Colorado mountain town known for aspen leaves relaunches “Leaf Brief” to track fall foliage changes

Fall is in the air in Colorado, and with the days passing into September that means the state’s aspen leaves are truly beginning to change in the high country.

To celebrate the changing of seasons the Town of Breckenridge relaunched the “Leaf Brief” on Tuesday, Sept. 1 to track fall foliage with photo and video updates on breckleafbrief.com and on social media channels at @GoBreck.

Updates will occur twice a week through the peak of fall.

“Town of Breckenridge naturalists are expecting the leaves to reach their peak earlier than usual this year, between Sept. 11 – 27,” the Town of Breckenridge said in a statement. “Leaf Brief updates will continue for approximately 4-6 weeks.”

New for 2026: Aspen Alley Shuttle

The Town of Breckenridge is launching a free shuttle to Aspen Alley, the town’s most photographed leaf-peeping trail, to ease parking crunches at the trailhead this year, according to town officials.

To manage crowds at the peak of fall, the Town of Breckenridge encourages visitors to use the free shuttle to Aspen Alley:

• Dates: Sept. 12 – Oct. 3
• Hours: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Cost: FREE
• Route: Continuous Loop, Breckenridge Ice Rink parking lot to the Illinois Creek Trailhead
• Parking: Please park or take the free Breckenridge Trolley to the Ice Rink Lot where you can catch the shuttle. If the Ice Rink lot is full, please park in the free South Gondola parking structure or lot, then walk or take the town’s free trolley to the Ice Rink Lot.
• ADA: Two parking spaces will be available in the Wakefield trailhead parking lot during this window.

The Town of Breckenridge also recommended other trails for fall hiking and leaf peeping in Breckenridge, including Pence Miller, Hikes Gold / Mineral Hill, Minnie Mine and X10U8, Reiling Dredge and Boreas Pass.

Find leaf-peeping advice and guides at the GoBreck leaf peeping guide.