October Overview
- High temperature: 65°F (18°C)
- Low temperature: 36°F (2°C)
- Hours daylight/sun: 8 hours
- Water temperature: 4°F (0°C)
October in Denver sees temperature highs of 65°F with average overnight lows dropping close to freezing at 36°F. However, these averages are subject to great variance and it could be over 70°F or equally, there could already be blizzards in October. It’s always best to check the weather shortly before travelling to Denver. A local philosophy is that the only thing you can count on about the weather in Denver is that you can’t count on the weather in Denver! Locals in October dress in layers rather than one thick sweater or jacket. Then, as it gets warmer throughout the day, they can peel off outer layers if need be.
Rain in October is unlikely with only 7 days with any rain on average and about 1 inch of rainfall throughout the month. The chance of thunderstorms that was there over the summer has gone and the snow that usually starts in November is yet to arrive. In addition, October in Denver is generally very sunny with an average 8 hours of sunshine each day and it’s the least windy month.
With the generally temperate weather, October is a great time to explore Denver by foot with the LoDo neighborhood, 16th Street Mall and Latimer Square all trendy areas to visit. They’re all also next to each other and 16th Street Mall offers a free shuttle. Also on offer are free walking tours that take you through downtown.
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
