Salida & Great Sand Dunes — An Autumn Landscape Photography Workshop
Most photographers have been to Colorado. But most have photographed the same places — the same peaks, the same passes, the same shots they’ve seen a hundred times on Instagram. This trip is something different.
Based in Salida, this five-day autumn landscape workshop explores the lesser-visited corners of the Collegiate and Sawatch Mountains before heading south to the Great Sand Dunes National Park — one of the most visually extraordinary and surprisingly under-photographed landscapes in the American West.
Early October is an ideal time: golden aspens, low-angle light, and sand ridges sculpted by autumn winds. We’ll work the golden hours hard and spend the in-between time talking about what makes a photograph actually interesting.
This workshop is open to photographers of all experience levels. Curiosity is the only prerequisite.
Scheduled Workshops
1-5 October, 2026 - SOLD OUT
$3300/person double occupancy - $350 single supplement.
1-5 October, 2027
$3300/person double occupancy - $350 single supplement.
Trip Overview
Our home base for this autumn photography workshop is my hometown — Salida, Colorado. Tucked into the upper Arkansas River Valley and surrounded by some of the most dramatic 14,000-foot peaks in the Rocky Mountains, Salida is the perfect launching point for five days of landscape photography in central Colorado.
We’ll meet for dinner on the first evening before heading out for a golden hour shoot in the Arkansas Hills, where sweeping, rarely-photographed views of the Sawatch Range and the valley below unfold in every direction. These are grand landscapes that most Colorado photographers have simply never seen.
The next three days are timed to coincide with peak fall colors in the aspen forests above Salida — and these aren’t your typical roadside aspens. We’re talking about extensive, backcountry groves that see very few photographers, paired with alpine lakes, autumn tundra, and big mountain views from high passes. If you’ve been chasing fall color photography in Colorado, this is the trip you didn’t know existed.
On Day 3 we head south into the vast San Luis Valley, picnic dinner in hand, bound for Great Sand Dunes National Park. This otherworldly landscape of sinuous sand ridges, sculpted dunes, and extraordinary light is one of the most underrated photography destinations in the American West. We’ll work the golden hour hard, then stay well into the evening to photograph the Milky Way rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains — one of those experiences that simply doesn’t photograph the same way twice.
Day 4 takes us north into the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, where sapphire alpine lakes, rushing mountain streams, and golden aspen-covered mountainsides offer endless compositional possibilities for landscape and nature photographers.
On our final morning, we’ll make one last foray along the Arkansas River near Salida — intimate river landscapes in soft autumn light — before saying our goodbyes late morning. You’ll have plenty of time to reach Denver for evening flights, or to continue exploring the Colorado Rockies on your own.
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival & First Light Arrive in Salida and settle in at the hotel before meeting the group for a welcome dinner downtown. After dinner we’ll head out to the Arkansas Hills for our first shoot — sweeping, rarely-photographed views of the Sawatch Range and the Arkansas River Valley in the last light of day. These grand, elevated perspectives set the tone for the week ahead.
Day 2 — Into the Aspen Forests Our first full day takes us up into the mountains above Salida to explore extensive backcountry aspen groves timed to peak fall color. Alpine lakes, high mountain passes, and autumn tundra round out a full day of landscape photography in some of central Colorado’s most dramatic and least-visited terrain. We’ll work both the morning and evening light.
Day 3 — Great Sand Dunes & the Milky Way We head south into the vast San Luis Valley, picnic dinner packed, bound for Great Sand Dunes National Park. Spend the afternoon exploring the dunes — mastering sand texture, dune shadow patterns, and foreground composition. We stay through golden hour when the light on the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is at its most dramatic, then into the evening to photograph the Milky Way rising over the mountains. A genuinely unforgettable night.
Day 4 — Collegiate Peaks Heading north into the Collegiate Peaks, we spend our final full day among sapphire alpine lakes, rushing mountain streams, and golden aspen-covered mountainsides. Some of the most iconic high-alpine landscape photography in Colorado — with the added bonus of avoiding the crowds that flock to more predictable destinations.
Day 5 — Arkansas River & Farewell A final morning shoot along the Arkansas River near Salida — intimate river landscapes, soft autumn light, and one last chance to explore before saying goodbye late morning. Plenty of time to reach Denver for evening flights, or to continue your Colorado adventure independently.
- All lodging from Salida
- Most meals
- Help with transportation arrangements from Denver, Colorado Springs, or Gunnison
- Photography Instruction
- National Park Entry Fees
- Guide Services
- Small Group Size
- Flights between your home and Denver
- Pre and post-trip hotels
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tips
Will the aspens definitely be at peak color?
Aspen timing varies year to year depending on weather, elevation, and a dozen other factors I can’t control. Early October is historically the sweet spot for the areas we visit, but if color is running early or late, we have enough flexibility in the itinerary to chase the best of what’s available that week. Either way, you’re getting five days in some of the most beautiful corners of Colorado!
How much hiking is involved?
This isn’t a backpacking trip, but you should be comfortable walking a few miles at a photography pace over uneven terrain — rocky trails, sand, maybe some mud. You don’t need to be in peak shape, but reasonable fitness will make the week more enjoyable.
What camera equipment should I bring?
Check out the full packing list.
I’m new to photography. Is this trip really for me?
Yes. This trip is designed to work for photographers at every level, from people who just got their first real camera to those who’ve been shooting for years. The small group size means I have to spend with everyone, and there’s no pressure to keep up with anyone else’s pace or skill level.
What’s the weather like in early October?
Variable, and that’s part of what makes the photography interesting. Expect anything from warm, sunny afternoons to genuinely cold mornings, especially up high or out at the dunes after dark. Snow is possible in the higher terrain, though not the norm this early. Layers are essential.
Will we actually see the Milky Way at the dunes?
Clear skies aren’t guaranteed anywhere, but the San Luis Valley has some of the darkest skies in Colorado, and I plan the trip with good night-sky conditions in mind. If clouds roll in, we adapt — there’s always something worth photographing.
When do I need to arrive and depart?
Plan to be in Salida by the afternoon of Day 1, in time for our welcome dinner that evening. We wrap up late morning on Day 5, which leaves plenty of time to reach Denver for an evening flight.
Colorado Aspens and Great Sand Dunes
