January Overview
- High temperature: 45°F (7°C)
- Low temperature: 18°F (-8°C)
- Hours daylight/sun: 7 hours
- Water temperature: 7°F (0°C)
January in Denver is the second coldest month after December with average highs of 45°F and lows of 18°F. But do not count on these values too much as the weather in January can be very unpredictable and it can snow one day and then be over 60°F the next as a result of the warm Pacific winds that can blow down over the Rockies. Extremely cold weather is possible too with the overnight temperatures dropping down to -10°F or even lower on the very coldest days. On average there are nine days where it snows in January and an average snowfall of 7 inches. You will have 7 hours of daylight in Janaury.
Denver's surrounding magical white landscapes are perfect for skiing, snowboarding or cross-country skiing as well as for just taking a walk and enjoying the views and fresh air. January sees the National Western Stock Show being held in Denver with up to 700,000 attendees- the show’s kick-off parade with Longhorn cattle marching through downtown Denver is a sight to behold! The Denver Winter Brew Fest which takes place annually is also highly recommended.
Best Time to Visit Denver
Denver Denver is a great place to visit at any time of the year especially if you’re looking to be active outdoors. From hiking in the spring and fall to skiing in winter and sightseeing year round, Denver has it all!
Winters can be very unpredictable with the potential for particularly cold or mild weather on any given day.
Summer sees the most rainfall and can feel quite hot, although the humidity remains low in summer, so late spring or early fall are good in terms of consistency of the weather. Highs in spring reach up to 72°F with overnight lows in the 30s F. In fall, there’s the potential for an Indian summer with highs of up to 75°F.
Things to know about Denver
Denver is the capital city of Colorado and lies just east of the Rocky Mountains in a valley at an altitude of 5280 ft, or one mile exactly, which is why it’s known as the Mile-High City that brings along some weather pecularities.
The LoDo (short for lower downtown) district is very trendy and whilst being a historic district, today sees lots of shops, restaurants and clubs. It’s home to the historic Denver Union Station which itself features several shops, bars and restaurants. 16th Street Mall and Latimer Square are next to LoDo and are also trendy areas to visit. In addition, 16th Street Mall offers a free shuttle.
It’s worth checking if there’s a concert on at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre which is located just outside of Denver and is one of the most unique concert venues in the world. It’s essentially a rock (in the geological sense, not the music type) structure that’s been made into an outdoor arena. It has a capacity of close to 10,000 and has seen the likes of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, U2, Depeche Mode and The Grateful Dead all play there.
The Brown Palace Hotel is one of the longest operating hotels in Colorado and offers public tours to highlight its place in history and outline some of its notable guests over the years. Tours are particularly popular in October with “ghost” tours conducted that feature unexplained events that have been collated over the years. You could always join a free walking tour that takes you through downtown and points out the main sights, which there are:
- Denver Art Museum and
- The Denver Center for the Performing Arts
- City and County Building and
- Civic Center Park
- Pepsi Center and
- Colorado State Capitol
