CO 306 near Rainbow Lake, Buena Vista, CO, 9/27/2011
On the final afternoon of an autumn photography expedition through Colorado, I explored the mountainous countryside in the San Isabel National Forest west of the town of Buena Vista along state highway 306. In Middle Cottonwood Creek Canyon near Rainbow Lake I spotted this colorful backlit group of quaking aspens (Populus tremuloides) in full autumn glory, glowing in the sunshine against distant greener trees at the base of Sheep Mountain. This particular collection of aspen trees was distinguished by strong red highlights among the more common golds and yellows. At over 9,000 feet above sea level, autumn colors come early here in the Collegiate Peaks section of the Sawatch Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains. I was very impressed by this gorgeous display of color, which for me typifies the glory of Colorado in autumn!
