Aspen + Vail, Colorado Fall Getaway!

Alicia Rose

Aug 11

4 min read

It comes as absolutely no surprise how much I LOVE Colorado. Planning adventures right here in our home state is one of my favorite things to do.

So when this foursome asked me to help plan their September getaway to Aspen and Vail, Colorado, I was beyond excited.

September in the Colorado mountains is pretty hard to beat. Golden aspens, crisp mountain mornings, incredible hiking and biking, charming mountain towns and plenty of opportunities to sit outside with a coffee—or a Colorado beer—and take in the views.

This trip combines two of Colorado's most iconic mountain destinations into one incredible fall getaway: Aspen + Vail.

Play that John Denver, because this one is shaping up to be pure Rocky Mountain magic.

Starting the Colorado Getaway in Aspen

First stop: Aspen, Colorado.

For their time in Aspen, I found an upscale two-bedroom, two-bathroom mountain condo tucked just steps from downtown.

Location can make such a difference when planning an Aspen vacation. Staying close to downtown gives them easy access to restaurants, coffee shops, shopping and all the energy of Aspen while still having a comfortable home base to come back to after a day spent exploring the mountains.

And in September?

Those mountains should be putting on quite the show.

Visiting Maroon Bells During Colorado's Fall Colors

Of course, you can't talk about an Aspen fall vacation without talking about Maroon Bells.

This is one of my absolute favorite places in Colorado—and judging by the number of photos I have of my kids there through the years, I really do love it THAT much.

Maroon Bells is spectacular year-round, but visiting during Colorado's fall foliage season is something extra special.

The golden aspens against the mountains are the kind of scenery that makes you stop and wonder how this place is actually real.

Because access to the Maroon Bells Scenic Area is managed seasonally and reservations can be required, it's also one of those Colorado experiences where planning ahead matters.

For this trip, Maroon Bells is officially on the itinerary during one of the most beautiful times of year to experience it.

Hiking + Biking in Aspen

This group isn't heading to the mountains just to look at them.

They want to get outside and PLAY.

Their Aspen itinerary will leave plenty of room for beautiful hikes and epic bike rides, along with time to explore town and enjoy the slower side of a Colorado mountain getaway.

That's exactly how I love to plan Colorado trips: a little adventure, a little relaxation and enough flexibility to enjoy whatever the mountains throw your way.

Next Stop: Vail, Colorado

After Aspen, they'll continue their Colorado road trip to Vail.

In Vail, they'll settle into suite-style accommodations with convenient access to the Gore Creek Trail, giving them a fantastic home base for biking and exploring.

Vail is another destination that's absolutely gorgeous in the fall.

The summer crowds begin to thin, temperatures cool down and the surrounding mountains start turning gold.

Spend the morning biking or hiking, wander through Vail Village in the afternoon and finish the day with dinner and drinks surrounded by the mountains.

Not too shabby.

The Perfect Colorado Fall Vacation

One of the reasons I love combining Aspen and Vail into the same trip is that you don't have to choose between them.

Both towns deliver those classic Colorado mountain views, outdoor adventures and charming village atmosphere, but each has its own personality.

Together, they make for one seriously good Colorado mountain road trip.

This particular itinerary will include:

Upscale two-bedroom, two-bathroom accommodations near downtown Aspen
Suite accommodations in Vail near Gore Creek
A visit to Maroon Bells during Colorado's fall season
Hiking and biking in Aspen and Vail
Time to explore both mountain towns
Coffee, shopping, restaurants and local breweries
Plenty of intentionally unplanned time to simply enjoy being in the mountains

Because not every hour of a vacation needs an itinerary.

Sometimes the best part is wandering into a coffee shop, finding a patio with an incredible view or deciding at the last minute that you want to squeeze in one more hike.

When Is the Best Time to See Fall Colors in Aspen + Vail?

If seeing Colorado's famous golden aspens is at the top of your bucket list, September into early October is generally the time to start looking at a Colorado fall foliage trip.

The exact timing of peak color changes every year depending on elevation, temperatures and weather conditions, so there's never a guarantee that a particular weekend will be THE weekend.

That's part of the magic of fall in Colorado.

But planning your trip around the typical fall color window—and building an itinerary that takes you through different elevations—can give you more opportunities to see those incredible golden aspens.

Planning a Trip to Aspen, Vail + the Colorado Mountains

Colorado might be home for me, but I never get tired of exploring it.

And that local knowledge is something I love bringing into the trips I plan for my clients.

If you're dreaming about an Aspen vacation, Vail getaway, Colorado fall colors trip, Rocky Mountain road trip or Colorado hiking and biking vacation, I'd love to help you put it together.

I can help with accommodations, routing, activities, reservations and all those little details that can make a huge difference when you're traveling in the Colorado mountains.

Whether you're coming for fall colors, summer hiking, a romantic mountain weekend, a friends' getaway or simply because you've always wanted to see Colorado for yourself, we'll create a trip around the things you actually want to experience.

As for this Aspen + Vail adventure?

I may just have to tag along, because it's gonna be gooooood.

Dreaming of visiting Colorado?

Let me help you plan the perfect trip.

P.S. The photos are of my kids and me at Maroon Bells through the years… because yes, we really love it THAT much.