Directions:

From Downtown Winter Park, turn west on Rendezvous Way, then left on Lions Gate Drive, and right on Vasquez Road. Follow Vasquez road through the residential area and enter Arapaho National Forest. The Twin Bridges Trailhead will be on the right, just past the National Forest boundary.

Hike Description:

Looking for a great fall colors hike in the Winter Park/Fraser area?  Well, here ya go. The hike starts from the Twin Bridges Trailhead off of Route 7 aka Vasquez Road. This loop trail can be hiked in either direction but I recommend counter clockwise and heading right at the trailhead.  

Golden Aspens are a given on this hike, though the most stunning groves are along the northern part of the loop. The entire hike is brimming with stunning fall foliage. Views of the high peaks along the Front Range are also in abundance, but you may not even notice, you have to stop looking at the trees first… Visit this area in late September for your best chances at peak fall color.

Turning right from the trailhead, the hike starts out on a small segment of the Leap Frog Trail but soon becomes the Sunset Pink Trail.  Sunset Pink heads north and curves tightly to head back to the south.  Ignore the turnoffs for the Sun Dogs and Akima’s Way trails in order to stay on the loop.  Sunset Pink soon ends at the D3 trail, bear to the left heading south on D3.  Stay on D3 for 0.6 miles and turn left onto D4 for just a few minutes.  Then turn left one more time onto the Leapfrog Trail heading north back to the trailhead. 

The entire loop is about 2 ¼ miles of pure fall hiking splendor.