• Mountain ranges and golden aspen groves appear along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, setting up a memorable drive you can take with the windows rolled down.
• At the Monarch Crest Scenic Tramway in Salida, a ride to the Continental Divide comes with sweeping panoramas of layered peaks fading into the blue distance.
• Join guided bird walks every September as experts share insights about the iconic Greater Sandhill Crane during the Yampa Valley Crane Festival in Steamboat Springs and Hayden.
• Victor’s Gold Rush Days, Leadville’s Boom Days, South Fork’s Logger Days Festival and Frederick’s Miners Day celebrate Colorado’s mining and timber history with delicious bites, live music and, at some events, burro races.
• Denver’s Hispanic Heritage Month spans September and October, filling the calendar with fashion shows, festivals, jazz ensembles and interactive exhibits across the city, with select events extending into November.
• Hike through amber-hued fall colors in Rocky Mountain National Park as leaves crunch underfoot and bugling elk can be heard in the distance.
• Colorado’s ghost towns and reputedly haunted sites invite a closer look at stories from the state's past as the spooky season arrives.
• A tour of Coors Brewery in Golden traces the brand’s history and brewing process, ending with optional sampling.
• Aspen forests showing seasonal color frame a fall ride on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Antonito over the Rocky Mountains.
• Pro sports season means cheering for the Rockies, Broncos, Avalanche, Rapids, Nuggets or Denver Summit FC from the stands in the Denver area — be sure to wear team colors!
• Desert trails at McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area near Grand Junction are amid the second-largest concentration of natural arches in North America.
• In October, The Stanley Hotel’s Shining Ball in Estes Park invites guests to dress as Stephen King characters for a Halloween costume party with dancing throughout the night.
• Camp along Last Dollar Road near Telluride amid yellow aspens during the day and clear night skies after dark.
• Set to open in spring 2026, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America will bring original manuscripts, projections and interactive exhibits to Pueblo.
• Pick out a pumpkin and browse local goods like homemade honey and baking-ready puree at Happy Apple Farm in Penrose.
• Look up and have cameras ready as brightly colored hot-air balloons lift off at October’s Animas Valley Balloon Rally in Durango.
• Football games come with memorable moments when mascots Ralphie of the University of Colorado Boulder or Cam the Ram of Colorado State University in Fort Collins run across the field at halftime.
• During Native American Heritage Month in November, learn about Ancestral Puebloan history at Hovenweep National Monument in Cortez or visit Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Eads to reflect on the past.
• Stop by Bishop Castle in Rye — a testament to perseverance, this towering structure of stone and iron was hand-built by one man. While it remains under construction, visitors are invited to climb spiral staircases and admire the colorful stained glass and distinctive design.
• September and October bring grape-harvest season to Colorado wineries, including those in Palisade, where visitors enjoy wine tastings set against the surrounding landscape of desert mesas.
• Inside Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, James Beard Award-winning Annette serves a seasonally focused menu with standouts like whole-roasted fish and grilled lamb skewers.
• In late September, La Junta’s Tarantula Fest brings up-close viewing of the spiders in their natural habitats alongside a parade, food vendors, story times and contests.
• Running and cycling routes across Colorado range from beginner to expert, from paths in Steamboat Springs that pass through aspen groves and pine stands to scenic byways like the West Elk Loop.
• Fall’s cooler weather makes it a good time to hike around Chimney Rock National Monument near Pagosa Springs, with trails leading to Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites and views across the valley below.
• The snow-dusted peaks of the Maroon Bells near Aspen are the country’s most photographed mountains, creating a memorable backdrop for fall photos.
• Enjoy the autumn air and the good feeling of giving back with nature walks, educational events and clean-up get-togethers from Roaring Fork Conservancy in Basalt, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative around the state and Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon.
• Decorated casket races, a parade, food-and-drink vendors and an after-party give the Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival its lively October energy in Manitou Springs.
• Get an up-close view of bison roaming the plains at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City or at Genesee Mountain Park in Golden.
• Sunset horseback rides through the Rocky Mountains or trips to Browns Creek Falls with Mt. Princeton Riding Stables in Nathrop offer scenic ways to explore the area.
• An original mining shaft and Baby Doe’s Cabin in Leadville pair together on a tour that traces the life of Baby Doe Tabor, an actress and wife of “The Silver King” Horace Tabor.
• A broad tasting focus centers on craft beer, cider, cocktails, hard lemonades and seltzers at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver each October, featuring producers from across the U.S.
• Aspen groves and a variety of trails at Golden Gate Canyon State Park offer seasonal hikes and drives perfect for fall days near Golden.
• Corn mazes and pumpkin patches at family-friendly spots like Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Patch in Longmont or Baseggio Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Atwood make these stops a classic part of the harvest season.
• Late-night screenings and packed theaters turn Telluride into a hub for thriller and dark fantasy films during the Telluride Horror Show each October.
• Local traditions come through at Pueblo’s Chile & Frijoles Festival each September, from chili cook-offs and salsa tastings to the jalapeño-eating contest.
• Wander through Paint Miles Interpretive Park in Calhan to see layered bands of color running through the canyons.
• A stop at the Colorado State Capitol includes the mile-high step beneath the golden dome in Denver.

Many of these places offer accessible experiences. Organizations like Telluride Adaptive Outdoors, Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, National Sports Center for the Disabled in Denver and Winter Park, Adaptive Adventures in Lakewood and Adaptive Sports Association in Durango provide additional options. Staunton, Barr Lake and Ridgway state parks provide all-terrain Action Trackchairs, and Ridgway State Park offers floating wheelchairs at swim beaches.

