Go for the Gold

Fall in Colorado is solid gold, and with the aspens nearing their peak, this is an ideal day to Rush to the Gold. To help steer people to the most colorful sites, Colorado State Parks has devised eight trips that take drivers through a total of twenty state parks (out of a possible 42), ranging from a ramble along the Grand Mesa to a leafy tour of the Western Slope vineyards to a simple drive up the I-70 corridor. "It was a collaborative effort," explains CSP's Clare Sinacori, describing how park managers got together to choose areas "where there are really remarkable stands of aspen. We tried to pick really scenic routes that were off the beaten path." And for travelers who'd like to stay a while, many of the state park campgrounds are still open (reach them at 1-800-678-CAMP). The selected tours are all described at www.parks.state.co.us/fall, where the state also provides up-to-the-minute color play.
Sept. 23-Oct. 31, 2007