Aspens On McClure Pass
McClure Pass Aspens
Near Marble, CO
I am a sucker for photographing Aspens in the Fall. I really like the look of a pristine white Aspens surrounded by golden leaves and red underbrush.
I was driving along the McClure Pass on the way to the Crystal Mill when I spotted this small grouping of Aspens on the north side of the road. I pulled over and played around with compositions and took a dozen or so shots. When I later uploaded my images, I realized my lens had been set to autofocus and I missed the most important trees in the front on most of the images. Luckily, I had 2 images that worked and I selected this composition.
Next time I visit here, I will take more time, compose and use a tripod for critical focus. Lesson learned. It is a great little Aspen grove that can product some nice results.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - EASY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The hike to the location is a simple 50 yd. walk alone the road from the pullout on McClure Pass.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
8,428 Ft. Elevation
Downloads
View In Google earth
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Aspens on McClure Pass parking area.
The closest town is Carbondale, CO (which is a town west of Aspen). Directions are from Carbondale.
From Carbondale, travel south on CO133 for 21 miles until you see the turnoff to Marble - don’t turn, but set your vehicles odometer. Continue on CO133 (past the Marble exit) up the mountain (McClure Pass) for 5.5 miles until you see pullout just past the railing on the right. The pullout is not made for cars, so you need to be careful when pulling over.
The location of the shot is on the same side of the road as the pullout (north) about 50yds back from the pullout.
Photography Tips
I like this location for Aspens as it is shooting uphill which provides a nice background/backdrop and good color. Try to make sure you use a polarizer to deepen the colors.
For me, the key to this shot is getting the front Aspens tac sharp, so take your time and use a tripod.
Best Time of Day to Shoot
I find the best time to shoot this shot is late afternoon to sunset.
Best Time of Year
This location is a stunning vista all year round! However, for me the best time of year is during the fall color season (depending on the year – this ranges between the last week in Sept - 1st week in October). The VERY BEST time to capture this spot would be when the aspens are turning golden and just after a good snowstorm. I would note that from my experience, the McClure Pass tends to turn a few days before other part of central Colorado.
The above shot was taken on September 24th
Lens(es) Needed
From the road, this shot was taken with a 135mm lens. I like the compression of the trees and shooting up hill with a longer lens. You could walk up the hill a little and try a wider-angle lens.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
There are no permits required in the area.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of your shot is west at around 240°.
Equipment Needed
No need for any special photography equipment, but again I would use a tripod and take your time focusing.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
This location is off the beaten path and you will most likely not any other people at this location.
Weather
The weather in Colorado is normally mild in the summer, cold (lows in the 20’s) in the spring and fall.
Cell Service
I use Verizon and there is no cell service at this location. In fact, you can’t get cell service until you drive back to Carbondale.
Area Guides and Workshops
None