Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

Goodbye winter, hello to spring! Although there’s still plenty of snow at higher elevations, and will be for months, the cold rush of winter is starting to abate. Depending on where you live, daffodils may already be peeking cautiously from the ground; skiers can be seen in just their t-shirts and hoodies. Birds are returning in the mornings to serenade you in full force from outside your window, and everywhere, the state is starting to shake itself from under the blanket of winter and ready for warmer weather.

Not Ready to Say Goodbye Winter?

Have no fear if you’re not ready to say goodbye to the snow yet. The threat of a snowstorm is far from nonexistent this time of year, and even if we happen not to see any more snow until next winter, there’s still time for you to take advantage of spring skiing at one of Colorado’s ski resorts. Due to Colorado’s tremendous snow pack on good snow years, several resorts will extend their seasons.

Resorts with Late Season Closing Dates

• Arapahoe Basin (June)
• Copper Mnt (late April)
• Winter Park (sometime in May)

Resort Closing Festivals

If you’re looking for even more ski resort fun, set aside some time for a resort’s closing weekend festivities, where they host massive spring parties with music, drinks, and fun events like pond skimming. The snow should stick around for some time in the mountains, so you’ve still got time to enjoy your other favorite winter activities, like snowshoeing or the steamy heat of a hot spring.

Looking ahead to Warmer Days

We’ve got sunshine and 70-degree days ahead, and you can enjoy them outside, whether on the trail or the sunny patio of a local craft brewery. Spring is a special time of year in Colorado, as you need only drive to the desert (or lower elevation areas) to find perfect 60 – 70-degree weather, beautiful spring flowers, and no bugs (not yet). For the active crowd, spring is the time to take a road trip with your mountain bike, go whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking, or get your group together for some off-road time.

Opening of Scenic Byways – Goodbye Winter

In Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge Road is already open for bicycles and pedestrians and will open for vehicles sometime around Memorial Day Weekend, depending on the weather. Other scenic high-elevation drives, like Mount Evans Scenic Byway, will open for vehicle traffic around the same time.

Goodbye Winter, Hello Scenic Trains

The Georgetown Loop Railroad will open for the summer in late April. It will take guests on a scenic train ride from Georgetown to Silver Plume and offer tours of the historic Lebanon and Everett Mines. But those who want to take a train ride before the end of March can do that a little further south, where the Royal Gorge Route Railroad travels through Canon City. The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which winds through Cascade Canyon, is another early spring option.

Goodbye Winter, Hello Farmers Markets

In May and June, Farmer’s Markets will start to pop up everywhere, with fresh produce and handmade goods from local vendors, making for a pleasant and relaxing way to spend a weekend morning.

Goodbye Winter Hello Spring Weed[s]

As the state starts to thaw this month, grab a few friends and head to the 420 Celebration in the Mile High City, where you can enjoy the best bud with your best buds. In the days and weeks around late April, you can find specials at dispensaries and lots of events all over Colorado. While the Denver event is undoubtedly the biggest in the state—and arguably the world—there are also 420 events, specials, and parties all over the state.

Wake Up, Colorado!

The month of April also brings a host of other great events to Colorado. The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown is an annual celebration of music and springtime that takes place the third week of April, and the 5Point Film Festival in Carbondale during the last week of April will get you amped up for a summer of adventure with their film screenings of unique documentaries and films specially chosen to inspire adventure. In April, Estes Park will be hosting their annual Bigfoot Days, a celebration of all the supposed Sasquatch sightings in the area, and on April 13, you can put together a cardboard sled in Steamboat Springs for a race down Headwall in the annual Cardboard Classic.

These are just a few of the incredible activities, festivals, and events happening this season. So whether you’ve been hitting the slopes all winter or you’re just starting to come out of hibernation now, get ready for an action-packed spring of fun and adventure in Colorado.

by Emily Krempholtz