Depending on the year and the elevation, leaves in the Ridgway area start turning yellow, orange and red in early September and last through late October. Of course, the leaves turn brown and drop earlier the closer you get to mountaintops, while the colors arrive later and stay later down in the valley. The multi-hued displays curated by Mother Nature can end earlier when cold weather comes sooner. But, the white and silver skeletons of trees without their foliage can also create stunning landscapes and photos.