Good weather, affordable prices and few crowds: the best time to visit Colorado
Colorado is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise with four national parks and many beautiful mountain towns where you can hike, bike, and ski. Some travelers come to hike the trails, while others come to escape the heat and enjoy the scenery.
No matter what your travel style, there's something for you in the state - even if you're more interested in a city weekend in Denver than an adventure-inducing mountain vacation. Whatever you want to do while traveling, you need to know the perfect time to do it. The main tourist seasons in the Centennial State were published by travelandleisure.com.
High season: June to September and mid-December to March
Low season: April to May and October to mid-December
Much of Colorado's tourism is centered on nature, so the state has two busy seasons: summer and winter. In between these busy times, namely from April to May and October to mid-December, you will usually find fewer people.
However, keep in mind that the seasons of highest and lowest activity may vary depending on which part of the state you visit. In Denver, for example, the airport may be crowded in the winter due to travelers heading west to the mountains, but the city itself should be deserted. January and February can be great months to settle down in the Mile High City and enjoy its many inner delights, from world-class museums to recently Michelin-starred restaurants.
The best time to visit Colorado in good weather
Anyone who has spent enough time in Colorado knows that the weather can change quickly. However, as a rule, the best weather is from May to October.
If you're hot, you can skip July and August, which are usually the warmest months, and plan your trip for spring or fall instead. Just keep in mind that conditions vary depending on what part of the state you are in. In the mountains, the weather is always cooler than in Denver. So while a trip in October might be mild and sunny in the capital, it might be snowy in the mountains - and vice versa, a trip in July might be hot in the city but bearable in Breckenridge.
Best time to visit Colorado at lower prices
To get the best deal in Colorado, you can follow a simple formula: when the crowds are smaller, the prices are usually lower as well. If you're traveling near a ski area, hotel prices are likely to be highest during the ski season and not much lower in the height of summer. However, these hotels often have lower prices in early spring (April and May) and late fall to early winter (late October to mid-December).
The best time to visit Colorado for wildflowers
It's almost impossible to pinpoint the exact dates of wildflower season, as the appearance of blooms depends on several factors, including snowmelt and altitude. However, flowers usually appear at lower elevations in late spring or early summer. At higher elevations, the season starts later, often in July or even August.
Best time to ski in Colorado
The ski season in Colorado usually lasts from late November to early April, but it varies greatly from region to region. Some ski resorts, such as Arapahoe Basin and Keystone, welcome visitors as early as late October and stay open until mid-June or even early July. It all depends on snowfall, altitude, and snow.
The best time to ski in Colorado is January and February. The snow is usually good and deep, and there is plenty of off-mountain fun on offer with events like Aspen Ski Week and the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival.
March is another great time for a ski trip, as the temperatures are less cold and hotel prices are (slightly) lower than in the heart of winter.
The best time to go hiking in Colorado
If you have the right equipment, you can hike many trails in Colorado all year round, but the peak hiking season is from June to October. During this window, most trails are free of snow.
Best time to visit Colorado for fall foliage
In general, fall colors reach their peak between mid-September and mid-October. It's best to visit a place with lots of aspens, which boast beautiful yellows, oranges, and reds, and plan a trip up or down to find the trees at their peak of change.
The worst time to visit Colorado
For travelers who are on a budget or don't like crowds, the winter and summer seasons in the state are probably not ideal. While they offer the best conditions for seasonal sports, it will be expensive and busy during these peak times. Visiting in the spring and fall can give you a great mountain vacation for a fraction of the price and with few crowds.
There are also the obvious weather conditions. Skiers and snowboarders should avoid summer, while hikers and campers should skip winter unless they have special skills and equipment.
In general, there are peak and off-peak hours for every activity and for every city, but in general, Colorado can offer you a great vacation any month of the year.
