Rocky Mountains Weather / Climate

While visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, always expect the unexpected from the weather.

It is impossible to predict the weather in the Rocky Mountains. Conditions can change very rapidly from cold and stormy to hot and sunny in just a matter of minutes. When planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, be sure to be prepared for any type of weather.

Because of its geographic location and its variations in elevation, Rocky Mountain National Park enjoys four distinct seasons.

• Winter
  November through March – cold and windy
• Spring
  April through May – extremely unpredictable with wide variations in temperature
• Summer
  June through August – beautiful summer weather
• Fall
  September through October – extremely unpredictable with unexpected and sudden snowstorms

Because of the variations in terrain, the climate and weather conditions can be quite different from one place within the park to another. A basic rule of thumb is that temperatures can drop about 3-4 degrees for every one thousand feet of elevation gain. Therefore, if you plan to climb up three thousand feet, expect the temperature to drop at least ten degrees. Be prepared for these differences especially if you are traveling on foot, via bicycle or on horseback.

Always plan ahead and have a variety of clothes available for any type of climate, weather and/or adventure.