As the leaf turns

Statewide — As summer turns to fall, the Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to anticipate additional traffic and to plan ahead, especially on weekends, as people head out to see the changing of the leaves.

Drivers and pedestrians need to watch out for each other and maintain a safe environment for everyone.

With leaf-peeping traffic at its peak on weekends, travelers should consider, if possible, traveling Tuesdays through Thursdays to ease traffic congestion and overcrowding for a more pleasant visitor experience. However, if you are traveling on weekends, travelers still can encounter work zones on state highways. Weather-dependent projects sometimes take advantage of favorable conditions to continue construction before adverse weather stops work until spring.

Leaf Peeping Safety Tips:

• Be aware of vehicles traveling at lower speeds
• Watch for vehicles pulling off the roadway or parked along the road
• Find safe, designated areas to park
• Drivers, be aware of pedestrians out of their vehicles taking photos
• Pedestrians, watch out for passing vehicles

It is also a great time to kick off the autumn travel season with Colorado Byways #Roadtrip Weekend from Sept. 26 through Sept. 28. That weekend aligns with National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27. Pairing up a beautiful scenic drive along with the popular enjoyment and volunteer conservation of public lands can provide an economic boost to rural communities. The bonus: admission to the national parks and monuments is free on NPLD. For more information, visit: National Public Lands Day.

For those who would rather not drive on NPLD, CDOT’s Bustang to Estes bus service provides an alternative for travel to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Tickets will be 25% off for the weekend of Sept. 27 and 28, and for the weekend of Sept. 20 and 21. For more information, visit: ridebustang.com and use the code ESTES25.

In addition, the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways offer Coloradans and visitors an opportunity to participate in the America 250 - Colorado 150 anniversary (now leading up to 2026). These 26 routes highlight Colorado’s shared history and celebrate the people, cultures, and communities that make our state unique. For more information, visit: codot.gov/travel/colorado-byways, where you can learn fun facts, estimated drive times, key attractions, route length and more. Another resource is COtrip.org and the COtrip Planner App, where you can plan your route ahead of time by clicking on the Scenic Byways layer on the Layers menu.

Please Note: Although the Guanella Pass Road between Georgetown/Interstate 70 and Grant/US 285 is not part of the state highway system, drivers should be aware that parking restrictions are in place at the top of the pass and extend at least one-half mile to the north and south of the summit. Clear Creek and Park counties have implemented these restrictions to ensure emergency vehicles have the required access to maintain safety on the pass.

Know Before You Go