Winter

• Black History Month in February is a great time to explore pioneers’ stories at Denver’s Black American West Museum & Heritage Center and contemporary work by Black women artists at the Museum for Black Girls, as well as tales of Buffalo Soldiers at the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center in Fort Garland.
• Icy slides, towering sculptures and a winding maze make Ice Castles a magical, family-friendly adventure that lights up at night in Cripple Creek and Silverthorne.
• Victorian architecture at Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs and the Tudor-style setting of Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs each come to life through guided tours.
• Visit the charming mountain town of Ridgway, where the Grammy Awards are made by hand and scenes from 1969’s “True Grit” were filmed.
• Warm up with comforting dishes from MICHELIN-recommended Wyld in Avon, try ricotta ravioli with braised short rib or sea bream with coconut sauce.
• Take in a wintry sunrise on the eastern plains as the Last Chance Module Array casts artistic shadows on the prairie.
• Stories of influential women come into focus during Women’s History Month in March at the Center for Colorado Women’s History in Denver.
• Hidden speakeasies like B&GC in Denver, Social in Fort Collins and The Bookcase & Barber in Durango offer craft cocktails and an intimate evening out.
• Alpine skiing and snowboarding lessons across Colorado include adaptive and accessible options at powder havens like Beaver Creek Resort, Breckenridge Ski Resort and Copper Mountain Resort.
• Wander through themed light displays paired with seasonal music at Denver Zoo Lights or immersive, illuminated installations with hot chocolate at Denver Botanic Gardens’ Blossoms of Light.
• Skijoring competitions in Leadville and Silverton pair cowboy grit with winter sport as horses pull skiers through snowy obstacle courses, while spectators watch the action and gather at nearby spots for post-race celebrations over beers.
• Sip on rich hot chocolate served with decorative toppings add a cozy indulgence at spots like Bird & Jim in Estes Park, The Little Nell in Aspen and Four Seasons Resort in Vail.
• In Ouray, the ice-climbing capital of the world, frozen waterfalls fill the narrow gorge at the Ouray Ice Park, forming frozen blue cliffs that climbers scale each winter.
• Take a unique tour of the National Ice Core Lab in Lakewood to learn how scientists study ice cores from glaciers around the world, including a step inside a walk-in freezer.
• Customizable spa treatments, including massages and body wraps, lean into a hygge sensibility at luxurious mountain resorts like Element 52 in Telluride.
• With trails open year-round, winter walks at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument bring views of fossilized tree stumps left behind by ancient volcanic eruptions.
• Backcountry ski or snowshoe to a 10th Mountain Division Hut near Aspen, Leadville or Vail,  where you can end your day by the fireplace, with quiet alpine terrain and snow-covered forests outside.
• Martial-arts demonstrations, a marketplace and a teahouse are part of Lunar New Year celebrations presented by the Colorado Springs Chinese Cultural Institute.
• Lace up your skates and glide across the ice on crisp winter days at Evergreen Lake, the world’s largest Zamboni-groomed outdoor rink, along with Beaver Creek Ice Rink and Denver International Airport.
• Listen to the sounds of whinnies and hooves crunching through snow on a sleigh ride with 2 Below Zero in Frisco or Golden Horseshoe Sleigh Rides in Breckenridge, followed by meals, snacks and cider.
• Classic snow tubing offers an easy winter outing for all ages at places like Copper Mountain Resort, Frisco Adventure Park or Keystone Resort.
• Make the most of winter by hitting snowy trails for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at Colorado’s 20-plus Nordic centers, including Keystone Nordic Center with its adaptive lessons.
• The world’s largest Shotski, along with concerts and a bonfire, fuel winter cheer at Breckenridge Ullr Fest each December.
• At Wray’s local museum, Ice Age artifacts and traces of nomadic cultures highlight the area’s deep history.
• Find inspiration in world-class art across Colorado from Western works at Trinidad’s A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art to stone sculpture at Loveland’s Chapungu Sculpture Park and diverse collections at Denver’s Museo de las Americas and Denver Art Museum.
• Visiting The North Pole at the base of Pikes Peak in Cascade brings you to Santa’s Workshop, with rides and festive scenes throughout the park from November through Christmas Eve.
• Latkes at Latke Love in Littleton, peanut stew at African Grill and Bar in Lakewood and tamales from Tamales from Heaven in Evans offer comforting holiday dishes during colder months.
• Snowy days slow down at winter cabins like River Spruce Cottages in Estes Park, where hot tubs, crackling fires and mountain views help create a cozy stay.
• A glass of whiskey in hand suits winter evenings at local distilleries like Peach Street Distillers in Palisade and Marble DIstilling Co. in Carbondale.
• Frozen Dead Guy Days in Estes Park celebrates one of Colorado’s weirdest traditions each March — the cryopreservation of Bredo Morstoel.
• Afternoon high-tea at The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver includes pastries and sandwiches, while Boulder’s Dushanbe Teahouse serves savory bites influenced by global cuisine.
• Groomed winter trails turn fat biking into a quiet ride through snowy landscapes in places like Crested Butte, with rentals from local shops like The Alpineer.
• Brave a jump into icy water for a good cause at nine locations across the state during the annual Polar Plunge, supporting Special Olympics Colorado.
• A group of steaming pools at the Yampah Mineral Baths invites relaxed soaking at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, home to the world’s largest hot springs pool.
• Spin slot machines or take a seat at the blackjack tables in Central City, a town that first grew from Gold Rush-era prospecting.
• Experience a night of music, theater, dance or comedy at one of five venues along Colorado’s Historic Opera House Circuit in Central City, Telluride, Leadville, Aspen and Ouray.
• In January, the National Western Stock Show kicks off in Denver with a parade of longhorn cattle walking through downtown, then continues with rodeos, horse shows, dog performances and a petting farm