Compare · 122 straight-line miles apart
Maroon Bells vs Great Sand Dunesfall color
Maroon Bells or Great Sand Dunes: which comes first?
Maroon Bells usually comes first (Sep 21–30), Great Sand Dunes about 5 days later (Sep 21–Oct 10), going by each place's own sources. Their usual windows overlap Sep 21–30.
They're 122 miles apart in a straight line.
Checked Sep 27. Sources (4)
- US Forest Service, Fall Colors ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Great Sand Dunes conditions to expect by month ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Medano Pass Primitive Road ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.
Usual windows, side by side
Maroon Bells · Usually Sep 21–30
Great Sand Dunes · Usually Sep 21–Oct 10
Shaded: Sep 21–Sep 30, in both usual windows.
Side by side
| Maroon Bells | Great Sand Dunes | |
|---|---|---|
| Usually | Sep 21–30 | Sep 21–Oct 10 |
| This season | No official report yet | No official report yet |
| Elevation | 9,578 ft | 7,984 ft |
| First fall frost | Sep 23 Aspen 1sw, 8.4 mi | Oct 1 Great Sand Dunes Np & Preserve, 1 mi |
Elevation at the point we map (USGS). Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, the average first 32 °F night at the nearest station.
Where to go at each
Maroon Bells
- Maroon Bells Scenic AreaMaroon Lake, 6.5 miles southwest of Aspen; reservation needed by shuttle or car
- Hanging LakeSteep 1.2-mile climb of 1,200 ft; timed reservation per person
- Maroon Bells-Snowmass WildernessSurrounds the scenic area; overnight permits in popular zones
Great Sand Dunes
- Medano Pass Primitive RoadA rough 22-mile road up to Medano Pass, 10,040 ft
- Mosca Pass Trail3.5 miles one way through aspen and evergreen forest
- Cottonwoods by the dunesDeep gold by mid-October, after the aspens
Sources (11)
- US Forest Service, Fall Colors ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Great Sand Dunes conditions to expect by month ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Medano Pass Primitive Road ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Maroon Bells Scenic Area ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Maroon Lake Scenic Trailhead ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Hanging Lake ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, White River Epic Adventures ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Medano Pass Primitive Road ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Hiking at Great Sand Dunes ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Great Sand Dunes conditions to expect by month ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.
Questions people ask
Which has fall color first, Maroon Bells or Great Sand Dunes?
Maroon Bells, usually Sep 21–30; Great Sand Dunes usually Sep 21–Oct 10. Each place's own sourced window, not a forecast.
Can I see both on one trip?
In a typical year, Sep 21–30 falls in both usual windows. They're 122 straight-line miles apart; roads are longer.
Which is higher?
Maroon Bells: 9,578 ft at the point we map, against 7,984 ft (USGS). Higher places often turn earlier, but latitude matters as much.