Changing grasses and brush approaching treeline near Stony Pass in the San Juan Mountains offer a different view than the changing aspens.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Aspens in their fall colors are near their peak near Coal Bank Pass.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Changing colors northeast of Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Aspens in their changing fall colors seem to be near peak colors near Coal Bank Pass on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>A motorcycle rider comes down from Stony Pass in the San Juan Mountains northeast of Silverton on Sunday .
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Grasses and brush in the San Juan Mountains near Stony Pass high above the changing aspens offer a different view on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Aspens in their changing fall colors seem to be near peak colors near Coal Bank Pass on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Lots of people were up in the San Juan Mountains taking in the changing aspens that seem to be near peak fall colors near Coal Bank and Molas Passes on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Lots of people were up in the San Juan Mountains taking in the changing aspens that seem to be near peak fall colors near Coal Bank and Molas Passes on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Grasses and brush in the San Juan Mountains near Stony Pass high above the changing aspens offer a different view on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Changing colors northeast of Silverton on Sunday .
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Aspens in their changing fall colors seem to be near peak colors near Coal Bank Pass on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>A motorcycle rider comes down from Stony Pass in the San Juan Mountains northeast of Silverton on Sunday .
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Aspens in their changing fall colors seem to be near peak colors near Coal Bank Pass on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Changing colors in Silverton on Sunday .
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Lots of people were up in the San Juan Mountains taking in the changing aspens that seem to be near peak fall colors near Coal Bank and Molas Passes on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Lots of people were up in the San Juan Mountains taking in the changing aspens that seem to be near peak fall colors near Coal Bank and Molas Passes on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Grasses and brush in the San Juan Mountains high above the changing aspens show their fall colors on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Rob Batot, of Bristol, Tenn., said this is so beautiful up here, while taking in all the colors near Coal Bank Pass on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Ore buckets hang above changing colors northeast of Silverton on Sunday .
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Grasses and brush in the San Juan Mountains near Stony Pass high above the changing aspens offer a different view on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Aspens in their changing fall colors seem to be near peak colors near Coal Bank Pass on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Grasses and brush in the San Juan Mountains near Stony Pass high above the changing aspens offer a different view on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Changing colors northeast of Silverton on Sunday .
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>Changing colors in Silverton on Sunday .
Hillsides radiant with the colors of autumn inspire many drivers to take a jaunt on the San Juan Skyway. If that’s on your schedule, you should plan to go sooner rather than later.
As of Monday, the San Juan National Forest Color Watch said the best viewing was above 10,000 feet, but the change is happening rapidly. The Million Dollar Highway, U.S. Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray, is estimated to be 95 percent changed. Molas Pass is 75 percent changed. It’s primarily aspens, some oak and serviceberry trees and shrubs leading the charge. Those who just want to take a short drive up to Purgatory Resort have a little more time, because that segment of the skyway is only 25 percent changed.
And if you want to astound passengers with your scientific know-how, here’s why leaves turn yellow, orange, red and purple: The colors already exist in the leaves. But during the spring and summer, chlorophyll, which is responsible for the green, dominates and is busy converting energy from sunlight into carbohydrates such as sugars and starches to feed the tree. When days start shortening, chemical changes occur, and the chlorophyll switches off and allows the other colors to shine forth. The colors may vary from year to year because of weather conditions and are affected by the species of tree and direct or indirect exposure to the sun.
abutler@durangoherald.com
Fall color watch
Visit www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/home/?cid=stelprd3854716 for the latest information from the San Juan National Forest on the changing fall colors.
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