When to Go

Visiting the Front Range is pleasurable in any season. Wintertime in the urban corridor is generally mild, but the mountainous regions can be cold and snowy. Snowfall along the Front Range is highest in spring, particularly March, making for excellent skiing but unpredictable driving and potentially lengthy delays. Spring is capricious—75°F one day and a blizzard the next—and June can be hot or cool (or both). July typically ushers in high summer, which can last through September, although most 90-plus-degree days occur in July and early August and at lower elevations. In the higher mountains summer temperatures are generally 15-20 degrees cooler than in the urban corridor. Afternoon spring and summer thunderstorms can last 30 minutes or a few hours. Fall has crisp sunny days and cool nights, some cold enough for frost in the mountains.

Art and music festivals start up in May and continue through September. With them comes an increase in visitor traffic. Spring and summer are typically the best times to fish or watch for wildlife.