All AboutColorado

Colorado is best known for the Rocky Mountains, its 58 peaks above 14,000 feet, and world-class skiing at resorts like Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge and Steamboat. It also has four national parks, 26 designated scenic byways, more than 300 days of sunshine in many areas, and the highest mean elevation of any U.S. state at roughly 6,800 feet.

There are 58 peaks above 14,000 feet in Colorado, according to the Colorado Geological Survey. The highest is Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet, which is the second-highest peak in the contiguous United States. Colorado also has roughly 647 peaks above 13,000 feet.

Colorado became the 38th state on August 1, 1876 — exactly 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the statehood proclamation, and the centennial timing gave the state its nickname. In 2026 Colorado marks 150 years of statehood in the same year the nation marks 250.

June through September is best for hiking, camping and scenic drives, though afternoon thunderstorms are near-daily from mid-July into early September. Mid-September through mid-October is best for aspen color, working from high elevation downward. December through March is ski season. May and early November are the quietest and cheapest, but many high mountain roads are still closed.

Most people adjust to Denver's 5,280 feet within 24 to 48 hours. Adjusting to mountain elevations above 9,000 feet takes longer — often two to three days. Sleep at a lower elevation for your first night, drink more water than usual, skip alcohol on arrival, and save your most demanding hike for day three. If you develop a headache with nausea that will not resolve, descend.

Yes, during the timed entry season. For 2026 the system runs from May 22 into mid-October, with two permit types: Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road (5 a.m. to 6 p.m., ending October 19) and standard Timed Entry for the rest of the park (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Reservations are booked on Recreation.gov for a $2 processing fee. Additional slots are released at 7 p.m. Mountain Time the night before each arrival date.

It depends entirely on current fire restrictions, which are set county by county and by each land management agency, and which change frequently. In dry years like 2026, expect Stage 1 or Stage 2 restrictions across much of the state. Always confirm with the county sheriff and the managing agency for the specific place you are camping, on the day you leave. When in doubt, cook on a liquid or gas stove.

Colorado's aspens turn by elevation rather than by a single statewide date. High passes above 10,000 feet typically peak from mid to late September, mid-elevation areas between 8,000 and 9,500 feet peak in late September into early October, and Front Range foothills and city parks hold color into mid-October. Drought years push the whole sequence earlier and shorten it, which is the case in 2026.

Dial 511 from any cell phone or landline inside Colorado for statewide road conditions, closures and chain law information from the Colorado Department of Transportation. You can also use COtrip.org for a live map with traffic cameras. Note that 411 is directory assistance, not travel information.

Yes. Colorado ended the 2025–26 winter with statewide snowpack around 61% of median, the lowest reading in the modern snow telemetry record. Parts of Summit, Eagle, Pitkin, Lake and Park counties reached exceptional drought status, and much of northwest Colorado remained in extreme or severe drought. Expect fire restrictions, low river flows and an early aspen season.