In our part of Colorado, fall has been dragging its feet. I was certain that 2 weekends ago was going to be peak color but the weather warmed up a bit and the leaves just sort-of stayed green (ish). We had a little bit of open time on Saturday, so my husband and I decided on a whim to go to a little higher elevation in search of those elusive fall leaves. Leaf peeping is quite the activity around here, so instead of heading to the most popular destinations, we tried a smaller town approach about 45 minutes away.

Nederland is a cute little place with small shops and spots to eat, but more importantly to us, lots of little open space trails to wander. We parked in town and grabbed breakfast before taking a stroll.

We found a trail near the creek and set out to follow where it lead. It was peaceful and warm and you could see that fall had perfectly arrived. We wandered and savored the colors and the sound of the water.

Each bend in the path gave a new delight and I was thrilled to come across a small fishing pond designed for kids 12 and under. There weren’t any fishermen so the water was beautiful reflection of the colors in the trees and the sky.

We found a bench nearby and let the sun warm our faces as we relaxed and enjoyed the view.

After a bit, we continued along the path to the reservoir and walked to the edge of the water.

As we turned back we noticed that the sky was beginning to cloud up. We knew a storm was brewing in the mountains and the breeze turned slightly chilly. We decided to go back to the car and drive around the area a bit more before coming home. We were shocked to see how many people had the same idea as us, but started later in the morning. As we began our drive home, the road was flooded with cars going in the opposite direction.

Now, as I sit here typing, the wind has picked up and the forecast calls for much cooler temperatures for the next 10 days. Will the colors follow? Or will the wind steal the leaves from the trees before they get a chance to fully develop in their shades?

Searching for color – Angie