Let's be frank. Springtime in Colorado is a lot like winter anywhere else. March is often the snowiest month, when the white stuff packs into the high country in thick layers, deep enough to cover up whole trees in some places. I mean, the wildflowers won't reach their peak for another four months.

You can bat your eyelashes and gush about "springtime in the Rockies" but if you are thinking green grass and blossoms on the tundra, you are talking about July.

The reality is that springtime in the Rockies is a season with multiple personalities. The sunshine is lovely and often quite warm, only to turn into glowering dark clouds that can shoot lightning bolts at you along with a sudden blizzard. Next thing you know, its sunny again, and little rivers flow between your footprints in the mud.

Finding activities for the kids in the springtime can be kind of tricky. Kids are sick of staying inside, but the weather may be less than inviting for outside play.

However, if you are in Colorado, you can find an assortment of fun things to do both inside and out. Plus, spring is often low-season at Colorado’s resort towns, so attractions will be less crowded and prices are generally lower.

Here is our list of ideas for springtime activities and attractions in Colorado:


Go Skiing

That’s right, most people think of skiing as a winter sport, but those it the know know that the snow is deeper, the skies are bluer, the sun is brighter, and the days are warmer in springtime. I'd rather ski in spring than during any other time of year.

Most ski resorts stay open until the middle of April, and may extend their seasons if the snowpack is extra deep. Other ski resorts routinely stay open well into May or even later.

Some of the best Colorado ski resorts that cater to families and stay open late into the spring are Steamboat Ski Mountain and Wolf Creek Ski Area.



Hit a Hot Spring

Sloppy snow may still be clinging to the ground, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go swimming outside!

Colorado is blessed with the kind of mountain geology that produces lots of natural hot springs. Glenwood Hot Springs and Old Town Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs and others have turned the hot flowing water into large swimming pools. Kids (big and little) can find added fun amenities like giant water slides and a climbing wall above the water.

Embrace Mud Season, Go Underground

In spring, Colorado’s weather can be fickle, with snow one minute that melts to soupy dirt the next. You might as well head right into the ground where the temperature is an even 52 degrees all the time.

Colorado has two show caves that offer tours to the public.
Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs and The Fairy Caves and Glenwood Caverns in Glenwood Springs both offer great experiences for kids while sneaking in an easy lesson in geology.



Tour Great Museums

Colorado is home to world-class museums that offer hours of entertaining, educational exploring. Our favorites include:

• Denver Museum of Nature and Science
• Denver Art Museum
• Peterson Air and Space Museum in Colorado Springs
• National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville
• Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site near La Junta
• Museum of Western Colorado in Grand Junction
• NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) in Boulder

Visit a Nature Center

Colorado’s got a lot going on outside. From remote deserts to soaring mountain ranges to sweeping prairies, there is plenty of nature to enjoy here. But when spring weather conditions are iffy, you can enjoy nature indoors at the state’s many excellent nature centers.  Pick one from the following list, or visit them all!

• Theo Carson Nature Center, Littleton
• Lookout Mountain Nature Center, Golden
• Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and Butterfly House in Grand Junction
• Mueller State Park Visitor Center, near Divide

Related Articles:

Best Colorado Attractions for Families
Skiing in Colorado with the Kids
Destinations

Denver Art Museum
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Denver Botanic Gardens