Cimarron Autumn – Colorado

Cimarron Autumn – San Juan Mountains, Colorado

A cacophony of autumn color flourishes beneath the rugged peaks above the Cimarron River valley.  A combination of chlorophyll, carotene, and sugar in the aspen leaves creates a spectrum of hues ranging from deep green to scarlet.  Dry autumn weather increases the amount of sugar in the sap, resulting in the vivid reds.  The lush Cimarron River valley is part of the Uncompahgre National Forest and is surrounded by the 102,721 acre Uncompahgre Wilderness. The wilderness area contains more than 25 peaks over 13,000 feet, including two fourteeners, Wetterhorn Peak and namesake Uncompahgre Peak. The wilderness was established in 1980, and expanded in 1993 to its current size.