FALL FOLIAGE FOCUS: HIKES
By: Brittany De Graff 07/01/21
Summit County is a wonderful place to spend some time during the fall. It is hard to beat the beauty of shades of yellow and orange taking over a hillside. While there are ample locations to go leaf peeping we have a few favorites that are good for any age and activity level!
Rainbow Lakes: Located in Frisco, this hike offers easy access to the turning leaves and takes you to an adorable beaver pond nestled between pine trees. This is an easy hike, but we would recommend being in decent physical shape, due to the remote location of the pond. This trail is dog friendly and a wonderful hike to take them on. For more information about Rainbow Lakes and other Frisco fall hikes go here.
Boreas Pass: Boreas is the perfect place to not only see the leaves, but also take in some amazing views of the Tenmile Range. There are tons of hiking trails that you can access to get a close-up view of the leaves or stay in the car and enjoy the drive. Either way, you are guaranteed to find a variety of colors. For more information about Boreas Pass go here.
Lily Pad Lake Trail: Located near Silverthorne, this easy 3.2 mile hike is a great way to view the colors and potentially see some wildlife. There is a grassy clearing along the hike that is a great place to look for elk, deer and moose. This is a pet-friendly hike, so make sure to leash your dog if you see any wildlife. For more information about Lily Pad Lake Trail go here.
Tenderfoot Mountain Trail: This is 2.5 mile trail that provides wonderful views of Lake Dillon and the Tenmile Range. This trail will take you through a variety of trees ranging from aspens to pine trees. It goes along the side of Lake Dillon and has a slight gain in elevation. For more information about Tenderfoot Mountain Trail go here.
Sapphire Point: Get a view from above. Sapphire Point is a short .5 mile walk to a lookout point over Lake Dillon. The views are incredible and chipmunks run wild! This is a perfect place to take the very little ones and still thoroughly enjoy the fall beauty. For more information about Sapphire Point go here.
Moderate Hikes: There are ample trails to explore around Summit County. Some moderate classics are Blue Lakes, MuCullough Gulch, Mohawk Lakes and Black Powder Pass. All have stunning views of the fall foliage and get your heart beating! For more information about these moderate hikes go here.