In between the moments of mud and frustration on our non-camping adventure, we spent a lot of time ohhhing and ahhhing over the Aspens dripping in gold.
Like a finely dressed women strutting in to casual bar, they were jaw dropping and impossible to look away.
In fact, we crammed in 5 different trails over a long weekend and then tossed in an extra two when Charlie of The Runner Beans from the UK came to say with us!
I’m going to let the photos pretty much do the talking here!
This is what we were seeing on part of the drive and made the trees all the more brilliant.
Crested Butte, CO
Our first night was ccccoooold, but the sun popped out the next day and even at 30 degrees it was too pretty not to do a run and try some trails.
Breckenridge, CO
Herman Gulch (Dillon, Colorado)
This trail was recommended to us for wild flowers earlier the year, but we simply never made it over. Hence I decided it was a great place to stop on our way back from the mountains and it didn’t disappoint with some great views.
Aspen groves are beautiful, but extra special when nestled inside the evergreens as it makes the pop all the more!
Golden Gate Canyon State Park (Golden, Colorado)
Definitely our best day of Apsens…running through groves of them to areas that were filled with more evergreens causing the gold to pop event brighter. A few hours of hiking and biking finally satisfied my need for the leaves. 
Centennial Cone (Golden, Colorado)
This trail offers both a path up in the woods and a paved path along the water. I did a little of both for a 10 mile run day, but the time along the water was my favorite. Something about it and the trees is an energy boost.
South Mesa Trail (Boulder, CO)
I loved that this trail had mountain face views, but tons of RED leaves to contrast everything else we’d seen.
Someday I’ll learn what all these plants and trees are…ok maybe not, I just want to enjoy them!
South Valley (Morrison, CO)
All right not really trees at this one, but I love the red rocks. People think their only available to see at Red Rocks amphitheater, but actually you can find them hiding all kinds of places.
HOME CAMPING
Honestly I just wasn’t prepared to give up on using our tent. I wanted to know I could do it…but I also wanted to know I would survive and thus a night of home camping.
Hey even the instructions say you should practice pitching your tent before you head out into the wild wild west where the ground is covered with sticks and mud and snow. It may not have been that specific.
Turns out this Kelty Trail Ridge 2 tent was INSANELY easy and I’m so much more confident I can actually camp just having done that.
Umm putting away the most awesome sleeping bag ever actually took us about 4 times as long…my laughing hysterically at David probably didn’t’ help. Watch to the end where I figure out the actual trick to getting your sleeping bag back into the provided bag!
Have you gone leaf peeping?
Do you love Fall?
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Charlie
The trees are so gorgeous in CO and UT at the moment, made the trails even more appealing. It was so fun to explore with you – thanks for showing me around!!
Liz
Wow! Absolutely beautiful trails for running. Your photo under Golden Gate Canyon State Park is gorgeous!
Fancy Nancy
It’s just so beautiful there!!!
Eri
soooooooooooo beautiful. Makes me want to move to CO right now!
Taylor Kiser
When it comes to tents, I would definitely need this one since it’s so easy! Your photos are gorgeous too by the way!
Kristen
Those trails look so pretty! I love fall and it’s so much prettier in the mountains.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
What an adventure!!! The views are gorgeous. I love to hike and go the mountains for day trips, but I have to admit I’m not much of a camper. Give me a bed!! :-)
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
Way to get back out there! That tent looks so easy to put up and I’m all about that purple color! I love how excited you were at the end to get that sleeping bag packed up :)
Heather @ FITaspire
I am a huge fan of Fall. It used to be my favorite season…but then snowboarding. :) A good tent is a BIG deal – when we upgraded last year I couldn’t believe the difference it made. And now you need a trip to try it out in the mountains (when it gets warm, of course)!!
Emily Kyle
The pictures you took are just breath taking! I can’t wait to get my hands on one of those tents and take my boys out on a camping trip!
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands
My family loves camping. I could send my girls over to help you set up the tent! They have a small tent they set up themselves here in the house and backyard but we need to get them a bigger tent for when they go out camping and decide to sleep in there if we attempt to sleep in hammocks and it rains. I’m going to have to check out that model because I bet it would be perfect for them.
Just remember the views are typically better outdoors! ;) Plus there’s nothing like waking up to the cool crisp morning air!
Laura
What a fun adventure! Colorado is absolutely beautiful! Fall is my all-time favorite season ever! I love everything about it!