By Anna Urban

Peak season at the park is almost here. As the days get shorter and aspen leaves change from green to gold, the park will become abuzz with activity.

Leaf lookers will take to the trails in search of the best Instagram worthy shot. Weekend campsite openings are slim to none. This is normal for us from September to early October every year.

With additional activity we suggest visitors come on weekdays if able. Or come early if weekends are your only option. This gives you the best chance of finding a parking spot at the location you want to explore. Remember to only park in designated parking spots to make this season safe for everyone.

Due to the lack of water the leaves might look different this time around. We might see an earlier peak in color that won’t last very long. Since aspens have shallow roots, they are more prone to heat stress, which could cause them to drop leaves early.

Like the weather, how and when the leaves change is hard to predict. Regardless of the aspen conditions, visitors will have plenty to do between miles of hiking trails and park programs.

There will be plenty of guided hikes, kids programs and art classes to choose from. If history is your jam come to the amphitheater on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. to learn about the fur trade boom that occurred in Colorado in the 1800s. If it is rainy or unpleasant the talk will be held inside the camper services building.

Biking programs are also amping up this month. Two beginner bike skill classes will take place; one for e-bikes on Sept. 9 and one for mountain bikes on September 13. If you’re already confident on your bike, join us for a group fall ride near the end of the month. Registration is required for all biking events. Go to our event website to sign up.

To sign up for events or check out our full event calendar, go to https://cpw.state.co.us/events. Use the ‘filter by park’ box to find Mueller events. Not all programs require advance registration. If registration is required, it is clearly marked on the website for each event.

The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For current conditions call the Visitor Center at 719-687-2366.

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Editor’s Note: This is a regular monthly column from Colorado Parks and Wildlife about recreation opportunities at Mueller State Park.