Two area drives suggested for fall colors

RBC I Autumn brings a chill to the night air, an earlier sunset and children back in school. Colorado is fortunate to have four distinct seasons, and this is the time of the year to get out and enjoy the fall colors around Rio Blanco County.
Although the average dates for peak colors have occurred in some of the northern parts of the state, aspen viewing remains favorable through this coming weekend.
The final opportunity to view fall colors will be in the southern areas from Oct. 8 to 16. Make sure to prepare for the trip and check ahead on the road conditions by visiting www.cotrip.org. Updates on where colors are changing across Colorado’s state parks can be found by clicking the conditions tab and checking the fall colors box at www.parks.state.co. us/ParksSearch/Pages/ParksSearch.aspx.
In Rio Blanco County, check out the Flat Tops Trail Scenic and Historic Byway. This scenic byway has pristine scenery and unmatchable wildlife viewing due to the long-standing history of conservation and multiple-use land management. An advisory in this area notifies visitors that beetle-killed trees are falling. For a unique experience, extend your travels along this byway by staying overnight in a tipi at Yampa River State Park. Fishing and bird watching are also excellent pastimes here.
Near the northwest corner of Rio Blanco County is Dinosaur Diamond National Scenic and Historic Byway. Located north of Rangely, this byway traverses high mountains and barren plateaus, with stops at two national monuments, Colorado and Dinosaur, and two great rivers, the Colorado and Yampa. Although primarily known for its association to fossils, this byway has a rich connection with recreation through Highline Lake State Park, and the areas that make up James M. Robb — Colorado River State Park, where camping, fishing and boating abound.