Best Things To Do In Denver During Fall (19 Easy Ideas!)

Fall is one of my favorite seasons in Denver. The weather is beautiful, the mountains are covered in bright yellow aspens, and the city has a packed calendar of fall festivals, Halloween events, concerts, and other seasonal activities.

I’ve lived in Denver for most of my adult life, and there are certain things I look forward to every year — from heading into the mountains for fall colors to the iconic Great American Beer Fest.

If you’re visiting Denver this fall, or you’re local and looking for something new to do, these are some of my favorite things to do in Denver during fall.

The Best Things To Do In Denver During Fall

Go For A Fall Hike

One of the best ways to see Colorado’s fall colors is to go for a hike. There are tons of trails within easy driving distance of Denver where you can walk through aspen groves or get above the trees for wider views of the changing leaves.

Kenosha Pass is one of my favorites. Located about an hour and a half from Denver, the trail passes through several large aspen groves and has beautiful long-range mountain views. You don’t have to complete the entire hike either — many people turn around after the first aspen grove, about a mile in, although I recommend continuing farther if you’re able. The crowds thin out and you’ll get even more views and additional aspen groves along the way.

A few other popular fall hikes near Denver include Devil’s Head Lookout, trails in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Elk Falls Overlook, Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, and Herman Gulch. These are far from the only options, though — there are great fall hikes throughout the Front Range.

Timing varies by elevation and location, but mountain aspens around Denver typically change from mid-September into very early October. Popular trails can get extremely busy during this short window, especially on weekends, so start early and have a backup plan if parking is full.

And you don’t necessarily have to leave Denver to get out for a fall walk. Sloan’s Lake, Washington Park, and City Park are all beautiful once the leaves change in the city, which happens later than in the mountains, typically mid-October into very early-November. 

Scenic Drive Through The Mountains

If you’d rather see the fall colors from the car, there are also some incredible scenic drives within easy reach of Denver.

Aspens are the star of the season, turning entire sections of the mountains bright yellow against the surrounding evergreen forest. Interestingly, many of the trees within an aspen grove share the same root system and are genetically identical, which is why you’ll often see an entire grove change color at once.

A few of my favorite places for a fall drive near Denver include:

• Golden Gate Canyon State Park
• Guanella Pass
• Kenosha Pass
• Eldorado Canyon State Park
• Independence Pass — This one’s about three hours from Denver, so it’s definitely a longer day trip, but it’s one of my favorite places in Colorado for fall colors.

There are plenty more options throughout the Front Range, so check out my guide to the Best Spots For Fall Colors Near Denver if you want to plan a full day around leaf peeping.

Drive Guanella Pass

Guanella Pass deserves a little extra attention because it’s easily one of the most popular places to see fall colors near Denver.

Located just an hour from downtown, the scenic road connects Georgetown and Grant, climbing through large aspen groves before reaching the high alpine landscape around the top of the pass. There are plenty of places to stop along the way for views, and you can easily pair the drive with some time in Georgetown before or after.

Just know that Guanella Pass gets extremely crowded during peak fall colors, particularly on weekends. Pay close attention to parking signs and only park in designated areas — illegally parked cars will be ticketed or towed.

If you can, go on a weekday. Otherwise, I’d get a very early start on weekends.

13th Floor Haunted House 

13th Floor is Denver’s most notorious haunted house and has even been named one of the “Top 5 Most Terrifying Haunted Houses in the USA” by USA Today.

A Halloween staple for years, this iconic attraction draws thrill-seekers with new gory themes each season, keeping scare fans coming back again and again.

It’s definitely not for the faint of heart — or for kids under 12.

The haunted house typically runs daily throughout October and ticket prices vary. Check pricing and availability at 13th Floor Haunted House.

Tip: 13th Floor is extremely popular and tickets can sell out, especially around Halloween. If you can’t snag tickets, don’t worry, there are several other haunted houses around Denver to choose from during the fall season.

Visit A Pumpkin Patch

Visiting a pumpkin patch is one of my favorite things to do around Denver in fall, and there are tons to choose from within an easy drive of the city.

Anderson Farms in Erie is one of the biggest and most popular. In addition to pumpkin picking, they have a huge corn maze, wagon rides, farm animals, food, fire pits, and other fall activities. They also host Terror in the Corn and zombie paintball for those looking for something a little less wholesome.

