Quandary Peak, Colorado

Quandary Peak is one of Colorado's fourteeners and a popular hiking destination. It is the tallest mountain in the Tenmile Range of the Rocky Mountains, being 14,271 feet tall. The hiking path up the mountain is popular, although it is not an easy climb. The track is 12 kilometers long and climbs 1000 meters. It took my husband and me three hours to climb and two hours to descend.

The initial section of the route is pretty straightforward and progressively ascends through a woodland. This is one of the most beautiful areas of the path in the fall, especially with the golden aspen trees. The sights become better and better as you ascend higher. Beautiful views of the valley below are available just beyond the treeline, with a color palette of red, orange, and yellow. This is also the point at which the trek becomes more difficult; the final section is more of a scramble over loose rocks, so proceed with caution. From the summit of Quandary Peak, you may enjoy breathtaking 360-degree vistas and witness more gorgeous fall colors in the neighboring valleys.

Bring a jacket because it's windy up there. Also, take suitable hiking boots because there was some snowfall at the peak in mid-September. Quandary Peak is adjacent to Breckenridge, a gorgeous mountain community and one of Colorado's most popular spots to see the fall colors. Breckenridge, due to its high elevation, is one of the earliest spots in the United States where the leaves begin to change color, often as early as Labor Day!