Monday, September 17, 2018

Autumn in Colorado


Rocky Mountain National Park

I feel fortunate to live in a state that presents autumn colors slowly every year in a wonderful succession, from the north to the south, from the highest elevations down to the lowest. If one is fortunate to be able to travel to different locations in Colorado during the months of September through October, continuous autumnal glory is yours. (All photos will enlarge if clicked on)

Rocky Mountain National Park

This summer was very hot and dry so autumn color is coming even earlier than usual in many places, but the higher elevations are right on time.


When September arrives it not only brings autumnal beauty but also signals to the elk bulls to begin to bugle their love songs. 

 If you have never heard an elk bugle click on the video below or go to this link



Isn't it quite a sound?

We once stayed in a cabin in the YMCA of the Rockies outside Rocky Mountain National Park--click here-- and they serenaded us all night long!

Pagosa Pass

Autumn in Colorado is a vista of golden aspen trees...

Elk Mountains


 Elk Mountains

...as far as the eyes can see...


... lighting up the state!

Mount Sopris

Autumn has always been my favorite season so I make sure to go out and see as much of it as I can every year and enjoy its splendor. 

"And the sun took a step back,
The leaves lulled themselves to sleep,
and autumn was awakened."
~ Raquel Franco



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60 comments:

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...


Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate each and every one!

If you leave an anonymous comment I'm sorry, but I can't answer it as there is no way to communicate back to you.

Little Wandering Wren said...

One day I will get to see Fall in the US! Is it just me or do you Guys have the best Fall anywhere in the world?!
Enjoy your colourful scenery and have a wonderful week :)
Wren x

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Colorado is indeed a place of majestic beauty - which shines its brightest in the fall!

Maggie said...

Bugling elks, whoever would have thought it! Stunning images of Colorado's amazing scenery, the fall colours are amazing and the snow capped Mount Sopris just fabulous. Thank you so much for taking the MM crowd on this trip with you today, you take us to some wonderful places.

Tom said...

...those aspens sure brighten the landscape!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, gorgeous view of Fall time in the Rockies. I love the bugling elk. Great elk mosaic and image. The Aspens are just gorgeous. Gorgeous views of the Elk mountains. Thanks for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Monday, enjoy your day and new week. PS, thanks also for the comment on my blog.

From the Kitchen said...

Autumn is my favorite! While I've always loved the season in the east/northeast, it is fleeting. To have it linger and put on a "show" sounds wonderful. Your photos are breathtaking!

Best,
Bonnie

Jemma@athomewithjemma said...

Good Morning Colorado!
Isn't this such a gorgeous State...anytime of the year.
Growing up in Idaho I always miss the seasons, so seeing your posts is always a treat for me and aren't these Elk something else.
It is all so very beautiful and there is just something about seeing the mountains ablaze with color that touches the inner workings of our soul.
Have a beautiful Colorado day,
Jemma

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Gosh it is just so gorgeous!! and the elk - so amazing THanks for sharing!

DougPhoto2009 said...

Pat, Fall is our favorite season. Thanks for sharing.

Snap said...

I loved autumn in New Mexico. The aspen with their beautiful color and the sound!!! Magnificent Elk ... another favorite of mine. I had a friend in Cochiti Pueblo who used to laugh and say "if green eyes is visiting the elk can't be far behind". Sweet memories! Thank you!

Lady Fi said...

Wow - what gorgeous shots! Stunning foliage.

Meditations in Motion said...

Your CO pics are gorgeous! I am coming out to Steamboat Springs in October and I can't wait! Of course, my favorite scenery in the state is my grandson's face! :)

EricaSta said...

Wow... Colorado is such a colorful eyecatch.

I enjoyed this post for Mosaic Monday - wish you a very good week.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

oh you are so very fortunate to be there this time of year! It hasn't exactly worked out for us lately, but we have wonderful memories of Autumns in Colorado. Your pictures are beautiful. Thanks for sharing and for the memories.

Linda W. said...

Gorgeous fall colors!

italiafinlandia said...

Beautiful foliage... and what a soundtrack!

Klara said...

really splendid!

Michelle said...

You live in such a beautiful state!

Al said...

Lovely photos. I need to get out and see some colors this autumn.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Wow! It would be so special to experience autumn in the mountains.Love these pictures.

rupam sarma said...

Stunning pics

Junieper2 said...

Oh Pat, so beautiful! here everything will stay green till November! Very interesting to see snow capped mountains in combination with the bright yellow of Fall! Didn't realize Colorado had elks! Haha, I rather have a quiet night than being serenaded by anyone of animal:):) Many thanks for sharing these wonderful fall items with All Seasons, Pat. Have an awesome Fall week!

Life Images by Jill said...

Your autumn colours are so beautiful, we have nothing like that here in Australia, but at the moment I enjoying the bush spring wildflower colours. Such a strange sound that elk makes! We once heard a wild donkey male during the night when we were camping. What a terrible sound he made! Have a great week and enjoy your autumn. I am joining you at Our World Tuesday.

Christie Hawkes said...