But Anderson Farms is definitely not your only option. Chatfield Farms in Littleton hosts its annual Pumpkin Festival, Maize in the City in Thornton is just minutes from downtown and has a corn maze and pumpkin field, and Rock Creek Farm in Broomfield is another longtime favorite. You’ll also find smaller farms and pumpkin patches throughout the surrounding suburbs and Front Range.

Most pumpkin patches around Denver open sometime in September and run through October, although dates, activities, and admission vary quite a bit. The popular ones can get very busy on October weekends, so check hours and ticket requirements before heading out.

For more options and information, check out my complete guide to the Best Pumpkin Patches Near Denver.

Georgetown Loop Train

The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a historic narrow-gauge railway that dates back to Colorado’s silver boom in the late 1800s. Today, it runs scenic tours through aspen groves that light up in brilliant yellow each fall — making it a perfect way to experience the season.

The hour ride offers stunning views of the changing leaves from the comfort of an open-air gondola.

Peak leaf season runs from late September into early October, and the train typically operates daily during this time. Tickets average around $36 per person.

For the fewest crowds, I recommend booking the first tour of the day. But no matter when you ride, it’s a fantastic way to take in the Rockies’ fall foliage. Just bring a jacket or blanket — it gets chilly at elevation!

Check pricing and availability at Georgetown Loop Railroad.

Tip: If you’re up for a longer drive, the Leadville Railroad is another great option in fall, located 2 hours from Denver.

Denver Oktoberfest 

From keg bowling and stein hoisting to live music, craft lagers, and food trucks, there’s something for everyone at Denver Oktoberfest.

For over 50 years, this lively event has taken over two blocks of downtown Denver for a boisterous street party that draws crowds from all over.

Denver hosts one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the United States, so you’re practically guaranteed a good time at this high-energy fall festival.

The event typically runs Friday through Sunday during the last two weekends of September, with festivities happening day and night. Admission is free, with food and drinks available for purchase. For more information, check out Denver Oktoberfest.

Tip: Nearby mountain towns also host fantastic Oktoberfests, Breckenridge and Vail are my favorites.

Denver Botanic Gardens – Glow At The Gardens

Each fall, Denver Botanic Gardens transforms its York Street location for Glow at the Gardens, one of my favorite Halloween events in the city.

The gardens are illuminated after dark with spooky displays, live performers, and elaborate pumpkin installations. And these aren’t fake pumpkins — the jack-o’-lanterns and large sculptures are made with real, locally grown pumpkins and hand-carved by the Gardens’ carving team.

The event is more festive than scary, so it’s a good option for families or anyone who wants a Halloween activity without the haunted-house scares.

This sells out weeks in advance, so don’t wait until October to grab tickets. Also, the Denver Botanic Gardens’ southern location, Chatfield Farms, is worth a visit in fall for its pumpkin patch, corn maze, and annual Pumpkin Festival.

Looking for more Halloween ideas? There are a few throughout this guide, but I have a whole separate guide covering Halloween Things To Do In Denver if you want even more options.

Visit An Apple Orchard

Apple picking is a quintessential fall activity, but it’s a little harder to come by around Denver. Colorado’s climate isn’t ideal for large apple orchards, so there aren’t many nearby, and the few that offer U-pick apples have very limited availability. Reservations can be difficult to snag and the picking season may be short depending on the year’s crop.

That doesn’t mean you have to skip the orchards altogether though. You can still visit during fall to buy locally grown apples, fresh cider, baked goods, and other apple-themed treats, even when U-pick isn’t available.

YA YA Farm & Orchard in Longmont is one of the best-known options near Denver and my personal favorite. Other orchards worth checking include Nelms Farm in Golden, Masonville Orchard near Fort Collins, and, a little farther away, Third Street Apples and Happy Apple Farm in Penrose.

These places can get very busy on fall weekends, so I’d go on a weekday if your schedule allows. And if you’re specifically hoping to pick your own apples, check directly with the orchard well before your visit — don’t assume you’ll be able to show up and pick.

Tip: For some of Colorado’s best apple picking, you’ll need to head west towards Grand Junction or Palisade.

Join A Ghost Tour

Fall is the perfect time to dig into some of Denver’s stranger history with a ghost tour, and Cheesman Park is one of the most interesting places to start.

Before it was a park, this land was Denver’s first cemetery. When the cemetery was cleared in the late 1800s, the process didn’t exactly go as planned — in fact thousands of bodies are believed to remain beneath the park today. So as you can imagine, there are plenty of ghost stories tied to the area.

