Natural History Wanderings

Rio Grande National Forest  has the following fall color report:

• Conejos Peak District    September 23 – lower elevations, the color  change is about 3%
• Divide District     September 16 – starting to get some colors in the Creede area but just spots, maybe 20% changed -not too spectacular yet !!!  No color change in lower elevations.
• Saguache District   September 16 – Have not seen much color as of yet.

There will always be pockets of beautiful fall color to be found in the mountains and foothills that surround the San Luis Valley and along the Rio Grande and Conejos Rivers.  Generally, the aspen begin to change up river of Wagon Wheel Gap about a week before the mountains that surround the San Luis Valley.  And the aspen in Chama Basin will often turn a week later than those around the valley.

Aspen aren’t the only colorful show in the autumn.  Rust colored Gambel oak mix in with the lower elevation aspen in the northern part of the San Luis Valley, while all the foothills include a plethora of multi-hued shrubs.  Additionally, the leaves of many of the summer wildflowers will turn a variety of colors ranging from dull maroon to vibrant yellows and oranges.  In other words, if you don’t get stuck on looking just for aspen, you can find spectacular fall color no matter where you go in the foothills and mountains of the upper Rio Grande.