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Winter makes The Mile High City sparkle.
Denver is also the world's largest après ski town. It's a great place to gear up, find deals and acclimatize before you hit the higher Rocky Mountain ski slopes of Colorado.
We strive to post the most current and accurate event information, but changes and cancellations do occur, so please check the official event website to confirm all details before attending.
Winter Events & Activities
Olde Town Arvada Mardi Gras
WHEN: Feb. 13, 2024
WHERE: Olde Town Arvada
Kicking off at 5 p.m. in front of Carly's Boutique (7401 Grandview Ave), the infectious music of Guerrilla Fanfare will fill the streets of Olde Town. As they roam through the streets, the band will be stopping along the way for lively jam sessions until 7 p.m. Look for an unforgettable evening filled with music, festivities, and delicious treats!
2024 Denver Winter Tequila Tasting Festival
WHEN: Feb. 17, 2024
WHERE: 1930 Blake St.
Taste more than 20 different craft, small-batch and world-renowned tequilas plus mezcals. Learn all there is to know about tequila/mezcal directly from the ambassadors, plus live music and other fun.
6th Annual Petite Parade
WHEN: Feb. 18, 2024
WHERE: Dairy Block
Enjoy a Mile High Mardi Gras celebration. Attendees are invited to “laissez les bons temps rouler” by building a creative float starting with a shoebox base. Each float must be no larger than 2 feet long by 2 feet wide and shorter than 3 feet tall. It also must be able to be pulled on wheels. Free and open to all, the 2024 Dairy Block Petite Parade will take place in The Maven’s Windsor Room and the heated Alley, with festive entertainment provided by Denver’s Handsome Little Devils, live music and more.
Colorado Environmental Film Festival
WHEN: Feb. 22–25, 2024
WHERE: Colorado School of Mines, Golden
Now in its 18th year, CEFF curates exciting and inspiring world-class environmental films, including screenings of feature-length and short films from foreign, Colorado and young filmmakers. The event offers thoughtful discussions with filmmakers, panels and a vibrant Eco-EXPO where you can connect with environmentally conscious brands and organizations. True to the spirit of Colorado, this event is supported and attended by people who value the natural world, are eager to learn about current issues and solutions and share a passion for the power and beauty of film.
Mile High Beer Festival
WHEN: Feb. 24, 2024
WHERE: Stockyards Event Center
Get ready to sample an incredible selection of craft beers from local breweries. Whether you're a beer enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out, this festival is the perfect way to enjoy a variety of brews. Grab your friends, raise a glass and let the good times flow at the 2024 Mile High Beer Festival!
2024 Banff Mountain Film Festival
WHEN: Feb. 29-March 2, 2024
WHERE: Paramount Theatre
This annual tour features the best in outdoor and adventure films from around the world. You'll be inspired for sure.
Washington Park is a top destination for walking, jogging and biking — even in the winter.
Get Outside
Denver is a year-round outdoor playground. Go ice skating for free at the Downtown Denver Rink in Skyline Park. The Mile High City also boasts more than 4,000 acres of traditional parks and parkways, which include 2,500 urban natural acres. In the winter, they take on a wondrous glow, offering opportunities for cross-country skiing, sledding and snowshoeing. Stroll through Washington Park and City Park during this season and take in gorgeous views of the skyline, framed by the Rocky Mountains. Cheesman Park positively glitters in winter, with large snowy expanses stretching out in front of you. Snowball fight, anyone? Or take an exhilarating heated "sleigh ride" via an all-terrain vehicle thanks to Great Outdoors Adventures. They'll let you play around on snow-covered trails.
Here are some other ways to get outside from our blog. Check out the best places to snowshoe near Denver. Go urban snowboarding at Ruby Hill Rail Yard. Browse the skis and have a craft beer at Meier Skis. Or check out Burton's Hub in the River North Art District (RiNo). The wholesale showroom offers sales, customer service and snowboard rentals. This unique concept can only be found in four other cities around the world: Munich, Zurich, Stockholm and Montreal. And stroll through the city on an architecture tour.