A Cheesman Park ghost tour covers the history of the former cemetery along with some of the hauntings and stories that have followed, this is the tour I joined: Cheesman Park Ghost Tour. Even if you don’t take a tour, you can visit Cheesman Park on your own, although you’ll obviously miss a lot of the history and storytelling.

There are plenty of other ghost tours around Denver too. Capitol Hill and LoDo are both popular areas, thanks to their historic buildings and plenty of local ghost stories. A few popular options include Haunted Denver Ghost & Pub Walking Tour and the Denver After Dark Adults Only Walking Ghost Tour.

Colorado Symphony’s Fall Shows

The Colorado Symphony is made up of talented musicians performing a diverse mix of classical and contemporary music. The orchestra features a full complement of instruments, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. While any of their performances are worth seeing year-round, the symphony offers especially fun Halloween-themed shows each October.

This year’s lineup includes Disney in Concert: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and the Halloween Spooktacular!

Most performances take place at the Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, though special shows are sometimes held elsewhere.

For a full line up of events, head on over to: Colorado Symphony.

Great American Beer Festival

One of the best fall events in Denver is the Great American Beer Festival.

This massive celebration features over 500 breweries and 2,000+ beers for visitors to sample. Named by Thrillist as “The One Beer Festival You Must Go To Before You Die,” GABF has topped beer bucket lists for 40 years, bringing together beer lovers and brewers from across the country. You’re guaranteed a fantastic time!

The festival takes place annually in late September or early October at the Colorado Convention Center.

It’s extremely popular, so tickets sell out well in advance — typically six months before the event.

Tip: On the big day, don’t forget to make a pretzel necklace and plan your transportation ahead of time.

Catch A Sporting Event 

Denver is a big sports town, and fall is the perfect time to experience the thrill of a live game.

The Denver Broncos play at Empower Field downtown throughout the fall. The Colorado Rockies take the field at Coors Field through September—and into October if they make the playoffs.

Both the NBA’s Nuggets and the NHL’s Avalanche begin their seasons in October, with both championship-winning franchises playing at downtown’s Ball Arena.

Collegiate football is also a fall staple, with the University of Colorado and Colorado State University near Denver. Other local universities with fall sports include Metro State University and the University of Denver.

Even if you can’t make it to a game, you can still cheer on your favorite team at popular sports bars like Stoney’s Bar & Grill, Number 28, or McGregor Square.

Whether you attend a game or soak in the atmosphere at a bar, sports are among the most popular and fun fall activities in Denver.

Walk Or Bike The Cherry Creek Trail

The Cherry Creek Trail is a popular route for biking, running, and walking through Denver.

The mostly paved trail stretches for miles through the metro area, beginning near Confluence Park downtown and continuing south. You can hop on at numerous points throughout the city and walk or bike as much of it as you’d like.

This isn’t necessarily a fall-specific activity, but fall is one of my favorite times to enjoy Denver’s trails. The temperatures are much more comfortable than during the heat of summer, while there’s still plenty of sunshine and nice weather for spending time outside.

You’ll also find some changing leaves along the trail later in the season, particularly through the more tree-lined sections. It’s an easy way to enjoy a nice fall day without leaving the city.

Visit A Farmers Market

Denver’s farmers markets aren’t just a summer activity. Several continue well into fall, and this is actually a great time of year to visit.

The weather is more mild and selection changes with the season, too. By October, look for Colorado apples and pears, pumpkins and winter squash, root vegetables, greens, and other late-season produce. You’ll also find live entertainment alongside plenty of fall treats like apple cider, apple butter, pies, and seasonal coffee drinks.

South Pearl Street Farmers Market is one of my favorites in Denver and has one of the city’s longer seasons, running into early November. City Park Farmers Market is another great option, with more than 100 local food-focused vendors and a season that runs through the end of October.

If you don’t mind heading outside Denver, Boulder Farmers Market is also worth the drive, its one of the best markets in the state. The Wednesday market runs through early or mid October while the Saturday market runs all the way through late November.

There are several other farmers markets around the Denver area that continue into September and October, so it’s worth checking what’s open.

Hudson Gardens – Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns

Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns takes over Hudson Gardens each fall and has become another favorite in recent years.

