I can’t believe it’s already November. It feels like just last week we were driving up into the mountains to chase the fall colors, and yet, somehow, a whole month has slipped by. Still, that Sunday stays vivid in my memory - chilly, crisp, sunlit, and painted in gold.
The Squaw Pass Road has always been one of my favorite places to watch fall. Our first stop offered a nice open view of the slopes and valley. A few trees blocked the view, though, so I crossed the road and climbed a steep hill in search of a clearer vantage point.
A few minutes later, out of breath and with my heart pounding, I reached the top - and the view took what little breath I had left.
Below me stretched a vast sea of color: bright aspen gold shimmering between the dark green shadows of the evergreens.
I stayed there, letting the cool air sting my cheeks, the sun warming my face, and the colors filling my eyes.
It was time well spent... and it also gave me a chance to catch my breath after that climb! :)
To give you a sense of scale - here’s the slope, and yes, that tiny figure up there is me!
We moved on, the road curling like a ribbon through the mountains.
Every turn revealed another surprise - a patch of aspens glowing like fire, a distant slope brushed with red and orange.
Nature had mixed her own wild palette that day, and we were just lucky enough to witness it.
A short drive later, we stopped again and followed a narrow path to another lookout, this time facing the valley on the other side of the range.
The air was still, the sky impossibly blue, and the view… breathtaking.
We lingered there for a while, just taking it all in...
And of course, the best view came from standing right on the edge of the cliff, with a couple hundred feet of drop just inches from our toes! :)
From that spot, everything - near and far - seemed touched by magic.
Eventually, we reached the Squaw Pass summit, crossed over, and began our descent. Ten minutes later, we stopped once more - this time to look back at the same valley, now bathed in a completely different light.
Yep, that’s the cliff we stood on just minutes before. Now, a few other admirers were walking to the edge to enjoy the same view.
We passed Echo Lake and continued downward, stopping again and again to take in the views. The aspens shimmered under the mountain sun, every leaf a tiny reflection of light.
The aspens glowed under the bright mountain sun - simply stunning.
The road was never straight, always winding, always revealing something new - another grove of gold, another patch of orange, another chance to stop and simply be there...
...and so we did - sitting quietly among the trees, breathing in the cool, pine-scented air, letting the colors of the mountains wash over us. It was a beautiful Sunday, one that lingered long after the drive ended.
To be continued...
Thanks ChatGPT for some help with the words :)
Photos taken on September 28, 2025.
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