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Last Call for Alpine Fun: 5 Colorado Mountain Trips to Take Before the First Snow (Fall 2026)

Sep 27, 2026
•
1 min read

Up above 11,000 feet the aspens have gone gold, and the first big storm of the season could show up any weekend now. When it does, the high roads start closing, and some of them stay shut until Memorial Day. If you've been meaning to get the family into the Colorado mountains this fall, put it on the calendar for one of the next few weekends.

We picked five Colorado mountain trips to take before the first snow and put a GetOut Colorado venue on every route. You'll save money along the way and have somewhere warm to duck into when the wind picks up. So if you've been searching for the best mountain day trips from Denver in October, or wondering what to do in the Colorado mountains with kids before winter, start here. Back in August we shared a late-summer mountain escape guide for Colorado families, and this list picks up the season from there with a brand-new set of stops.

Why You Should Go in the Next Few Weeks

Here's what's on the clock this fall:

  • Trail Ridge Road: Rocky Mountain National Park lists mid-October as the normal time for Trail Ridge Road to close, with reopening in the last week of May. In 2024 the gates shut on October 25. Last year they held out until November 14.
  • RMNP timed entry: For most of the park, the reservation requirement ends Tuesday, Oct. 13. Bear Lake Road keeps it through Monday, Oct. 19.
  • Pikes Peak Highway: The highway stays open all year when weather allows, and the city shuts part or all of it whenever a storm makes the drive unsafe.
  • Brainard Lake Road: West of Boulder, the road gets gated in mid-October and stays that way until mid-June.

Here's what to pack for a fall day in the mountains:

  • Layers, plus a warm hat and gloves. Denver might hit 70 while the summits sit near freezing.
  • Water and snacks for the car, since stores get sparse once you start climbing.
  • A full tank of gas.
  • Sunscreen and sunglasses for the stronger sun up high.
  • The GetOut app, downloaded and logged in on your phone.

1. Scheels Johnstown, Then Estes Park and Trail Ridge Road

GetOut offer: One Ferris wheel ride, good once a day

Scheels in Johnstown sits right off I-25, near where US-34 turns west toward Loveland and Big Thompson Canyon. Start your morning there. The kids ride the indoor Ferris wheel while you pick up whatever got left at home, whether that's hand warmers or a better water bottle. Families coming down from the Cornhusker State can take I-80 to Cheyenne and head south on I-25, which puts Johnstown right on the way, and your GetOut Nebraska membership covers plenty of stops once you're back home.

The drive up the canyon into Estes Park takes an hour. Late September and early October bring elk season to town, and you'll hear bulls bugling in the meadows near the park entrances.

Then comes Trail Ridge Road. It climbs to 12,183 feet on its way from Estes Park to Grand Lake, and you won't find a higher continuous paved road anywhere in the country. Eleven miles of it run above 11,500 feet with few guard rails and no shoulders, so the park closes it as soon as winter settles in.

Plan your visit:

  • Going on or before October 13? Reserve a timed entry spot on Recreation.gov first. You need one to enter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the only charge is a $2 processing fee.
  • Call (970) 586-1222 the morning you leave. Park staff update that recorded line whenever the road status changes.

2. U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, Then Pikes Peak

GetOut offer: One general public tour, Monday through Saturday, limit one per family

Team USA athletes live and train on this campus in Colorado Springs. The guided walking tour takes an hour and fifteen minutes and goes through the gyms and training venues they use every day. Adults pay $16 at the door, and your membership covers it.

Kids get hooked on this one because everything they see belongs to real Olympians. Plenty of those athletes come to Colorado Springs for the altitude, which makes it a fun setup for an afternoon drive up Pikes Peak.

Colorado Springs is also a straight shot up I-25 for families driving in from the south. If that's you, pair this trip with the venues on your GetOut New Mexico / West Texas pass for the rest of the fall.