The nighttime event follows an illuminated walking path through the gardens, where thousands of hand-carved pumpkins are used to create elaborate themed displays, huge sculptures, and plenty of smaller details to stop and look at along the way.

Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns typically runs on select evenings from mid-September through October and is located in Littleton, about 30 minutes south of downtown Denver.

Tickets are required, and popular nights sell out, so I recommend booking ahead — especially if you want to visit closer to Halloween.

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

Red Rocks is worth visiting any time of year, but fall is still a great time to catch a concert here.

The concert calendar stays surprisingly busy well into the season. September has shows almost nightly, while October and November still have shows every weekend, with a handful sprinkled in on weekdays.

The biggest thing to plan for is the weather. Early fall evenings can be beautiful, but temperatures drop quickly after sunset, so bring layers and check the forecast before you go — even if it’s warm and sunny when you leave Denver.

By late fall, you’ll need to dress for winter since evenings can get very cold. There’s also a chance you could experience one of those iconic snowy nights at Red Rocks. It’ll be wet, cold, and maybe a little chaotic, but seeing the amphitheater covered in snow during a concert is a pretty incredible experience.

If you can’t catch a show, Red Rocks is still worth visiting during the day. The amphitheater is free to visit outside of event hours, and the cooler fall temperatures make it a nice time to walk around the venue or hike one of the nearby trails.

Fright Fest At Elitch Gardens

Each fall, Denver’s downtown amusement park transforms for Fright Fest, one of the city’s biggest Halloween events.

During the day, things are kept family-friendly with trick-or-treating, kid-friendly activities, and other fall festivities. Once the sun goes down, Fright By Night takes over with haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, and characters roaming throughout the park.

One of the best parts, though, is that the regular amusement park rides are still running. There’s something extra fun about riding roller coasters after dark surrounded by all the Halloween decorations and Fright Fest activity.

The annual event typically runs from late September until Halloween. For pricing and event dates, check out Elitch Gardens Fright Fest.

Take A Day Trip To Estes Park & Rocky Mountain National Park

For one final fall idea, take a day trip from Denver to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. This is a great day trip any time of year, but there are a couple reasons I especially love it in fall.

Elk rut is a huge highlight this time of year, it runs from about mid-September through mid-October, when large herds gather around Estes Park and the eastern side of RMNP. You’ll hear bulls bugling and may even see them competing for mates. Moraine Park is a popular place to watch, but elk are also commonly spotted around Estes Park itself.

While you’re in the park, take some time to enjoy the fall colors too. The aspens begin changing in September, making this a great time for a scenic drive or hike before heading back into town.

Another fall favorite is The Stanley Hotel. The historic hotel famously inspired Stephen King’s The Shining, so it’s an especially fun stop as Halloween approaches. You can take a ghost tour, explore the property, or even spend the night — including in King’s Room 217 if you’re lucky enough to snag a reservation.

Fall is very busy in Estes Park and RMNP, so get an early start and be sure to have a timed-entry reservation before visiting RMNP. And if you’re visiting for the elk, always give them plenty of space — bulls can be especially unpredictable during rut.

For more ideas, check out my additional guides to The Best Things To Do In Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park: Best Things To Do In Fall.

Denver Fall Weather

Fall weather in Denver changes significantly from September to November. September often still feels like summer, with warm, sunny days and cool evenings. By October, temperatures begin dropping more noticeably, and November can feel much more like winter.

The tricky part is that Denver weather can change very quickly, especially this time of year. A warm, sunny day can be followed by much colder temperatures or even snow, and there’s a very big difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Layers are always a good idea, especially if you’ll be out after sunset.

Snow is possible throughout fall, although it becomes much more likely as Halloween approaches. Don’t be too surprised by an early season snowstorm though.

Tip: If you’re heading into the mountains, plan for considerably colder and more unpredictable conditions than you’ll find in Denver. Snow arrives much earlier at higher elevations, and weather can change quickly, so always check the forecast for your specific destination before leaving.

Average Temperatures During Fall In Denver:

• September: 82°F / 50°F (Average High / Low)
• October: 68°F / 37°F
• November: 57°F / 27°F

Fall is one of my favorite times of year in Denver, with beautiful weather, tons of seasonal events, and easy access to Colorado’s fall colors. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or live here year-round, I hope this guide helps you make the most of the season.

Any questions or additional ideas? Please leave a comment below or reach out on social media.

Looking for more ideas? Below are additional Denver and Colorado guides.