Guides · Denver
Denver in October: Weather, Fall Colours and Mountain Day Trips
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Denver in October is all about altitude. The Mile High City sits at 1,609 m (5,280 ft), and within a two-hour drive the land rises to peaks above 4,000 m, so fall colour moves downhill through the month: golden aspens in the high passes early in October and the foothills by the middle of the month. This guide covers 5 mountain day trips from Denver in October: Rocky Mountain National Park during the elk rut, the new Mighty Argo Cable Car, the Georgetown Loop Railroad, the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway and Golden Gate Canyon State Park, each with the exact address, driving time and a Pro Tip.
On Denver weather in October: expect sunny days with highs around 18°C (65°F), cold nights near 3°C (37°F) and only about 25 mm of precipitation. The first snow of the season often falls in mid to late October, sometimes followed by 20°C sunshine two days later. In the mountains, temperatures run 10 to 15°C cooler than in the city, so pack layers, sunscreen and a warm hat for every day trip.
For fall foliage near Denver, timing depends on elevation. Guanella Pass and Rocky Mountain National Park peak from late September to early October, Idaho Springs and Georgetown follow into mid-October, and the lower aspens of Golden Gate Canyon hold colour through most of the month. Every entry except the Mighty Argo, which sits on the Bustang bus line along I-70, needs a car, and an early start beats both the traffic and the afternoon wind.
1Rocky Mountain National Park - Elk Rut and Golden Aspens
Rocky Mountain National Park is the headline October day trip from Denver, with more than 570 km (355 miles) of trails and 77 peaks above 3,660 m (12,000 ft). Early October brings the last of the aspen season around Bear Lake and along Bear Lake Road, and it is also the height of the elk rut, when bull elk bugle and gather their herds in the meadows at dawn and dusk.
Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side are the best places to watch the rut from a safe distance. Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the US at 3,713 m (12,183 ft), usually closes for the winter in mid to late October, so drive it early in the month. Entry costs around $30 (about €26) per vehicle for a day, non-US residents may pay an additional fee, and a timed-entry permit has typically been required into mid-October.
Pro Tip: Reach Moraine Park before sunrise, when elk are most active and traffic is light, and stay at least 23 m (75 ft) away from the animals, as bulls are aggressive during the rut.
2Mighty Argo Cable Car - New Gondola Rides Above Idaho Springs
The Mighty Argo Cable Car is one of Colorado's newest attractions, in Idaho Springs, the old gold-mining town 53 km (33 miles) west of Denver on I-70. Its gondolas lift from the base of the historic Argo Mill and Tunnel at 2,300 m (7,550 ft) to Miners Point at 2,680 m (8,800 ft), where hiking and mountain biking trails begin and views stretch to the Continental Divide.
In October the ride passes over hillsides of aspens and scrub oak, which at this elevation typically turn from late September to mid-October. Back at the base, the Argo Mill, which processed gold ore from 1913, runs guided tours of the mill. Miner Street in Idaho Springs has brewpubs and pizza restaurants for lunch, and the town's hot springs pools make a good end to the day.
Pro Tip: Ride in the morning before the afternoon wind picks up and book online on weekends. Avoid driving back to Denver on Sunday afternoons, when eastbound I-70 traffic backs up for hours.
3Georgetown Loop Railroad - Steam Trains Through Aspen Country
The Georgetown Loop Railroad runs vintage steam and diesel trains between the Victorian mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume. Completed in 1884, the line climbs around 195 m (640 ft) through a series of curves and loops, and its highlight is the Devil's Gate High Bridge, which carries the train 29 m (95 ft) above Clear Creek.
Both towns are surrounded by aspen groves, and the fall colour trains in late September and early October are the most popular departures of the year. Later in October the railroad switches to themed autumn and Halloween trains for families. When running, optional tours of the Lebanon Silver Mine, reached from a stop partway along the line, take you into a 19th-century mine tunnel.
Pro Tip: Book an open-air car on a morning departure for the best views and photos, and bring a warm jacket, as the canyon stays cold until midday.
4Guanella Pass Scenic Byway - High-Country Aspens Above Georgetown
The Guanella Pass Scenic Byway climbs 35 km (22 miles) from Georgetown over a 3,557 m (11,669 ft) pass to the hamlet of Grant, and it is one of the closest drives to Denver for high-country aspens. Groves line both sides of the road from the switchbacks above Georgetown to the open alpine basin at the summit, and they usually peak from mid-September into the first days of October.
Pullouts along the way overlook the reservoirs above Georgetown, and at the summit trailheads lead towards Mount Bierstadt, one of Colorado's most climbed 14,000-foot peaks. By mid-October the highest aspens have usually lost their leaves, but the lower switchbacks can hold colour longer, and the first dusting of snow on the peaks makes a striking backdrop.
Pro Tip: Go early in the month and arrive before 09:00 on weekends, when summit parking fills. After snowfall, check road conditions first, as the pass can close temporarily.
5Golden Gate Canyon State Park - October Aspens and Panorama Point
Golden Gate Canyon State Park covers about 12,000 acres (4,860 hectares) of forest, meadows and rocky ridges in the foothills, only 45 minutes from downtown Denver. Its aspen groves grow lower than those on the high passes, so they colour through most of October, well after the high-country aspens have dropped their leaves.
Panorama Point Scenic Overlook looks across around 160 km (100 miles) of the Continental Divide, including peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park, and is a short walk from its parking lot. More than 55 km (35 miles) of trails cross the park, with the Raccoon Trail loop near Panorama Point a good half-day option. A daily vehicle pass from Colorado Parks and Wildlife is required.
Pro Tip: Buy the daily parks pass online before you arrive and start at the visitor centre, where rangers can point you to the groves that are peaking that week.
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Denver in October: Weather, Fall Colours and Mountain Day Trips - FAQ
October in Denver is mostly sunny and dry but changeable. Daytime highs average about 18°C (65°F) and nights drop to around 3°C (37°F). Precipitation totals only about 25 mm, but the first snowfall of the season often arrives in mid to late October, and mountain passes above 3,000 m can see snow at any time of the month.
Timing depends on elevation. Aspens above about 2,900 m (9,500 ft) at Guanella Pass and Rocky Mountain National Park peak from mid-September to early October, Idaho Springs and Georgetown follow into mid-October, and the lower groves of Golden Gate Canyon State Park hold colour through most of the month.
No. Idaho Springs, Georgetown and Guanella Pass sit close together along I-70 and make one full day, starting with the Mighty Argo in the morning. Rocky Mountain National Park needs its own day from Denver, and Golden Gate Canyon State Park fits a half day, so plan on two and a half to three days for all five.
Book the Mighty Argo Cable Car and the Georgetown Loop Railroad ahead, especially for weekends. Rocky Mountain National Park has used a timed-entry permit system into mid-October, so check the park website before you go. Guanella Pass is free, and Golden Gate Canyon State Park needs only a daily vehicle pass from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Expect around $30 (about €26) per vehicle for a day in Rocky Mountain National Park, a daily state parks pass for Golden Gate Canyon, and separate tickets for the Georgetown Loop Railroad and the Mighty Argo Cable Car. Guanella Pass costs nothing. A rental car and fuel for three mountain day trips are the other main costs.
Denver in October also has plenty to do in the city itself, which this mountain-focused guide skips, including the Great American Beer Festival, Washington Park, the Denver Botanic Gardens and Red Rocks Park. Kenosha Pass on US Highway 285 and the Lariat Loop through Evergreen are two more strong foliage drives within about an hour of Denver.
