The short version
Ouray County starts clearing the high roads in May and tries to have them open by July 4. The passes above 12,000 feet usually run from early July to late September. Lower roads like Camp Bird, Owl Creek and Last Dollar open sooner and stay open later.
July and August are the busiest months and bring afternoon thunderstorms most days. September is the sweet spot for a lot of people: drier, cooler, fewer crowds, and the aspens turn gold mid-month.
When each pass usually opens
Typical seasons, plus the usual fall-color window. Snow decides the real dates each year.
Usual dates. Snow moves them a few weeks either way each year.
Weather month by month
Average highs and lows in town, at about 7,800 feet, and up high at Red Mountain Pass, about 11,000 feet.
| Month | Ouray high | Ouray low | Up high (hi / lo) | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34° | 15° | 31° / 6° | 1.9 in | 22.4 in |
| Feb | 37° | 19° | 32° / 6° | 1.7 in | 19.6 in |
| Mar | 45° | 25° | 39° / 11° | 2.4 in | 23.8 in |
| Apr | 52° | 31° | 44° / 17° | 2.1 in | 14.6 in |
| May | 63° | 39° | 52° / 26° | 1.8 in | 3.6 in |
| Jun | 74° | 47° | 62° / 35° | 0.9 in | 0.1 in |
| Jul | 79° | 53° | 66° / 40° | 2.4 in | 0 in |
| Aug | 75° | 51° | 63° / 39° | 2.4 in | 0 in |
| Sep | 69° | 45° | 57° / 33° | 2.4 in | 0.5 in |
| Oct | 57° | 34° | 48° / 24° | 2.1 in | 5.1 in |
| Nov | 44° | 24° | 38° / 13° | 1.9 in | 20.2 in |
| Dec | 35° | 16° | 30° / 6° | 1.6 in | 16.5 in |
Town figures are NOAA's 1991 to 2020 averages for the Ouray weather station. The up-high column is our own average of 30 years of daily readings from the Red Mountain Pass snow station at 11,060 feet. It's approximate, and the summits above 12,000 feet run colder still. (source)
The week ahead, up top
National Weather Service forecast for the Imogene Pass summit area.
Mountain forecasts beyond 3 days are rough guides. Check the morning of on the Trails page.