Plan your visit:

  • Pikes Peak only requires timed entry reservations through the end of September. In October you can buy admission and drive up, and the uphill gates open at 9 a.m. starting October 1.
  • Set aside three hours. The drive to the summit and back covers 38 miles.
  • Dress everyone warmly. The summit runs 30 to 40 degrees colder than Colorado Springs.
  • Call (719) 385-7325 for road status before you head to the gate.
  • Garden of the Gods costs nothing and sits a few minutes from the Training Center, so keep it in your back pocket if the summit road is closed that day. If you'd rather keep driving south, our Southern Colorado fall day trips with kids will take you down to Pueblo and the San Luis Valley.

3. The Spot Boulder, Then Flagstaff Mountain and the Peak to Peak Highway

GetOut offer: One free day pass, any day of the week (gear rental costs extra)

Boulder is the shortest drive on this list, and The Spot gives you an indoor plan for a cold, windy morning. Climb first. By the time everyone's finished, they're warm, and the sun has had a few hours to heat up the canyon. If climbing turns into the kids' new favorite thing, our post-camp reset guide covers Übergrippen and a few more active spots around Denver.

For a short outing, take Flagstaff Road up from town to the overlooks above the Front Range. With a whole afternoon to spend, you can drive Boulder Canyon up to Nederland and turn north on the Peak to Peak Highway toward Ward and the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. The lake sits at 10,600 feet, and while the road stays open it's one of the prettiest spots near Boulder you can reach by car.

Plan your visit:

  • Brainard's 2026 reservation season ran from June 12 to October 1. The lower Gateway Trailhead stays open all year and doesn't need a reservation. Check the Forest Service page for gate status before you drive up.
  • Bring your own climbing shoes if you have them and you'll skip the rental fee.

4. Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Then Grand Mesa

GetOut offer: One admission

Save this one for a full weekend. Grand Junction stays warm well into fall, with October highs between 67 and 70 degrees and very little rain, while the mesa above town waits on its first snow.

The Art Center has been part of the Grand Valley for decades. Its galleries open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it makes a good morning stop before you head uphill.

Grand Mesa is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world. It holds more than 300 lakes spread over 500-plus square miles, and the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway winds 63 miles through the national forest on top. The aspens change at the highest elevations first and work their way down the slopes week by week. For more places to see the leaves turn with kids in tow, check out where to catch Colorado's first fall colors. Make time for Land's End Overlook at 10,500 feet, right on the rim of the mesa.

Plan your visit:

  • Everyone gets in free on Tuesdays, so use your GetOut admission Wednesday through Saturday.
  • The byway takes two hours with photo stops. Add more time for the Land's End detour.
  • For sunset, drive Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument on the west side of town.
  • Grand Junction is four hours from Denver on I-70, so book a room for the night.
  • The Utah state line is half an hour west of Grand Junction on I-70. If you want to stretch the weekend into a longer road trip, GetOut Utah has venues waiting on the other side.

5. Colorado Journey Mini Golf in Littleton, for a Day Closer to Home

GetOut offer: One 18-hole round, good once a month

On weekends packed with soccer games and birthday parties, Colorado Journey brings the mountains to Littleton. Both courses are built around Colorado landmarks. You'll putt through the Eisenhower Tunnel and over the Royal Gorge, and later holes send you into a Cripple Creek gold mine and past Mesa Verde. Native plants and rock formations line the holes, with streams and ponds running between them.

Since it's an outdoor course, fall is the last good stretch to play before winter. Afterward, drive southwest to Roxborough State Park for red rock formations and foothill trails. Short on time this month? These quick drives near Denver all come in under an hour and work for any Saturday.

Plan your visit:

  • You'll find it at 5150 S Windermere St in Littleton, 20 minutes south of downtown Denver.
  • The offer resets every month, so you can play in October and come back in November if the weather holds. Call ahead on cold or windy days.

Planning a Last-Call Weekend With Your GetOut Membership

Here are a few ways to string these stops together. Driving in from the east on I-70? Kansas City families with a GetOut Kansas City membership can make the Western Slope route part of a bigger fall trip, since Grand Junction sits on the same interstate.

