Illustration
Illustration
Colorado
Best time to visit Mount Goliath and Berthoud PassWhen to catch wildflowers and fall color
Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass through the year: wildflowers (local timing: mid-June through the end of July) and fall foliage (regional timing: by September). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.
Checked against 3 official sources · How we check →
About Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass
- What it is
- A national forest in Colorado
- What you'll see
- Wildflowers · Jun–Aug (a season)Fall foliage · by September (regional)
- Before you go
Wildflowers · Jun–Aug(3 tips)
- Tours: The Denver Botanic Gardens leads garden explorations at Mount Goliath several times a week in summer.
- Weather: Afternoon thunderstorms with lightning, hail or snow are common at Berthoud Pass, and temperatures drop fast.
- Closures: Boulder Canyon raptor nesting closures (February–July).
Fall foliage · by September (regional)(3 tips)
- Crowds: Expect heavy color-season traffic; parking along the road is prohibited, so use signed pullouts or trailhead lots.
- Reservations: Parking inside Brainard Lake takes a timed-entry reservation; otherwise park at the Gateway Trailhead and walk or bike in for $10.
- Roads: For now the road is open to Summit Lake, and the upper part is closed for the season.
Sources (8)
- US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Mt. Goliath - Mt. Evans Viewing Area (Arapaho National Forest) ↗
- US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Berthoud Pass Trailhead (Arapaho National Forest) ↗
- US Forest Service, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests current conditions ↗
- US Forest Service, Guanella Pass Trailhead ↗
- US Forest Service, Guanella Pass Scenic Byway ↗
- US Forest Service, Brainard Lake Recreation Area ↗
- US Forest Service, Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area & Scenic Byway ↗
- US Forest Service, Boulder Canyon ↗
RIGHT NOW · OCT 3
- Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
- This weekend (NWS)Sat mostly sunny, 56°F · Sun sunny, 56°F
- Park alertsCheck the managing agency before you go
When are you going?
Fall at Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass
Winter at Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass
Nearby in winter
Illustration
Spring at Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass
Our sources name nothing here for spring; the other seasons above have what they do.
Summer at Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass
Wildflowers in Colorado
Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass
National forest
Season
Mid-June through the end of July
Month by month
Usual windows from the official sources, not a forecast
| Month | What to see | |
|---|---|---|
| January–April | ||
| June–August | ||
| September | ||
| October | ||
| November–December | ||
Best spots
Where each event's source says to go
Mount Goliath (Dos Chappell Nature Center)
Best spot
Roadside alpine wildflowers on a garden with only about 40 frost-free days a year
Good for: WildflowersUS Forest Service ↗
Berthoud Pass Trailhead
Best spot
On the Continental Divide at 11,307 ft, about 1.5 hours west of Denver
Good for: WildflowersUS Forest Service ↗
Guanella Pass Scenic Byway
Best spot
Georgetown to Grant over an 11,700-ft pass through aspen
Good for: Fall foliageUS Forest Service ↗
Brainard Lake Recreation Area
Best spot
Glacial valley below the Divide; timed-entry reservation to park
Good for: Fall foliageUS Forest Service ↗
Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway
Best spot
From Idaho Springs; highest paved road in North America
Good for: Fall foliageUS Forest Service ↗
Next 7 days at Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass
Forecast: National Weather Service
Last checked Fri, Oct 2: our daily Weather Service update hasn't come through since. Check weather.gov before you go.
Around Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass
In season first, then nearest; straight-line miles
Other places to visit: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 53 mi · Lynx Pass, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests 66 mi
Next season here: Wildflowers, mid-June through the end of July.
Towns nearby
Straight-line miles from Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass
- Denver, CO · 39 miFirst frost ~Oct 8
- Fort Collins, CO · 69 miFirst frost ~Oct 7
- Pueblo, CO · 109 miFirst frost ~Oct 9
- Cheyenne, WY · 111 miFirst frost ~Oct 1
- Laramie, WY · 115 miFirst frost ~Sep 4
First frost: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at each town's nearest station.
Mount Goliath and Berthoud Pass in pictures
Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Questions people ask
When is the best time for wildflowers in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests?
Mount Goliath from mid-June through the end of July; the Berthoud Pass trailhead area from late June to early August.Sources: US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Mt. Goliath - Mt. Evans Viewing Area (Arapaho National Forest) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Berthoud Pass Trailhead (Arapaho National Forest) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Are there guided wildflower walks in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests?
The Denver Botanic Gardens leads garden explorations at Mount Goliath several times a week in summer.Source: US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Mt. Goliath - Mt. Evans Viewing Area (Arapaho National Forest) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What's the weather like for wildflower hikes in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests?
Afternoon thunderstorms with lightning, hail or snow are common at Berthoud Pass, and temperatures drop fast.Source: US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Berthoud Pass Trailhead (Arapaho National Forest) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How bad is Guanella Pass traffic in color season?
Heavy. From September 12 this fall, Clear Creek and Park counties planned extra signs, parking enforcement, towing and temporary closures when traffic peaks. Parking along the road is prohibited: use signed pullouts or trailhead lots, and have a backup destination.Sources: US Forest Service, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests current conditions ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Forest Service, Guanella Pass Trailhead ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Forest Service, Guanella Pass Scenic Byway ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How we know
The official pages behind every date on this page
- Sep 27Forest ServiceAlpine wildflowers best mid-June through the end of JulySource (opens US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Mt. Goliath - Mt. Evans Viewing Area (Arapaho National Forest) in a new tab)
- Sep 27Forest ServiceBest wildflowers late June to early AugustSource (opens US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Berthoud Pass Trailhead (Arapaho National Forest) in a new tab)
- Sep 27Forest ServiceColorado's aspens turn gold by September, high country first, then lower elevations (regional, Rocky Mountain Region botanist)Source (opens US Forest Service, Fall Colors Usher in Autumn in the Rocky Mountains in a new tab)