Story and photos By Mary Anderson

Ascending the slightly bumpy gravel road through one of the largest aspen groves in the world is like traveling through an immersive art exhibit. Seemingly endless tall, pale trunks stretch high in the sky with colors that seem too intentionally beautiful to be naturally occurring. Breaking up the incredible shades of yellow, orange and red, the West Elk Mountains peek through the forest with a reminder of just how special Colorado is.

The scene from Kebler Pass, 16 miles west of Crested Butte, is one of the most awe-inspiring fall adventures in the state.

What makes this forest so fascinating, is more than what meets the eye. Each individual tree is connected through a shared root system stretching laterally and vertically below the ground’s surface. This makes aspen trees one of the largest living organisms on the planet, second only to a species of fungi.

The special tree’s underground root system gives them the ability to thrive in conditions many tree species cannot survive. “Aspen is considered a fire-induced successional species that will dominate a site until it is replaced by less fire-enduring and more shade-tolerant species, such as conifers,” the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service says. Such replacement can occur anywhere between 100 and 1,000 years after a burn.

According to University of Illinois botany professor M.D. Morgan, there is evidence of past fires in the Kebler Pass area. The fires likely burned through the forest in the late 19th century, however, exact dates are difficult to determine.

Feeling wanderlust? Here are three ways you can venture into this surreal natural beauty:

Hiking

3 Lakes Loop

An easy hike, 3 Lakes Loop is 2.8 miles long and ascends 578 feet in elevation. With a short turnoff to a waterfall, you’ll also experience incredible peak views, gorgeous lakes and, of course, some amazing aspen.

Click here for more information

Biking

Dyke Trail

A singletrack epic trail for advanced mountain bikers, Dyke Trail is a 14-mile loop. Climbing 2,334 feet in elevation, expect “fast flowy descents, a number of creek crossings, brutal power climbs with both rocks and roots, and one steep descent,” according to the Travel Crested Butte website.

Click here for more information

Driving

County Road 12 to Highway 133

Beginning in Crested Butte, this stretch of the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway takes you through the grove into the small town of Paonia. There are plenty of places to stop, snap some photos and truly take in the beauty of this extraordinary grove. The round trip takes roughly two to four hours.

Click here for directions from Crested Butte.

For more ways to explore this remarkable area, go to travelcrestedbutte.com