• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Caves
      • Colorado Brands
      • Escape Rooms
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Lakes
      • Landmarks
      • Mine Tours
      • Mountains
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Performing Arts
      • Public Parks
      • Rivers
      • Scenic Drives
      • Sightseeing Tours
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Winery Tours
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Jeep Rentals
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowbiking
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Boutique Hotels
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos w/ Lodging
    • Hot Spring w/ Lodging
    • Wineries w/ Lodging
    • Best Hotels
    • Dude Ranches
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
image of dallas divide
Dallas Divide near Ridgway, CO. Photo by Simon Foot

Things to do in October in Colorado

September 26, 2022 By //  by Bella Beckler

FacebookTwitter

As we enter into fall in Colorado during October, everyone is looking for ways to enjoy the cooler temperatures, seeking out the best spots to see fall foliage, and preparing for ski season. By now, the first snow has hit the high country while colorful aspens highlight the mountainsides, and the eternal debate of cider vs. pumpkin spice lattes ignite.

Itโ€™s truly a beautiful time of year to see the Centennial State and all it has to offer. So, enjoy the best of fall with plenty of fun things to do in Colorado in October.

Here are some things to do in CO during October 2022:

Corn Maze at Chatfield Farms

image of corn maze chatfield farms
The corn maze from above at Chatfield Farms. Photo by: Chatfield Botanic Gardens Facebook

The fall season in Colorado isnโ€™t complete until youโ€™ve walked through the corn maze at Chatfield Farms. Get lost in their 7-acre corn maze as you wind your way through the towering stocks of corn. See the maze from above with views from the two 15-foot-tall illuminated bridges.

For the kids aged 10 and under, they may explore the corn mini-maze. Plus, for the month of October only, pick your perfect pumpkin from Chatfieldโ€™s 10-acre pumpkin patch.

The corn maze is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for the entire month of October.

Check out the other corn mazes in Colorado.

Hit the slopes at Arapahoe Basin

image of arapahoe basin ski resort
Skiing at Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort. Photo by: Josh Gray

Hit the slopes early and kick off the ski season with a day at Arapahoe Basin. Notoriously known for operating the longest ski and ride season of any ski resort in Colorado, their anticipated open date for the 2022-23 season is mid-October, weather-dependent. The ski resort offers more than 1,400 acres, nine lifts, and a restaurant serving up food and mountain views at 12,500 feet. Known for its laid-back culture, the low-key atmosphere is just one of the many reasons local Coloradans seek powder at A-Basin.

Take a scenic drive

image of million dollar highway
A stretch of the Million Dollar Highway. Photo by: Mike McBey

In October, fall colors hang around for the first few weeks of the month. One of the best ways to soak up as much fall foliage as you can is with a scenic drive. Popular fall routes include:

  • Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray. Reportedly costing one million dollars to build, this drive provides sweeping mountain views and a sea of golden aspens at almost every corner. As part of the San Juan Skyway, this is one of the most scenic routes in all of Colorado.
  • Last Dollar Road between Telluride and Ridgway (4-wheel drive only). Winding through the majestic San Juan Mountains, discover mountain peaks, thick aspen groves, golden meadows, and some of Coloradoโ€™s most beautiful ranches.
  • The West Elk Loop connects the towns of Paonia, Crested Butte, Gunnison, and Carbondale. This route winds through 205 miles of expansive meadows, rivers, deep canyons, and massive aspen groves. Highlights include Blue Mesa Reservoir, Crystal Lakes, Kebler Pass, and McClure Pass.
  • Gold Belt Scenic Byway, where miners once mined for gold in towns like Victor and Cripple Creek, is now a spot where visitors seek gold in a different way with the colorful fall foliage that dots this scenic byway. Highlights include Phantom Canyon, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, and historic towns.

Discover more autumn drives in Colorado.

Stay in a haunted hotel

image of stanley hotel
The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. Photo by: xroper7

Get into the spirit of the season and stay in one of Coloradoโ€™s several haunted hotels. One of the most popular and well-known Colorado haunted hotels is The Stanley in Estes Park. Known for the inspiration of the Stephen King novel, โ€œThe Shining,โ€ the hotel is appreciated as one of Americaโ€™s most haunted hotels.

The historic hotel is reported to have its share of spirits and ghostly hauntings that make frequent appearances. Complete your experience with their ghostly night tours, featuring a 60-minute walking tour that introduces you to Stephen King, the original hotel owner F.O. Stanley, and other notable visitors over the last 100+ years.