  • Northern loop in one day: Scheels Johnstown in the morning, lunch in Estes Park, and Trail Ridge Road in the afternoon.
  • Southern loop in one day: the 10 a.m. Olympic Training Center tour, then a picnic at Garden of the Gods, with Pikes Peak Highway after lunch.
  • Western Slope over two days: Drive out Friday night. Spend Saturday morning at the Art Center and the afternoon on Grand Mesa, then give Sunday to Colorado National Monument.
  • Half day close to home: a round at Colorado Journey followed by a walk at Roxborough.

Before you go, check COTrip.org for state highway conditions. For roads inside parks and forests, look at the NPS or Forest Service site.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does it start snowing in the Colorado mountains?
 Snow starts falling in the high country in September. In the past two years, the storms that closed Trail Ridge Road for the season came on October 25 and November 14.

When does Trail Ridge Road close for the season?
 The park lists mid-October as its normal closing time and sets the exact date based on the weather. Call (970) 586-1222 before you drive up.

What are the best mountain day trips from Denver in October?
 Estes Park with Trail Ridge Road fills a whole day from Denver, and Pikes Peak does too. Boulder's Peak to Peak Highway works as a shorter outing. If you can spare a weekend, Grand Mesa near Grand Junction has some of the best fall drives in the state.

Is Pikes Peak Highway open in October?
 Yes. It stays open all year when the weather allows, and storms close sections of it at times. From October 1 on, you can drive up without a timed entry reservation.

What can we do in the Colorado mountains with kids if it snows?
 Plan around a route with an indoor stop. The Olympic Training Center tour runs in any weather, and so does a climbing session at The Spot Boulder.

Is a GetOut membership worth it for fall trips in Colorado?
 GetOut Colorado costs $54.95 a year and covers more than 80 venues. The Olympic Training Center tour alone runs $16 per adult at regular price, so a couple of stops from this list will cover most of your membership.

Go Up Before the Gates Close

Once the snow sticks, several of these roads stay closed until late May. Grab a GetOut Colorado membership and pick whichever route fits your family, then head up on one of the next few weekends while the aspens still have their leaves.

‍

Up above 11,000 feet the aspens have gone gold, and the first big storm of the season could show up any weekend now. When it does, the high roads start closing, and some of them stay shut until Memorial Day. If you've been meaning to get the family into the Colorado mountains this fall, put it on the calendar for one of the next few weekends.

We picked five Colorado mountain trips to take before the first snow and put a GetOut Colorado venue on every route. You'll save money along the way and have somewhere warm to duck into when the wind picks up. So if you've been searching for the best mountain day trips from Denver in October, or wondering what to do in the Colorado mountains with kids before winter, start here. Back in August we shared a late-summer mountain escape guide for Colorado families, and this list picks up the season from there with a brand-new set of stops.

Why You Should Go in the Next Few Weeks

Here's what's on the clock this fall:

  • Trail Ridge Road: Rocky Mountain National Park lists mid-October as the normal time for Trail Ridge Road to close, with reopening in the last week of May. In 2024 the gates shut on October 25. Last year they held out until November 14.
  • RMNP timed entry: For most of the park, the reservation requirement ends Tuesday, Oct. 13. Bear Lake Road keeps it through Monday, Oct. 19.
  • Pikes Peak Highway: The highway stays open all year when weather allows, and the city shuts part or all of it whenever a storm makes the drive unsafe.
  • Brainard Lake Road: West of Boulder, the road gets gated in mid-October and stays that way until mid-June.

Here's what to pack for a fall day in the mountains:

  • Layers, plus a warm hat and gloves. Denver might hit 70 while the summits sit near freezing.
  • Water and snacks for the car, since stores get sparse once you start climbing.
  • A full tank of gas.
  • Sunscreen and sunglasses for the stronger sun up high.
  • The GetOut app, downloaded and logged in on your phone.

1. Scheels Johnstown, Then Estes Park and Trail Ridge Road

GetOut offer: One Ferris wheel ride, good once a day

Scheels in Johnstown sits right off I-25, near where US-34 turns west toward Loveland and Big Thompson Canyon. Start your morning there. The kids ride the indoor Ferris wheel while you pick up whatever got left at home, whether that's hand warmers or a better water bottle. Families coming down from the Cornhusker State can take I-80 to Cheyenne and head south on I-25, which puts Johnstown right on the way, and your GetOut Nebraska membership covers plenty of stops once you're back home.

The drive up the canyon into Estes Park takes an hour. Late September and early October bring elk season to town, and you'll hear bulls bugling in the meadows near the park entrances.

Then comes Trail Ridge Road. It climbs to 12,183 feet on its way from Estes Park to Grand Lake, and you won't find a higher continuous paved road anywhere in the country. Eleven miles of it run above 11,500 feet with few guard rails and no shoulders, so the park closes it as soon as winter settles in.

Plan your visit:

  • Going on or before October 13? Reserve a timed entry spot on Recreation.gov first. You need one to enter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the only charge is a $2 processing fee.
  • Call (970) 586-1222 the morning you leave. Park staff update that recorded line whenever the road status changes.

2. U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, Then Pikes Peak

GetOut offer: One general public tour, Monday through Saturday, limit one per family

Team USA athletes live and train on this campus in Colorado Springs. The guided walking tour takes an hour and fifteen minutes and goes through the gyms and training venues they use every day. Adults pay $16 at the door, and your membership covers it.

Kids get hooked on this one because everything they see belongs to real Olympians. Plenty of those athletes come to Colorado Springs for the altitude, which makes it a fun setup for an afternoon drive up Pikes Peak.

Colorado Springs is also a straight shot up I-25 for families driving in from the south. If that's you, pair this trip with the venues on your GetOut New Mexico / West Texas pass for the rest of the fall.

Plan your visit:

  • Pikes Peak only requires timed entry reservations through the end of September. In October you can buy admission and drive up, and the uphill gates open at 9 a.m. starting October 1.
  • Set aside three hours. The drive to the summit and back covers 38 miles.
  • Dress everyone warmly. The summit runs 30 to 40 degrees colder than Colorado Springs.
  • Call (719) 385-7325 for road status before you head to the gate.
  • Garden of the Gods costs nothing and sits a few minutes from the Training Center, so keep it in your back pocket if the summit road is closed that day. If you'd rather keep driving south, our Southern Colorado fall day trips with kids will take you down to Pueblo and the San Luis Valley.

3. The Spot Boulder, Then Flagstaff Mountain and the Peak to Peak Highway

GetOut offer: One free day pass, any day of the week (gear rental costs extra)

Boulder is the shortest drive on this list, and The Spot gives you an indoor plan for a cold, windy morning. Climb first. By the time everyone's finished, they're warm, and the sun has had a few hours to heat up the canyon. If climbing turns into the kids' new favorite thing, our post-camp reset guide covers Übergrippen and a few more active spots around Denver.

For a short outing, take Flagstaff Road up from town to the overlooks above the Front Range. With a whole afternoon to spend, you can drive Boulder Canyon up to Nederland and turn north on the Peak to Peak Highway toward Ward and the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. The lake sits at 10,600 feet, and while the road stays open it's one of the prettiest spots near Boulder you can reach by car.

Plan your visit:

  • Brainard's 2026 reservation season ran from June 12 to October 1. The lower Gateway Trailhead stays open all year and doesn't need a reservation. Check the Forest Service page for gate status before you drive up.
  • Bring your own climbing shoes if you have them and you'll skip the rental fee.

4. Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Then Grand Mesa

GetOut offer: One admission

Save this one for a full weekend. Grand Junction stays warm well into fall, with October highs between 67 and 70 degrees and very little rain, while the mesa above town waits on its first snow.

The Art Center has been part of the Grand Valley for decades. Its galleries open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it makes a good morning stop before you head uphill.

Grand Mesa is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world. It holds more than 300 lakes spread over 500-plus square miles, and the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway winds 63 miles through the national forest on top. The aspens change at the highest elevations first and work their way down the slopes week by week. For more places to see the leaves turn with kids in tow, check out where to catch Colorado's first fall colors. Make time for Land's End Overlook at 10,500 feet, right on the rim of the mesa.

Plan your visit:

  • Everyone gets in free on Tuesdays, so use your GetOut admission Wednesday through Saturday.
  • The byway takes two hours with photo stops. Add more time for the Land's End detour.
  • For sunset, drive Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument on the west side of town.
  • Grand Junction is four hours from Denver on I-70, so book a room for the night.
  • The Utah state line is half an hour west of Grand Junction on I-70. If you want to stretch the weekend into a longer road trip, GetOut Utah has venues waiting on the other side.

5. Colorado Journey Mini Golf in Littleton, for a Day Closer to Home

GetOut offer: One 18-hole round, good once a month

On weekends packed with soccer games and birthday parties, Colorado Journey brings the mountains to Littleton. Both courses are built around Colorado landmarks. You'll putt through the Eisenhower Tunnel and over the Royal Gorge, and later holes send you into a Cripple Creek gold mine and past Mesa Verde. Native plants and rock formations line the holes, with streams and ponds running between them.

Since it's an outdoor course, fall is the last good stretch to play before winter. Afterward, drive southwest to Roxborough State Park for red rock formations and foothill trails. Short on time this month? These quick drives near Denver all come in under an hour and work for any Saturday.

Plan your visit:

  • You'll find it at 5150 S Windermere St in Littleton, 20 minutes south of downtown Denver.
  • The offer resets every month, so you can play in October and come back in November if the weather holds. Call ahead on cold or windy days.

Planning a Last-Call Weekend With Your GetOut Membership

Here are a few ways to string these stops together. Driving in from the east on I-70? Kansas City families with a GetOut Kansas City membership can make the Western Slope route part of a bigger fall trip, since Grand Junction sits on the same interstate.

  • Northern loop in one day: Scheels Johnstown in the morning, lunch in Estes Park, and Trail Ridge Road in the afternoon.
  • Southern loop in one day: the 10 a.m. Olympic Training Center tour, then a picnic at Garden of the Gods, with Pikes Peak Highway after lunch.
  • Western Slope over two days: Drive out Friday night. Spend Saturday morning at the Art Center and the afternoon on Grand Mesa, then give Sunday to Colorado National Monument.
  • Half day close to home: a round at Colorado Journey followed by a walk at Roxborough.

Before you go, check COTrip.org for state highway conditions. For roads inside parks and forests, look at the NPS or Forest Service site.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does it start snowing in the Colorado mountains?
 Snow starts falling in the high country in September. In the past two years, the storms that closed Trail Ridge Road for the season came on October 25 and November 14.

When does Trail Ridge Road close for the season?
 The park lists mid-October as its normal closing time and sets the exact date based on the weather. Call (970) 586-1222 before you drive up.

What are the best mountain day trips from Denver in October?
 Estes Park with Trail Ridge Road fills a whole day from Denver, and Pikes Peak does too. Boulder's Peak to Peak Highway works as a shorter outing. If you can spare a weekend, Grand Mesa near Grand Junction has some of the best fall drives in the state.

Is Pikes Peak Highway open in October?
 Yes. It stays open all year when the weather allows, and storms close sections of it at times. From October 1 on, you can drive up without a timed entry reservation.

What can we do in the Colorado mountains with kids if it snows?
 Plan around a route with an indoor stop. The Olympic Training Center tour runs in any weather, and so does a climbing session at The Spot Boulder.

Is a GetOut membership worth it for fall trips in Colorado?
 GetOut Colorado costs $54.95 a year and covers more than 80 venues. The Olympic Training Center tour alone runs $16 per adult at regular price, so a couple of stops from this list will cover most of your membership.

Go Up Before the Gates Close

Once the snow sticks, several of these roads stay closed until late May. Grab a GetOut Colorado membership and pick whichever route fits your family, then head up on one of the next few weekends while the aspens still have their leaves.

‍

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Sep 27, 2026
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