Breckenridge has come up with a novel way of informing out-of-town leaf-peepers about the status of fall foliage in Summit County with a new online feature that went live Monday.
The Breckenridge Tourism Office will post fall foliage photos every other day on its Leaf Brief page, which can be found at gobreck.com. The site also has educational information, trail information and other tips. Photos also can be seen @gobreck on Instagram. Leaf peepers can add their own photos using #BreckLeafBrief.
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Peak fall color in the Breckenridge area is expected in the third and fourth week of September, which Town of Breckenridge naturalist Ella Garner said is “pretty typical.” Higher elevations around town are already showing good fall color.
“Generally, the trees that are up a little higher, on ridgelines or cliffsides where they are in full sun, that’s often why they change a little bit sooner than the ones on Main Street that may be in the shade of buildings or the understory of other trees,” Garner said, adding that young aspen trees have already started to peak. “Groves that are shorter, like under five or six feet, seem to be changing more like in the second or third week of September.”
There’s also good fall color in the Frisco area. Garner predicts a great fall foliage season.
“We had a really good rainy season during the growing (season), which contributes to leaf growth and producing chemical compounds like carotene which creates the orange colors.”
Garner and fellow town naturalist Lauren Sawyer offer free guided fall foliage hikes up to three times a week during leaf-peeping season.
Town of Breckenridge naturalists Ella Garner, left, and Lauren Sawyer check out fall colors Monday near the Wellington Ore Bin, a relic of the town’s mining history that dates back to the early 20th century. (Provided by Breckenridge Tourism Office).