Other haunted hotels in Colorado include: (affiliate links)

  • Imperial Hotel in Silverton โ€“ Featured on an episode of Travel Channelโ€™s Ghost Adventures, the Imperial Hotel is said to be haunted by the spirit of the original owner and his daughter.
  • Hotel Jerome in Aspen โ€“ A local landmark since 1889, Hotel Jerome is believed to house the spirit of a young boy who drowned in the hotel pool, plus other sightings of the mining men who once stayed at the hotel.
  • The Oxford Hotel in Denver โ€“ Denverโ€™s oldest boutique hotel, in operation since 1891. The Oxford Hotel is said to be haunted by a woman who killed her lover and herself at the hotel, with specific sightings in room 320. The notorious Cruise Room bar inside the hotel is also reportedly haunted as well.
  • The Brown Palace Hotel in Denver โ€“ The luxurious Brown Palace Hotel has been wining and dining celebrities and socialites for over 100 years. It’s rumored to be home to some ghostly spirits who stayed in room 904 100 years ago and have never left.
  • Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs โ€“ Guests of this luxury hotel have reported hearing a womanโ€™s scream, strange knocking, and suspicious elevator movement.

Fall Train Rides

image of georgetown loop railroad
The Georgetown Loop Railroad. Photo by: Georgetown Loop Railroad Facebook

Bask in the beauty of fall in Colorado with a train ride through some of your favorite mountains. Hop aboard the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad with one of their special fall train rides where you can enjoy views of the Arkansas River Valley and yellowing aspens as you ride through some of the state’s most scenic landscapes.

Maybe celebrate the season with Autumn Fest on the Georgetown Loop Railroad, only a short 45-minute drive from Denver. Or grab a seat aboard the Cascade Canyon Express via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

While not an actual train, the Pikes Peak Cog Rail is another fun way to see the fall colors and scenic landscape of the Rocky Mountains. Having just re-opened to the public in the summer of 2021, the cog rail is running full steam ahead with its year-round schedule. Begin your route in Manitou Springs and ride to the top of Pikes Peak and visit the upgraded Pikes Peak Visitor Center.

Wander around a Fall Festival

Elk Fest Estes Park Colorado
Elk Fest in Estes Park. Photo by: Lenka MracฬŒkovaฬ

Just because the warmer months have passed doesn’t mean there is a shortage of entertaining festivals to attend around the state. Whether you’re in the mood to catch a horror film, taste test some craft spirits, or maybe even try something new (cowboy poetry anyone?), there are numerous events to keep you busy throughout the month.

  • Emma Crawford Coffin Races & Paradeย honor one of the most influential historic figures in Town, Emma Crawford. Teams of five compete to see who can bring their creatively decorated coffins down the 195-yard track along Manitou Avenue the quickest. There is also a parade and after-party to round out the day.
  • Telluride Horror Showย features 3 days of spooky flicks at select locations around the beautiful mountain town. Enjoy a range of horror, sci-fi, thriller and other dark short films. You will also gain insight into the production process through special programs scattered throughout the weekend.
  • Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival celebrates the art of distilling with over 30 Colorado distilleries making an appearance at the 3 day festival. Workshops, educational seminars, and live entertainment fill out the exciting schedule.
  • Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering serves as a place for southwestern stories to be told through poetry readings, storytelling sessions, and music performances. This magical weekend also includes an awe-inspiring Cowboy Parade, composed of everything from llamas and longhorns to Native American dancers and kids on stick horses.

For more things to do in October, be sure to check out our events page and see what is happening in your part of the state.

Bella Beckler

About Bella Beckler

Bella is based out of Colorado Springs, loves hiking all around CO, finding hidden hot springs, and trying local coffee shops. She is passionate about seeking out little adventures everyday and sharing them with others.

FacebookTwitter

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. โ€”and never miss out again.

Previous Post: «Cowboy holding a Colorado state flag at a rodeo in Pagosa Springs Brief History of the Colorado Flag
Next Post: 4 Hot Springs by Alamosa & Sand Dunes Sand Dunes Recreation, Colorado»

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. โ€”and never miss out again.

Things to do in Colorado

  • All Activities
  • Alamosa
  • Aurora
  • Beaver Creek and Avon
  • Black Hawk
  • Boulder
  • Breckenridge
  • Buena Vista
  • Caรฑon City
  • Carbondale
  • Castle Rock
  • Central City
  • Copper Mountain
  • Cortez
  • Creede
  • Crested Butte
  • Crestone
  • Cripple Creek
  • Delta
  • Denver
  • Dillon
  • Durango
  • Eagle
  • Estes Park
  • Evergreen
  • Fort Collins
  • Frisco
  • Fruita
  • Glenwood Springs
  • Golden
  • Granby
  • Grand Junction
  • Greeley
  • Gunnison
  • Hugo
  • Keystone
  • Lake City
  • Longmont
  • Lyons
  • Minturn
  • Montrose
  • Morrison
  • Nederland
  • Ouray
  • Pagosa Springs
  • Palisade
  • Paonia
  • Pueblo
  • Ridgway
  • Rifle
  • Salida
  • Silverthorne
  • Silverton
  • South Fork
  • Sterling
  • Telluride
  • Vail
  • Victor
  • Walden
  • Walsenburg
  • Westcliffe

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 ยท Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise