Colorado has two tourist seasons: warm and cold. Those who want to see the state's parks and other scenic wonders, hike, mountain-bike, or raft will usually visit from May to October; those who prefer skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling will obviously have to wait for winter, usually from late November to March or April, depending on snow levels. Although you can visit most major museums year-round, some, especially in smaller communities, close in winter. The best way to avoid crowds at the more popular destinations is to try to visit March through May and October through mid-December.
To hear Coloradans tell it, the state has perfect weather all the time. Although they may be exaggerating just a bit, the weather is usually quite pleasant, with an abundance of sun and relatively mild temperatures in most places -- just avoid those winter snowstorms that come sweeping out of the mountains.
Along the Front Range, including Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, summers are hot and dry, with mild evenings and cool nights. Humidity is low, and temperatures seldom rise into the 100s. Evenings start to get cooler by mid-September, but even as late as November the days are often sunny and warm. Surprisingly, winters are milder and less snowy than those in the Great Lakes region or New England; many golf courses remain open year-round. The accompanying chart lists average temperatures and precipitation for Denver and Colorado Springs; Denver and Boulder are so close that their statistics are virtually identical.
Most of Colorado is considered semiarid, and overall the state has almost 300 sunny days a year -- more sunshine than San Diego or Miami Beach. The prairies average about 16 inches of precipitation annually; the Front Range, 15 to 18 inches; the western slope, only 8 inches. Rain, when it falls, is commonly a short deluge -- a summer afternoon thunderstorm. However, if you want to see snow, simply head to the mountains, where snowfall is measured in feet instead of inches, and mountain peaks may still be white in July. Mountain temperatures can be bitterly cold, especially if it's windy, but even at the higher elevations of Colorado's top ski resorts, you'll find plenty of sunshine.
