Aspen is known for ski season, but we think fall might be its best time. We visited the week of September 21-24. We spent a full day wandering downtown Aspen between our two nights camping near Maroon Bells, drove up Independence Pass in the evening and then closed it all out with a quiet stop at North Star Nature Preserve. If you are planning a day in Aspen with a dog, this is exactly how we would do it again.

This post is part of our Colorado fall road trip series. For the rest of the trip, see our Maroon Bells with a dog guide, our Million Dollar Highway stops and 1 day in Telluride.

Is Aspen Dog Friendly?

Yes! Visiting Aspen with a dog is easy, since downtown is very walkable and fun to explore with a leashed pup. Many shops and patios welcome dogs, but some galleries and boutiques allow service animals only, so it is always worth asking at the door. Bring water for your pup, since you will be walking most of the day.

Visiting Aspen in Fall

Fall is one of the best times to visit Aspen. Peak color usually lands in the third and fourth weeks of September, when the aspen groves around town turn gold. Timing shifts a little each year, so check local foliage reports before you go.

We visited in late September, right in peak season. The day before, most of the aspens around Maroon Bells had already turned a brilliant gold, with just a few patches of green still mixed in.

For more fall color near town, drive Maroon Creek Road, Castle Creek Road or Independence Pass, which is where we ended our day. Evenings get cold fast in fall, so keep a warm layer in the car.

Downtown Aspen With a Dog: Our 10 Stops

After a slow morning at camp, we drove into town and spent the day exploring on foot. Downtown Aspen is an easy walkable grid of galleries, boutiques and restaurants, with plenty to fill a full day.

1. Park at Rio Grande Parking

Rio Grande Parking Plaza is the easiest spot to park for downtown Aspen. It is a short walk into the core of downtown, right next to Rio Grande Park.

2. Rio Grande Park

Right next to the parking plaza, Rio Grande Park is a nice, easy stretch of green space along the river to start the day before heading into the shops and galleries.

3. John Denver Sanctuary

Right beside Rio Grande Park, the John Denver Sanctuary is a peaceful riverside garden with walking paths, wildflowers and large stones engraved with lyrics from his songs. It is a calm spot for a short walk before downtown gets busy.

4. Aspen Art Museum

This one was my solo side quest. Dogs are not allowed inside the Aspen Art Museum (service animals only), so Jam and Tira hung out outside while I went in. Admission is free, the building is striking and the rotating contemporary exhibits are worth taking your time with. Do not skip the rooftop, where the Swedish Hill cafe has some of the best views over town. The museum is closed on Mondays, so plan around that.

5. Thrifting and the Pedestrian Malls

Aspen has a surprising number of thrift and resale shops tucked into downtown, a fun way to spend an hour and find something you will not see anywhere else. In between shops, stroll the brick pedestrian malls on Hyman Avenue, Cooper Avenue and Mill Street. They are car free, easy to walk with a dog and home to the dancing fountain, a fun spot to take a break.

6. Aspen Emporium

One of our favorite stops for browsing, Aspen Emporium carries local and small batch goods that make for better souvenirs than the usual mountain town t shirt.

7. Alderfer’s Antiques of Aspen

Right next door to Aspen Emporium on Main Street, Alderfer’s is packed with vintage treasures, Western wear, antique furniture and Native American collectibles. It is a fun place to browse even if you are not buying anything.

8. Wheeler Opera House

This historic 1889 opera house is worth a stop even just to admire the building and catch the current show listings, a real piece of Aspen’s mining era history still standing in the middle of downtown.

9. Hotel Jerome

Another Aspen landmark from the same era, Hotel Jerome has been hosting guests since 1889. Worth walking through even if you are not staying there.

10. Paradise Bakery and Gelateria

We wrapped up our time downtown with gelato from Paradise Bakery and Gelateria, sitting outside with a view of the mountains. A perfect treat after a day of walking, right before heading up Independence Pass.

Evening Drive: Independence Pass From Aspen

Before heading back to camp, we drove up Independence Pass. It is roughly 40 minutes from downtown Aspen to the summit, and since we did not take the pass on the way into Aspen, we really wanted the chance to drive it.

When we reached the summit and got out of the car, it was windy and rainy, so a jacket is a must up here. From the parking area, it is a short walk to the lookout point. What surprised us most was that even up above the trees, the area still looked like fall, with the low alpine plants turned warm fall colors.

What to Know Before You Drive Independence Pass

• High elevation. The summit sits at 12,095 feet on the Continental Divide, so bring a warm layer even on a sunny fall day.
• Seasonal road. Highway 82 over the pass usually closes for winter in early November and reopens the Thursday before Memorial Day, weather permitting. Check COtrip before you go.
• Narrow and winding. The road has tight curves and single lane sections. Vehicles 35 feet or longer, including trailers, are not allowed.
• Stops along the way. Weller Lake Trailhead is about 8 miles from Aspen, the Grottos Trail about 9 miles and the Independence Ghost Town about 16 miles.
• Keep your dog leashed at pullouts and the summit overlook, and pack out any waste.

Last Stop: North Star Nature Preserve

On our way back from Independence Pass, we made one last stop at North Star Nature Preserve, just east of downtown Aspen along Highway 82. Here the Roaring Fork River slows down and winds calmly through open meadows and wetlands, with mountains rising all around it.

We pulled over at the Stillwater Bridge at the west end of the preserve, and the calm water and the bridge were absolutely beautiful. It is such a nice place for fall scenery, the kind of view that makes you stop and just stand there for a while. It was a wonderful way to close out our Aspen day trip before heading back to camp.

Good to know: Dogs are not allowed inside North Star Nature Preserve to protect the wildlife habitat, but leashed dogs are welcome on the East of Aspen Trail that runs along its edge. Stay on the established trails and enter only at the gates. In summer, the calm stretch of river is a popular spot for paddleboarding and kayaking.

More From Our Colorado Fall Road Trip