There’s a chance this dazzling view of autumn foliage is not where you think it is. While New England garners most of the attention in the United States this time of year, the high country of Colorado is spectacular, too. This thicket of aspen trees is on the Last Dollar Road, a scenic drive in southwest Colorado that is as dramatic as its name suggests, with stunning views of peaks and meadows, and of course the aspen trees that colour the landscape.
Aspens thrive in the cold winters and cool summers of Colorado, where they grow at altitudes between 1,500 to 3,500 metres, typically reaching heights of 15 metres. Aspens generally grow on west-facing slopes, basking in the afternoon sun. They’re among the world’s largest living organisms because aspen groves share a single root system. They’re also the state’s only native deciduous tree and cover about a fifth of its forested land.
There are many places to see them, but none better than the Last Dollar Road. It’s unique among scenic byways in the United States. For one, it’s not a highway at all, but a dirt road. The road is never plowed, so when the first snow falls, the road closes and stays closed until spring arrives. That makes this the last time of year you can take this drive, and it happens to be the most beautiful. Just make sure your vehicle is capable of the journey!