Bear Lake Corridor, Rocky Mountain National Park
National park · Colorado
Bull elk bugle across Moraine Park's meadows through the September rut while aspen gild the slopes above Bear Lake at 9,450 feet. A timed-entry permit governs this corridor of Rocky Mountain National Park during peak fall weeks.
Don’t miss
Peak: September 19–September 23
Color builds from September 12 · mostly bare by October 13
Sampled at Bear Lake Corridor, Rocky Mountain National Park’s own coordinates and elevation (2899 m) rather than a regional average.
This window comes from 54 weather points across Colorado, nudged 2 days earlier to match 2 published peak dates from csfs.colostate.edu and smokymountains.com. This year's weather has the peak running 4 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Bear Lake Corridor, Rocky Mountain National Park
The color window runs about 18 days, holding until around September 30. At 9,511 ft, it turns before the lower ground nearby.
It is roughly 53 mi out of Denver.
Bear Lake Corridor, Rocky Mountain National Park on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Colorado, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Colorado
Leaves & views
Farms & harvest
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Bear Lake Corridor, Rocky Mountain National Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for September 19–September 23 (best estimate September 21). Color starts around September 12 and is mostly bare by October 13.
- How do I get to Bear Lake Corridor, Rocky Mountain National Park?
- The closest city is Denver, about 53 mi away. It's part of Colorado's fall lineup.
Own or manage Bear Lake Corridor, Rocky Mountain National Park? Update your listing or get in touch.