DENVER -- If you're headed to the high country looking for some views of aspen gold, you better hurry before the annual treasure is gone.

In some parts of the mountains, it already looks like mid-October. The leaves are changing faster because the first snow has already fallen and more is coming.

Several mountain visitors told 7News some of the leaves are going straight from green to brown. The U.S. Forest Service said the cold weather greatly accelerates the fall color season.

"They'll respond by forming a layer like wax on an apple in the grocery store which actually physically separates the leaf from the tree," said Frank Carroll, U.S. Forest Service spokesman.

Since the trees still have most of their leaves, the snow can also add additional weight and break whole branches off. The Forest Service said much of the gold will still be visible after the storm, but most areas in northern and central Colorado won't last past the first of October.