Colorado What To Do›Winter
Winter Things To Do In Colorado
Skiing is only the start. Colorado winter means snowshoe trails in a national park, a free ice park in a canyon, hot springs under falling snow and a train to the slopes.
What is there to do in Colorado in winter?
Colorado winter activities include downhill skiing and snowboarding from about November to April, snowshoeing in places like Rocky Mountain National Park, cross-country skiing at Nordic centers, ice climbing at the free Ouray Ice Park, soaking in hot springs in Glenwood Springs, Steamboat and Pagosa Springs, riding winter trains, and sleigh rides, dog sledding and snowmobile tours in mountain towns.
A Colorado winter is not what most people picture. Denver gets snow, but it often melts within a day or two, and many winter days on the Front Range are sunny. Up high, the snow stays and the season runs for five or six months.
That combination makes winter one of the best times to visit, as long as you plan for mountain driving. The ski resorts get most of the attention, but you can have a full winter trip without ever buying a lift ticket.
On the slopes
Skiing And Snowboarding
Colorado has more than two dozen ski areas, from the big destination resorts of Vail, Breckenridge, Aspen Snowmass, Steamboat and Telluride to small, locally loved hills such as Loveland, Monarch, Ski Cooper, Sunlight and Wolf Creek. Openings usually begin in October or November, when the high resorts start making snow, and most close in April, with a few staying open later.
- Multi-resort passes. Many skiers buy a season or multi-day pass that covers several resorts, sold by the large resort companies. Daily lift tickets bought at the window are usually the most expensive way to ski, so compare options before you go.
- Skip the I-70 drive. Amtrak's Winter Park Express has run seasonal ski trains between Denver Union Station and Winter Park Resort, with skis and snowboards carried at no extra charge. Amtrak says the service returns for 2026–27; check its site for dates. Regional buses also connect Denver with several resorts.
- Smaller areas, smaller crowds. Loveland, about an hour from Denver, and Ski Cooper near Leadville are lower-key alternatives with shorter lift lines.
- Lessons first. At altitude and on unfamiliar snow, a lesson is the fastest way for beginners to enjoy the first day.
Without a lift ticket
Snowshoeing And Cross-Country Skiing
Snowshoeing is the easiest winter activity to try: rentals are cheap and widely available, and if you can walk, you can snowshoe. Good places to start:
- Rocky Mountain National Park, where the Bear Lake area and the trails around Sprague Lake become winter wonderlands. Ranger-led snowshoe walks have been offered in past winters; check the park calendar.
- Brainard Lake Recreation Area west of Ward, a popular Front Range snowshoe and ski area when the road gate is closed for winter.
- Groomed Nordic centers such as those in Frisco, Breckenridge, Crested Butte and Steamboat, which rent gear and maintain classic and skate trails.
Stay on low-angle terrain unless you have avalanche training. Even popular trails can cross avalanche paths.
Ice and snow
Ice Climbing, Skating And Sledding
The Ouray Ice Park, in a narrow gorge on the edge of Ouray, is one of the best-known ice climbing venues in the world. Ice farmers build up ice on the canyon walls each winter, typically from mid-December to mid-March depending on the weather, and climbing is free. You need a helmet and crampons, and beginners should climb with a guide service. Even if you do not climb, walking the bridges above the gorge to watch is worth the stop.
Many mountain towns maintain outdoor ice skating on frozen lakes or rinks, including Evergreen Lake west of Denver and the lake at Keystone. Check ice conditions and hours before you go; natural ice depends on weather.
For sledding, use designated hills. Sledding on ski runs, highway shoulders and closed roads is dangerous and often prohibited.
Warm up
Hot Springs, Trains And Sleigh Rides
Hot springs are at their best in winter, with steam rising off the water and snow on the rocks. Glenwood Springs, Steamboat, Ouray and Pagosa Springs all have pools that stay open year-round. See our full Colorado hot springs guide.
Winter trains offer mountain scenery without driving. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs a winter route into Cascade Canyon, and several heritage railroads run holiday trains in December. Schedules change yearly, so check with the railroad.
Sleigh rides, dog sledding and snowmobile tours are offered by outfitters in many mountain towns, including Breckenridge, Steamboat, Winter Park and the Leadville area. Book ahead for holiday weeks.
Winter also has a festival calendar of its own, from Ullr Fest in Breckenridge to Leadville's ski joring on Harrison Avenue. Our companion site covers them in its Colorado winter festivals guide.
Snow days in the city
Winter On The Front Range
On storm days in the mountains, the Front Range often makes the better plan. Denver's museums, including the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, are good indoor options, and the city's holiday light shows run from late November into early January. Between storms, the sun returns quickly, and foothills trails at places like Red Rocks and Garden of the Gods are often walkable within days of a snowfall. Our Front Range guide has more.
Before you go
Winter Safety In The Mountains
- Check the roads. CDOT's COtrip.org shows closures, chain law and traction law status. From September through May, the traction law can be in effect on I-70 and other mountain highways.
- Carry a winter kit. Warm layers, water, food, a scraper, a flashlight and a full tank. I-70 closures can last for hours.
- Know avalanche conditions. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center publishes free daily backcountry forecasts. Anyone leaving the ski area boundary needs avalanche training and rescue gear.
- Protect against sun and cold. High-altitude sun reflects off snow; wear sunscreen and sunglasses even on cold days.
- Watch for altitude sickness. Headache, nausea and poor sleep are common the first night in a high ski town. Drink plenty of water and descend if symptoms get worse.
Common questions
Winter Questions
When is ski season in Colorado?
Colorado ski season generally runs from October or November, when the first high-elevation resorts open, into April. Exact opening and closing dates depend on snow and vary by resort each year.
What can you do in Colorado in winter if you don't ski?
Non-skiers can snowshoe in Rocky Mountain National Park, cross-country ski at Nordic centers, watch or try ice climbing at the free Ouray Ice Park, soak in hot springs, ride winter trains, and book sleigh rides, dog sledding or snowmobile tours in mountain towns.
Is there a train from Denver to the ski slopes?
Amtrak's Winter Park Express has run seasonal ski trains between Denver Union Station and Winter Park Resort, and Amtrak has said the service returns for the 2026 to 2027 season. Check Amtrak's website for the current schedule.
Sources
- Amtrak: Winter Park Expressski train service
- Ouray Ice Park and Visit Ourayseason and requirements
- National Park Service: Rocky Mountain National Parkwinter activities
- Colorado Avalanche Information Centerbackcountry forecasts
- Colorado Department of Transportation: COtriproad conditions and traction law
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroadwinter train
- U.S. Forest Service: Brainard Lake Recreation Areawinter access