Season guide · Denver · United States
Denver in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cold but often sunny in the city, with snow that rarely lasts; prime ski season in the mountains. Expect highs up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around -8°C (18°F), with about 16 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -8°C (18°F) to 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 16
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C (43°F) | -8°C (18°F) | 5 | 9.6 h | 2/5 |
| February | 7°C (45°F) | -7°C (19°F) | 6 | 10.6 h | 2/5 |
| December | 6°C (43°F) | -8°C (18°F) | 5 | 9.4 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 6°C (43°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 16 of the year's roughly 87 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: National Western Stock Show and Rodeo (usually January)
- December: 9News Parade of Lights downtown (usually early December)
- December: Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens (usually December)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Golden Triangle
Denver Art Museum
Start with the Western American art and Indigenous arts galleries, which are the museum's specialities.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · City Park
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
A large natural-history and science museum in City Park with dinosaur fossils, wildlife dioramas, gems and minerals, an Egyptian mummies gallery, a planetarium and an IMAX theatre.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Views
- History
Gallery · Golden Triangle
Clyfford Still Museum
It is small enough for an hour; combine it with the Denver Art Museum next door.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Golden Triangle
History Colorado Center
The state history museum covers Colorado's people from Indigenous nations to mining towns and ski resorts, with interactive exhibits and a simulated ski jump.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · Capitol Hill
Molly Brown House Museum
Guided tours are timed; book a slot online in busy periods.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Colorado Springs and Garden of the Gods (About 1.25 hours by car) — Garden of the Gods is a free park of red sandstone fins and towers against Pikes Peak, and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway climbs to the 4,302-metre summit.
- Georgetown (About 1 hour by car) — A preserved 1870s silver-mining town with Victorian buildings, and the Georgetown Loop Railroad, a narrow-gauge steam train that climbs through the valley to Silver Plume in summer and autumn.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Denver?
It is a trade-off: Cold but often sunny in the city, with snow that rarely lasts; prime ski season in the mountains. The best months overall are June–September.
+What is the weather like in Denver in winter?
Highs of up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around -8°C (18°F), with about 16 rainy days over the season.