Gallery

Snow dusts some of the West Needles Mountains on Thursday north of Durango. Fall colors are arriving about two weeks early this year. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Aspens on Old Lime Creek Road on Thursday north of Durango. Drought stress from a dry winter and summer is causing leaves to change color earlier. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Gambel oak shows its brilliant red colors along Old Lime Creek Road on Thursday north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Aspens reflect in puddles of water on Old Lime Creek Road on Thursday north of Durango. Leaves aren’t only changing sooner this year – they’re changing faster. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Aspens on Old Lime Creek Road on Thursday north of Durango. The San Juan National Forest fall color report shows several areas north of Durango reaching their peak. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

An aspen leaf backlit by the sun on Old Lime Creek Road north of Durango. Fall colors are arriving about two weeks early this year. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Aspens on Old Lime Creek Road on Thursday. The fall colors are a huge draw for tourists in the region, and with the vegetation changing sooner, the tourism industry in and around Durango is booming, said Frank Lockwood, executive director of the Durango Area Tourism Office. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Changing colors on Thursday north of Durango. Drought stress from a dry winter and summer is causing leaves to change color earlier. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

John Simons enjoys a beautiful Thursday afternoon riding down Old Lime Creek Road north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ron Liljedahl, left, Marshall Wilkes, center, and Sam Carpenter hang out near the Potato Lake Trailhead on Thursday afternoon on Old Lime Creek Road north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Beautiful fall colors as seen from Old Lime Creek Road on Thursday north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Cattails are lit up by the Thursday morning sun in the Animas Valley north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald