Last Dollar Road
San Juan Mountains, Colorado · 10,676 ft
Typical peak
Sep 14 – Sep 22
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
The dirt road climbs out of the Telluride valley through aspen groves to a 10,676-foot saddle with the Sneffels Range on one side and Wilson Peak on the other. Split-rail fence, ranch gates, and narrow bands of trees supply the foreground the paved overlooks lack.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
moderate
Often busier by mid-morning; consider arriving at first light.
Getting there
Last Dollar Road (San Miguel County Road 58P / Forest Road 638) leaves CO 145 near the Telluride airport and runs 22 dirt miles north to CO 62.
What turns here
- quaking aspen
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 18Typical color progression for Last Dollar Road. No change from Aug 11 to Aug 28. First color from Aug 28 to Sep 6. Approaching peak from Sep 6 to Sep 14. Peak from Sep 14 to Sep 22. Past peak from Sep 22 to Oct 2. Bare from Oct 2 to Oct 16.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Aug 28.
This season so far
First frost
Sep 21
20 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
45°F / 26°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Last Dollar Road on September 18, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:29 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 87° | 6:56 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 35 min of low, warm light | 7:30 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:06 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 35 min before sunset | 6:41 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 273° | 7:15 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:42 PM |
Times in America/Denver · day length 12h 20m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.