Guides
Maroon Bells reflected in Maroon Lake with golden fall aspens

Best Colorado tours for fall and winter 2026

The best Colorado tours for fall and winter 2026 follow the season: gold aspens and the elk rut until mid-October, then ski, snowshoe and tubing days once the first ski areas open, usually in late October or early November. Each tour below comes from one of our comparison pages.

Updated October 31, 2026 · We may earn a commission

Status update, October 31, 2026.

  • Colorado's ski season has started. Arapahoe Basin opened on October 28, with the Black Mountain Express serving the High Noon run (Arapahoe Basin). Keystone opened on October 30 with more than 2 miles of terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon off the Montezuma Express, reached by the River Run Gondola (Summit Daily). Loveland and Winter Park are making snow but haven't announced opening days yet (Loveland, Winter Park). Planned dates: Breckenridge and Copper on November 6, Vail on November 13, Steamboat on November 21, Beaver Creek on November 25, and Aspen Mountain and Snowmass on November 26 (Teton Gravity Research).
  • Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is still closed between Many Parks Curve on the east side and the Colorado River Trailhead on the west. The park closed it at 5 p.m. on October 23 for snow and freezing temperatures and, as of October 28, hasn't said whether it will reopen this fall or stay closed for the season (NPS, Denver Gazette). Call the recorded status line at 970-586-1222 before you drive up. Timed entry is over for 2026, so you only need an entrance pass, and Bear Lake Road stays open all year (NPS).
  • Maroon Bells: today, Saturday, October 31, is the last day you need a parking reservation to drive in (the shuttle ended October 18). From November 1 parking is first come, first served, November 9 is the last day to visit, and Maroon Creek Road closes for winter on November 10 (Visit Maroon Bells).
  • Halloween in Denver: tonight, October 31, Boo at the Zoo holds its sensory-friendly night, 4:30 to 9 p.m. (Denver Zoo). Elitch Gardens runs Fright Fest through Sunday, November 1 (Elitch Gardens). AfterLight, a free Día de los Muertos light installation at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, runs nightly through November 2, 7 to 11 p.m., with no ticket needed (AfterLight).

All of this week's Colorado updates

Fall: mid-September to October

From mid-September to mid-October the aspens turn gold and the elk rut is on in Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road closed temporarily on October 13 for snow and ice, and it typically closes for the season in mid-to-late October; check the NPS status line at 970-586-1222. Park-wide timed entry ended October 12, and Bear Lake Road timed entry ended October 18. Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans) scenic highway is closed for the season as of October 5. Independence Pass usually closes late October to early November. Maroon Bells parking reservations continue through October 31, and the RFTA shuttle stopped for the season on October 18. In Denver, Halloween and Día de los Muertos events run through November 2, including Boo at the Zoo, Fright Fest at Elitch Gardens and the free AfterLight installation downtown (dates are in the update above).

Sources: NPS Trail Ridge, NPS timed entry, Denver Gazette seasonal roads, Aspen Snowmass Maroon Bells, Denver Zoo. Updated Oct 2026.

Winter: mid-November to April

Colorado's ski season generally runs from about mid-November to April. Confirmed 2026-27 openings include Breckenridge and Copper Mountain on November 6 and Vail on November 13 (Vail Resorts / resort sites). Keystone is targeting as soon as possible in October; Arapahoe Basin, Loveland and Winter Park still say ASAP or late October to early November without a firm calendar date. If you don't want to drive I-70 in snow, these day trips from Denver include transportation. Snowshoe and tubing tours depend on snow cover, so routes can change.

Opening dates: Vail Resorts newsroom, GoColorado roundup, Colorado Ski Country USA. Updated Oct 2026.

Prices were checked October 13, 2026 and change by date and holiday. The booking site shows the live price. See the full lists for winter tours and RMNP tours.

Frequently asked questions

When do the aspens turn in Colorado?

Usually from mid-September to mid-October, with higher elevations turning first.

When does Trail Ridge Road close?

It usually closes for the season in mid-to-late October, depending on snow, and reopens in late May. On October 13, 2026 it closed temporarily for snow and ice, and its average seasonal closing date is October 23, so expect it to be closed for winter soon. Always check NPS before you go.

Can I ski from Denver without a car?

Yes. Guided ski days from Denver include transportation, and some include lift tickets and rentals. One Copper Mountain day we found starts at $350.

More Colorado guides

Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.