Everything You Need To Know About Fall Colors In Colorado

By Chris Spears, CBS Denver:

Fall is a special time of the year in Colorado for so many reasons but catching views of the aspen trees is often a bucket list item for many people. There's nothing like standing in the crisp mountain air as you take in the vast scenery of a gold mountainside. If you get really lucky there might even be a dusting of snow on the peaks above you along with some pops or red and orange mixed in with the gold.

The science behind the annual color display is all about the shorter days and what happens inside the leaves of plants and trees. The production of chlorophyll, a compound that keeps a leaf green, slows with less sunlight. With less chlorophyll present the carotenoids and anthocyanins inside a leaf take over, allowing the colors of fall to be revealed, including red, orange, yellow and purple, depending on the type of tree.

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