Chasing Gold in Leadville
A quiet moment at the water’s edge—Candace, the dogs, and the golden Aspens reflecting back at us. Hard to beat a scene like this.
Colorado in the fall—rows of Aspens glowing like they’ve been set on fire. Nothing says autumn here quite like this view.
One of the things my wife and I love to do is get out and enjoy God’s creation whenever we can. In late September, we were able to sneak away to Leadville to take in the fall colors. Timing is always tricky—we’ve gone too early before, when everything was still green, and we’ve gone too late, when the wind had already stripped the trees bare. But this year? We hit it at the absolute peak.
The east coast may get those beautiful reds, but Colorado is all about the golds and oranges of the Aspens. As I was editing these photos, I even found myself pulling the saturation down a bit—there was just that much color. To say it was vibrant is an understatement.
Even under gray skies, the colors in Leadville lit up the landscape—gold below, rugged peaks above, and God’s handiwork everywhere in between.
We made our first stop at Twin Lakes. Surrounded by towering 14ers and glowing Aspens, it’s one of my favorite areas in all of Colorado. The combination of water, mountains, and color lighting up the evening landscape was breathtaking.
Since this was just an overnight trip, we had to pack a lot in quickly. We stayed in Leadville for the night, and the next morning decided to hop on the Leadville train. There was something really special about sitting back and watching the scenery unfold this way. Aspens, pines, and snow-dusted peaks filled the view. It was like the landscape was on parade, and we had the best seats.
Moments like this always stop me in my tracks. The beauty points me beyond itself, reminding me of the Creator’s design and art. There’s really no mistaking His fingerprints in a place like this.
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
In the end, it was just a short trip—but one that filled us up. Sometimes a single day in the mountains is enough to reset your soul. And this time, it was drenched in gold.
A bridge over rushing water, framed by Aspens at their brightest. Leadville in the fall is Colorado at its best—color, contrast, and creation pointing back to the Creator.
