Fort Collins sits at 1525 metres elevation on the eastern edge of the Rockies and has the semi-arid climate of the Colorado Front Range: sunny and dry most of the year, with hot summers and cold but often mild winters.
Summer (June to August) is peak season for outdoor activities — rafting on the Poudre, swimming and paddling at Horsetooth, hiking in the foothills. Temperatures are warm (mid-20s to low 30s Celsius) but rarely oppressive thanks to low humidity. Afternoon thunderstorms are common from July onward.
Spring and autumn are often the best times to visit for comfortable weather without crowds. Spring brings wildflowers to the foothills; autumn turns the aspen groves gold on the drives into the mountains.
Winter is cold but sunny — Fort Collins gets around 300 days of sunshine per year. The city functions normally through winter snow, and the ski areas of the northern Rockies (including Steamboat Springs) are within two to three hours.
The Poudre River rafting season typically runs from May to late July, when snowmelt is at its strongest.