Chimney Rock and Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado

© Cory Marshall/Tandem Stills + Motio

Autumn colours sweep across the West. Autumn colours sweep across the West

Few views are more striking than this one of the foliage in Colorado’s Uncompahgre Forest in the shadow of Chimney Rock. The spire and its neighbour Courthouse Mountain dominate the landscape here year-round, but the changing colours make this area - and drives along the region’s well-known Million Dollar Highway - even more scenic.

The forest gets its name from the Native Americans who have historically lived here, a band of Ute Native Americans called the Uncompahgre Ute People. The Ute People came to what is now Colorado and Utah in around the year 1300, and usually spent this time of year travelling to make offerings to the spirits and hunting buffalo. And, we presume, admiring the spectacular colours.