Great photos, as always. Fall is my favorite season with all the beautiful colors. Love it.

likeschocolate said...

So lovely! I think we are weeks away from any fall color. Though the temps did dip a little this week. Have a great week.

carol l mckenna said...

Beautiful series of photos of the Rocky Mountains area ~ divine!

Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Oh Pat, Autumn is my favorite season as well. The aspens are beautiful in their golden dress. We like to visit our mountains as well to see it march down to us. The elk must have a made a very interesting night for you and your family! How could ever sleep? Thanks for sharing your lovely area. ♥

Lorrie said...

The aspens are such an amazing shade of golden yellow. It is much more intense than anything we get here on the coast. Gorgeous photos, Pat.

Ola said...

This part of the autumn is really beatiful, we should enjoy it as much as possible

Angie said...

Oh, Pat - this is so beautiful. I love aspens, and even more so now that I have many of them in my own back yard! I am still surprised by the sound of the elk bugle - I always imagined it would be a much deeper sound from such a large animal … To answer your question on my blog, we are at 4,000 feet elevation.

Aditya Narayan Mohanty said...

Lovely landscape capture . Keep commenting on my blog because I love your comments.

Jeanie said...

Oh Pat, your color is so far ahead of anything here, even up north. The light is unbelievable and the color so vivid. I would love to experience an autumn like this in person -- it takes my breath away.

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Barb said...

I see you were there right after the snow - beautiful as a backdrop to the aspens. Many years ago, I went to a running camp and stayed in one of those cabins. We're finally getting a little rain, and the leaves are falling off the trees. We've had magnificent color in Summit, but it's past peak in many places now. Glorious photos, Pat!

Jill said...

My husband and I visited our son in Colorado about five years ago in autumn - we usually visit in summer. And it fulfilled my wish to see the golden aspens. We started in Grand Lake and drove Rocky Mt National Park - I believe it was the week before the Trail Ridge Road closed for the season. Plus we were able to see - and hear the elk in the park. That bugling is something, isn't it?
Great photos! Loved reliving the fall in Colorado through your post.

Jeanna said...

I bet it's looking very good right now and the tourists have cleared out. We made the mistake of camping at Pike's Peak one holiday and it was so pristine the day before then wham, a madhouse. The elk must be a great sight.

Peabea Scribbles said...

Beautiful. Love the brown hues against the blue of the skies. This earth certainly does have some beautiful places. What I love about photography is the sharing of these places when I will most likely never visit. Thanks for sharing.

Peabea from Peabea Scribbles

Jim said...

Great Autumn colours.

Jim said...

Great shot.

diane b said...

And that bugling sound is supposed to attract a female??? Glad I'm not a female elk. The colours are gobsmacking beautiful. It must be wonderful to see that in real life.

Joyful said...

Fantastic scenery and wildlife.

Alana said...

It's been so many years (back in the 1970's) since I've been to Colorado in the fall. I remember some of that beauty. Thank you for sharing.

William Kendall said...

Utterly spectacular!

Spare Parts and Pics said...

The natural beauty of Colorado is just jaw dropping, as are your photos! I really enjoyed the video of elk bugling. Not a sound I will soon forget, and totally fascinating!

Anonymous said...

Wow! That is spectacular! Colorado in the fall is on my bucket list.

Louca por porcelana said...

Stunning pics!

Rambling Woods said...

This is fantastic scenery and listening to that elk makes you feel that you are there...Michelle

Tristan Robin said...

Gorgeous! I had no idea there were so very many shades and tones of gold and yellow! Spectacular shots. Thanks for sharing!

Sharon Wagner said...

Spectacular mountain vistas! I really wanted to see a moose when we were in Colorado. But it was a bust.

Lowcarb team member said...

Colorado in the Autumn just looks fabulous.
Wonderful pictures here, thank you.

All the best Jan

Adam Jones said...

It looks amazing. I’d love to go to Colorado one day.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Pat - Your photos are just stunning. What a beautiful place to be in the fall.

handmade by amalia said...

We don't get amazing fall colors around here, we are still in brown mode until the rains come. I'm enjoying seeing your part of the world, the photos are stunning, nature at its most beautiful.
Amalia
xo

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Colorado is a very beautiful state. When we visit it reminds me a lot of Utah. Love those golden colors! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann

A Crafty Mix said...

OMW what incredibly beautiful photos. I must admit Autumn isn't my favorite season. Here where I stay in South Africa the trees don't put on such a stunning display. They kinda go from green and vibrant to dead in a day :D

Mary K. said...

Pat there is nothing that makes me happier than seeing those colors of Autumn come into view. We still don't have much in my neck of the woods but I've been really enjoying these and your Instagram feed which is full of color!

Saimi said...

Oh my goodness such beautiful colors. You certainly live in an incredible area. We're in the PNW and also experience the changing of the seasons. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos!
Have a good weekend
Saimi

Pat @ bringingfrenchcountryhome said...

Your photos are gorgeous! Aren't we the lucky ones to live in this amazing state? Enjoy October! Hugs, Pat