Fall leaves in Smith Lake at Washington Park on Oct. 21, 2019 in Denver. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) Look beyond Colorado’s shimmering yellow aspen trees for wonderful leaf-peeping this fall. Adam Moore, the supervisory forester at the Colorado State Forest Service’s Alamosa field office, emphasized that leaf-peeping is not limited to the mountains. “There are trees and shrubs other than aspens that create brilliant colors,” he said. In addition to the trees in the high country, take the time to peer into the canyons or explore the streams and riverbanks to see brilliant yellows and reds. Rather than looking at fall foliage while sitting in mountain traffic, you could plan a hike, a river float, or a paddle adventure instead. Or, if you want to stick closer to home, explore the urban forests in Denver or Colorado Springs. “Some cities have the best fall foliage,” Moore said. Beyond the aspen In Colorado, there are other plant options and colors to consider. Here’s where to look: Ponderosa pine stands: If you see colors in Ponderosa pines, they most often are gambel oaks, which turn orange, red and off-yellow. River or stream banks: Narrowleaf cottonwoods turn yellow; Great Plains cottonwoods turn bright yellow; golden willows turn golden yellow; and wax currant and golden currant shrubs turn orange to reddish. Bushes and shrubs: Rocky Mountain sumac shrubs turn brilliant red; chokecherry bushes turn blood red; caragana multi-stemmed bushes turn yellow or red; and wild rose shrubs turn yellow or brilliant red.