Fall is here! Not just because it’s September 27th and the season
officially started a week ago… but because the Colorado colors have
finally arrived. It was a bit late this year, and for a while it felt
like we wouldn’t see much of those bright hues. But we were wrong and
now they’re HERE!
Early Saturday morning, I headed out…
though I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going :) I took I-70, turned
toward Evergreen, and before reaching the town I veered off onto one of
my favorite mountain highways - Squaw Pass Road. Soon I pulled into a
small parking lot and decided to hike up to Beaver Brook Reservoir, a
little man-made lake not far from the road. The sun was just peeking
over the tree line, and as I was getting ready to start, the first rays
lit up an aspen across the lot. I took it as a good sign ;)
The narrow trail led me to an opening surrounded by brightly
colored aspens. The sun wasn’t high enough yet to reach the ground, it
was just licking the tops of tall spruce, so I made a mental note to
stop back here on my return.
A few minutes later, I reached the lake. Bathed in morning light,
it was serene and beautiful. The water was mirror-still, reflecting
everything perfectly. I couldn’t have timed it better.
While looking around I was surprised to find a lot of dead trees in
deep shadow at the east side of the lake (well... the shadow didn't surprise me, the sun was still rising, but dead evergreens... it was a bit unexpected). That side felt completely
different from the bright, sunlit west shore, but it had its own quiet
beauty.
I strolled slowly around, admiring the brilliant yellow aspens. It was the kind of view you just can’t look away from.
From the east, I kept catching glimpses of fog rolling above the water, dissolving in the sun.
I couldn’t decide what I liked more - the glowing aspens or the soft, shifting fog. Both were mesmerizing.
But a simple look at the bright aspens on the west quickly brought
me back to life and I continued on my way around the reservoir...
The trail climbed, opening views of the south side where I’d just been.
Now, from above, even more color was revealed. By this point, I knew I’d chosen the perfect place to spend a fall morning.
I hiked for about a mile before deciding to turn back. I had no
idea where this trail led, and honestly, I didn’t feel the need to find
out. There were other places waiting for me, and more colors to
discover.
On the way back, I glimpsed the reservoir through narrow breaks between the trees. Not a wide view, but still beautiful.
Soon I was back near the shoreline, walking the same trail as
earlier, only in the opposite direction - and it felt like a completely
different place.
Twenty minutes later, I reached the opening I’d marked on my way
up. Now the sun was high, flooding the aspens with light. They looked
absolutely stunning. They glowed! I stopped, took it all in, and then
slowly continued toward the parking lot.
The trail climbed again, and I moved at an easy pace, soaking in
the colors and that wonderful fall feeling - crisp, cool air balanced by
the gentle warmth of the sun promising a bit of heat later in the day.
It was a beautiful hike, and I was glad I’d stopped here. But I
wasn’t done yet - I still had plans for the day. That’s a story for next
time ;)
Photos taken on September 27, 2025.
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