 cm	761 cm	584 cm
Departures	193	146	145	116
Longest descent	“Riva” 4,800 m	“Centennial” 4,500 m	“Four O’Clock” 5,600 m	“Schoolmarm” 4,800 m

More ski areas in Colorado

This page also provides information on the Aspen / Snowmass ski area. Not so famous, but also with champagne snow from late November to mid-April, are the Crested Butte and Telluride ski regions. The old western town of Telluride is 2,637 m high, the modern Mountain Village 2,905 m high. The name Telluride is derived from “to hell you ride” (drive to hell). The first claim was staked here in 1875, followed by ore mining that lasted almost 100 years. At the beginning of the 20th century, 5,000 people toiled here in more than a dozen mines, and 300 miles of tunnels are supposed to cross the area around Telluride.

The narrow-gauge railway of the Rio Grande Southern, called Galloping Goose, established the connection to the outside world via a dizzying route from 1890 to 1949. The bank robber Butch Cassidy is said to have started his career here in 1889, with a break-in at the San Miguel Bank at 131 Main Street. The ski area rises above the town in the San Juan Mountains, the ruggedest and most impassable mountain range in the Rocky Mountains. The highest point is at an altitude of 3,736 m. Telluride offers six EX slopes. EX stands for extreme terrain, a category of slopes that does not exist in Europe and only rarely in the USA. Telluride offers 84 runs, 16 lifts, including 2 free gondolas, which connect the ski area with the historic city from 7 a.m. to midnight. It is the only ski resort in the USA from which you can take a helicopter directly to Heliskiing can start. Die Zeit informs about Telluride and Dunton in the article ” In the snow frenzy “In January 2006.