Natural History Wanderings

The Rocky Mt. Nature Photographers Forum has a number of color reports and photos for the last few days. Fall color is still early in most spots. Here are a few highlights posted between September 25 and 27.

• Steamboat area will be reaching peak the weekend of Oct. 5-6 probably, which is at least a week late. Lots of nice pockets of color in the meantime.
• The east side of Independence Pass should peak this weekend or early in the week. Nice colors, but not 100% around Twin Lakes. Spots of nice color on the road to Ruedi Reservoir
• drove up Buff Pass last weekend and saw hardly any aspen color, although the wild berry bushes were loaded with berries and brilliantly colored. I hiked up to Upper Fish Creek Falls and there wasn’t much color there yet either
• Some nice pockets of color in various locations here in NW Colorado—including Flat Tops, Steamboat Lake, Buffalo Pass.
• Got to Maroon Bells … Still some green but yellow all about.
• Ridgway as of Sep 25. Its Green. Green Green Green. ….. Same for Owl Creek Pass Ridgway side.   Now where is there yellow? I saw some yellow low near West Dallas; and a few good pockets of yellow way out to the east end near the hills – maybe CR 5 or CR 7?
• McClure is currently still very green
• Tetons are great. Covered in snow with storms bringing more tonight. Aspen and cottonwoods about 50% and mostly healthy.
• Ouray CO Red Mountain area, particularly the Ironton area – is Beautiful! Waves of yellow mixed with yellow green and green to keep this into the weekend. The downside – its windy. The upside… not seeing many leaves fall.

Go to Rocky Mt. Nature Photographers Forum to see photos and more reports.