Winter Day Trips
Red Rocks & Golden
The concert season at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre may be over, but you can still enjoy this natural wonder year-round. The Red Rocks Visitor Center is open seven days a week. Check out the Red Rocks Hall of Fame, featuring photos and memorabilia from more than 40 years of incredible concerts. Learn about the massive rock formations in the Geologic Niche and explore the Trading Post Loop Hiking Trail, a 1.4-mile adventure through spectacular rock formations, valleys and a natural meadow. After you've enjoyed Red Rocks, spend some time in nearby Golden's Old West-themed downtown, with a charming selection of shops, restaurants and attractions.
Central City & Black Hawk
I-70 West and Exit 243 onto Central City Pkwy.
Head for the hills and check out all the fun Central City and Black Hawk have to offer. Located 34 miles (55km) west of Denver, the two towns offer more than 30 casinos with blackjack tables, craps, roulette, poker games and more than 10,000 slot machines. In 2009, gambling stakes were raised to $100, to the delight of high rollers. The two cities are also known for having some of the best-preserved Victorian architecture in the West. Other attractions include the Teller House Hotel, where President Grant once stayed and the Central City Opera House, which still features an outstanding summer season of opera after more than 100 years. There are mine tours, mining museums and several places offering instruction in the fine art of in-stream gold panning where a half-billion dollars of the coveted, shiny metal was once found.
Rocky Mountain National Park
I-25 North to Exit 217, US Hwy. 36 west to Estes Park
The legendary Rocky Mountain National Park, located just an hour from The Mile High City, offers spectacular snowshoeing and cross-country skiing options that will take you to some of the most scenic and serene spots in all of Colorado. Rent cross-country skis and/or snowshoes in Denver and take the short drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park - you won't regret it. Check with rangers at visitor centers for info on the right trail for you.
Driving west toward Colorado's ski areas is always a scenic endeavor.
Winter Fun at Nearby Ski Slopes
Located two hours or less from most Front Range ski areas, Denver has always been the gateway to Colorado skiing and boarding.
Ski and Snowshoe Tours
Take a ski, snowboard or snowshoe tour of Colorado's world-class ski resorts or experience the gorgeous backcountry and let someone else do the driving and planning. Adventure Scenic Tours of Colorado offers private custom tours all over Colorado for one to six passengers in luxury SUVs. They can take you on snowshoeing and cross-country skiing adventures in the nearby foothills and get you to the ski resorts for even bigger fun. Skip the ski lifts and go on a cross-country skiing adventure with Aspire Tours. Also, check out Denver Adventures for full- and half-day snowshoe hikes in the Front Range. Looking for something a little longer? Let Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides lead you on full-day snowshoeing excursions to Indian Peaks or Rocky Mountain National Park or multi-day ski tours of Colorado's famed mountain huts. And take an exhilarating heated "sleigh ride" via an all-terrain vehicle thanks to Great Outdoors Adventures. They'll let you play around on snow-covered trails.
Winter Park
Winter Park Resort is nestled at the base of the Continental Divide at the east end of the Fraser Valley. As the closest major destination resort to Denver, Winter Park offers easy access to skiers arriving at Denver International Airport from hundreds of domestic and international points. Just two hours from the airport, the surrounding mountain expanses and breathtaking scenery at Winter Park give visitors the impression that they are far away from the hustle and hassle of city life. If you don't want to drive, hop on the Winter Park Express ski train for a memorable ride through a stunning landscape. (Note: The ski train has suspended operations indefinitely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.)
Vail
One of the largest ski resorts in the world with more than 5,200 acres of open terrain, Back Bowls spanning seven miles and the most groomed terrain on the planet, Vail has been the ideal winter destination for skiers and snowboarders for more than 50 years. Besides being one of the favorite ski destinations in the world, Vail features everything from Ski & Snowboard School to on-mountain events, shops and spas, numerous dining options and luxurious accommodations. Vail is a mountain resort like nothing on earth.
