Jaxson's Adventures

Adventure Guides
Alpine lake in changing seasons

Seasonal Adventures

Colorado changes. The adventure does too.

What works with a dog in each season — and what quietly closes.

Spring

  • The reality: Mud season. High trails are snowbound into June; lower-elevation trails shine.
  • Dog notes: Snowmelt creeks run cold and fast — keep water play short and shallow.
  • The insider window: In shoulder season, some Rocky Mountain National Park roads close to cars but remain open to bikes and leashed dogs — one of the only ways to ‘hike’ RMNP with a dog. Confirm current status with the park before going.

Summer

  • The season for: Alpine lakes (St. Mary’s is the close-in classic), high passes like Guanella (open ~Memorial Day), and creek days like the ones in Jaxson’s footage.
  • Dog notes: Start early — for parking, for thunderstorms, and for hot afternoon rock underfoot. Late summer brings blue-green algae advisories at lower lakes; check before swims.

Fall

  • The season for: Aspen color drives — Guanella Pass stays open through the gold weeks and closes after Thanksgiving.
  • Dog notes: Hunting seasons overlap popular national forest trails; blaze orange on you and the dog is cheap insurance.

Winter

  • The season for: Snowshoe outings and quiet trails — St. Mary’s Glacier is hikeable year-round with traction gear and avalanche awareness up high.
  • Dog notes: Paw protection matters most now: ice balls between pads, road salt, and long cold exposure. Booties or paw wax, and shorter outings for short-coated dogs.
  • What’s closed: High pass roads, including Guanella’s summit section — plan around plowed trailheads.

Latest seasonal guides

All seasonal articles →

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Cold-weather kit and summer water gear both live on the gear page.

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