Autumn in Colorado

Summer has drawn to a close but autumn offers one of the best times to visit Colorado.

There are numerous fun fall activities for all the family, from arts to food festivals and skiing: Here’s what’s hot this season.

Festivals & Events

Elk Fest, Estes Park (1-2 October)

Each October in Estes Park, bull elk gather to show off for the females during the start of rutting (breeding) season. At Elk Fest, visitors can learn about the animals behaviour whilst observing them in their natural habitat. Onlookers can expect live music, performances, and even participate in a bugling contest. For those wanting to learn the ins and outs of the beautiful beasts, The YMCA of The Rockies is offering an Elk Ecology Class where participants can enjoy hands-on activities.

Tarantula Fest, La Junta (8 October)

Every autumn, herds of tarantulas scurry across the open landscape in La Junta and southeast Colorado. Whilst this has traditionally been seen as migration, it’s in fact an annual mating ritual performed by male tarantulas who roam across 443,000 acres on the Comanche National Grassland. Once temperatures start to cool, the mating season begins. In celebration, the first annual Tarantula Fest will be held in La Junta and include guided tarantula tours, an educational pavilion and more.

Denver Arts Week (4-12 November)

With hundreds of events around the Mile High City, Denver Arts Week will show off one of the world’s most vibrant arts scenes. Explore art districts, outdoor sculpture displays, performing arts shows, literary events and art sales. One of the week’s main highlights is Saturday Night at the Museums on 5 November, when many of the city’s top cultural institutions will be open for free from 5-10pm.

Skiing

Season opening dates

Colorado’s popular ski destinations have announced dates for the upcoming season, starting with Keystone’s kick off in October. On 11 November, both Breckenridge and Vail will follow before Winter Park opens on 16 November. Beaver Creek, Steamboat and Crested Butte will open on 23 November, with Aspen Snowmass to follow on 24 November.

Keystone Resort

A true winter wonderland, Keystone Resort boasts more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain across three peaks just a stone’s throw away from Denver. Kicking off the Colorado ski season this October, activities include night skiing, snow tubing, ice skating, sleigh rides and more. With the Kids Ski Free program, children 12 and under can ski and ride for free every day all season when just two or more nights of accommodation is booked.

Steamboat

In January 2023, Steamboat in Colorado will celebrate its 60 year anniversary. The popular resort is known for its western heritage and is currently undergoing a $200 million renovation which will see modernisation on the mountain and in the resort’s base area. Winter 2022/23 will see the opening of the lower leg of the new Wild Blue Gondola (the longest gondola in North America and the fastest 10 person gondola in the country) and base area improvements including a new ice skating rink and food and drink hall.

Aspen Snowmass

Gearing up for another ski season, Aspen Snowmass plans to come back with a bang with exciting events including the return of World Cup racing on Aspen Mountain and new major developments including a revamped Buttermilk base area. A $23 million renovation, Buttermilk will see a reworked base area complete with a new 9,000 sq.ft electric skier services building, a new Mountain Lodge eatery, and an expanded bar and outdoor patio named The Backyard.

www.colorado.com.