Loveland Ski Area
Just 53 miles west of Denver on I-70, Loveland Ski Area is super close to Denver and averages 400 inches of snow annually. Loveland's location offers unique skiing possibilities you simply cannot find at other ski areas. There's no glitz here. Loveland has been long known for some of the best skiing and snowboarding conditions in Colorado. At Loveland you get 1,365 diverse acres of terrain and breathtaking views from the second-highest chairlift in the world, high atop the Continental Divide. When you need to escape from the city for a day of riding and a night of good food, Loveland won't disappoint. Daytripper packages are available, including lift ticket, equipment and clothing rental. Ski school lessons are available for all abilities and schedules.
Keystone Resort
Seventy miles west of Denver, in Summit County, Colorado, you'll find Keystone Resort. With 131 trails, 235 inches of snow, more than 3,000 skiable acres and 20 lifts, Keystone delivers a truly world-class mountain experience, all within a short drive from Denver and the Front Range. At 11,640 feet, Dercum Mountain is home to long, open runs and perfect groomers to keep you cruising all day — a great place to start for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. For those who crave big air, Keystone's A51 Terrain Park will not disappoint. Named a top-ranked park by Freeskier and Transworld Magazines, this is the place to be for shredders and jibbers. Looking to explore Denver by day and Keystone at night? The mountain offers not only the largest night skiing operation in Colorado, but the longest ski day as well, operating from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
Known for its excellent snow and extended ski season (the longest in Colorado), Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (or "A-Basin" to locals) is 68 miles from Denver, with killer views. A-Basin's acclaimed terrain and laid-back vibe make it a favorite for experts to beginners. Half of the mountain is above timberline, with open-bowl skiing and snowboarding through spring and into early summer. One of its signature runs, Pallavicini, is one of Colorado's longest and steepest trails. Family-friendly features include two learning areas, a full-service Snowsports School, on-site rentals and three dining locations. On sunny days, you might want to lounge on "The Beach," a stretch near the Early Riser parking lot that backs up to three lower-mountain chairlifts.
Copper Mountain Resort
Winter activities at 9,600 ft. available at Copper Mountain include skiing, snowshoeing, overnight back-country hut trips, sleigh rides and more! As the largest resort in Summit County, Copper offers diverse terrain on a well-designed, easy-to-navigate mountain. Veteran skiers prefer the east side, while beginner and intermediate skiers enjoy the moderate terrain farther west. The resort also boasts 16 miles of cross-country trails and first-rate terrain parks. Make sure to catch the Winter Dew Tour (Dec. 16–19, 2021), a free annual winter ski and snowboard competition and festival.
Echo Mountain
Located just 36 miles from Denver in nearby in Idaho Springs, Echo Mountain is the closest ski area to Denver, making it easy to fit into even the shortest weekend trip! Originally opened in 1960 as the Squaw Pass Ski Area, Echo has gone through many iterations over the years, including a terrain park and a private ski race training facility. It reopened as a ski resort in 2016 and has undergone extensive renovations over the past few years, including a brand new tubing hill, an expanded beginner ski area and a new food-and-beverage menu (featuring “life-changing fries”). Night owls can even take part in night skiing throughout the season!
Eldora Mountain Resort
A favorite among locals due to its convenient location — only 21 miles from Boulder and 47 miles from Denver — Eldora Mountain receives 300 inches of snow per year. Eldora boasts Colorado's best snowmaking system. Coverage is 100 percent of groomed terrain, more than any other resort in Colorado. Eldora also holds the distinction of being accessible via public transportation: you can take the bus from Boulder up the mountain and back for a mere $5.25 each way.
Outfitting in Denver
Denver is a great place to outfit before you head up into the hills. One of the local supermarket chains, King Soopers, sells lift tickets at a small discount. REI is one of the largest sporting goods stores in the nation, offering a full range of ski, snowboard, cross-country ski, snowshoeing and winter clothing. Denver boasts more winter sports stores per capita (and has the highest number of skiers per capita) of any city in America, and big-city competition makes the prices much cheaper than the mountains. Find more places to rent outdoor gear.
Families flock to Keystone Resort to ski and snowboard.