Ouray has two peak seasons. Summer (June through September) is the hiking, cycling, and jeeping season — the roads to the high passes open with the snowmelt, wildflowers bloom through July, and the days are long and warm. The Ouray Music Festival in early summer and the Hardrock 100 ultramarathon in July bring visitors. Most businesses are open and the town is lively.
Winter brings the ice climbers. The Ouray Ice Park typically opens in late December and runs through February or early March, and the Ouray Ice Festival in late January is the biggest annual event. Winter temperatures are cold but generally manageable; the box canyon setting protects the town from the worst of the wind. November and April-May are shoulder months with some business closures, but also fewer crowds and lower prices.