Several years back, it was mid-October when we decided to spend a weekend in Palisade, Colorado. The vineyards of western Colorado were beautiful that time of year, and we were looking forward to enjoying wine country. But I had another goal in mind. I wanted to take a side trip up to Grand Mesa in hopes of capturing the last of Colorado’s fall colors.

The following morning, we left Palisade and started the drive up the mesa. I knew we might already be too late. By mid-October, especially at the higher elevations, the aspens can lose their leaves quickly. The farther we climbed, the more I wondered if we would reach the top only to find bare trees and discover we had missed fall altogether.

When we finally reached the higher elevations, I couldn’t believe what we found. Not only were the leaves still hanging on, but somehow we had managed to arrive right around peak color.

Now the challenge was finding the right photograph.

We continued along the highway until I spotted this winding section of road disappearing through the golden aspens. After finding a safe place to pull off, I grabbed my camera and began working the scene. The curves of the highway seemed to lead your eye right through the brilliant yellows and greens of the forest, and I knew this was the image I had hoped to find.

We stayed there for about an hour, surrounded by the scent of fall and the cool mountain air. There was already that unmistakable feeling that winter wasn’t far behind. It made me appreciate the moment even more, knowing how quickly this scene could disappear.

Eventually, we headed back down to the lower elevations and spent the rest of the weekend enjoying Palisade and Colorado wine country.

We could have easily skipped Grand Mesa that morning. We didn’t know if the colors would still be there, and there was no guarantee I would come away with a photograph.

But sometimes it’s the side trip—the road you almost didn’t take—that gives you the memory you’re most glad you came home with.