Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Estes Park, CO

Estes Park, CO is in USDA zones 5a to 5b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is June 5 and the first fall frost September 16.

Estes Park on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones5a–5b−20 to −10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostJun 5
First frostSep 16
Growing season101 days

5a 1 ZIP   5b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Estes Park, CO…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Estes Park, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 16median — 10% chance by Sep 5
Growing season101 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 22 and returns around September 26.

From the NOAA station Rustic 9wsw, CO, elevation 7,701 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Estes Park

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 8 – May 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 15 – May 29
LettuceSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 12 – Jun 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 19 – Jul 3
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 12 – Jun 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 12 – Jun 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 12 – Jun 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 22 – Aug 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 2 – Oct 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 5) and first fall frost (Sep 16) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 80511 came on Apr 9 — 27 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 6).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5a in Colorado

532 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 27

American elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack walnut100 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fblack willow100 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −58 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Shrubs 95

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 239

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine aster0.3 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 159

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Estes Park, CO.

Soil in Estes Park, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80511 is Bullwark family — slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bullwark-Catamount families-Rubble land complex, 10 to 40 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 80511; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Estes Park, CO

Summer high74 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, February
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights241nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days697base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation20.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall174 inper year; 198 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 11 °F 31°11° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 10 °F 33°10° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 15 °F 40°15° MarApril: average high 45 °F, low 20 °F 45°20° AprMay: average high 55 °F, low 28 °F 55°28° MayJune: average high 68 °F, low 36 °F 68°36° JunJuly: average high 74 °F, low 43 °F 74°43° JulAugust: average high 72 °F, low 41 °F 72°41° AugSeptember: average high 65 °F, low 34 °F 65°34° SepOctober: average high 51 °F, low 26 °F 51°26° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 18 °F 39°18° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 11 °F 31°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.23 in precipitation, 16.2 in snowfall 1.2❄16 JanFebruary: 1.52 in precipitation, 20 in snowfall 1.5❄20 FebMarch: 2.26 in precipitation, 28.5 in snowfall 2.3❄29 MarApril: 2.61 in precipitation, 35.7 in snowfall 2.6❄36 AprMay: 2.28 in precipitation, 14.8 in snowfall 2.3❄15 MayJune: 1.36 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 1.4❄2 JunJuly: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.57 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 1.6❄3 SepOctober: 1.36 in precipitation, 13.6 in snowfall 1.4❄14 OctNovember: 1.34 in precipitation, 21.4 in snowfall 1.3❄21 NovDecember: 1.35 in precipitation, 19.5 in snowfall 1.4❄20 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hourglass Rsvr, CO (4 mi away); precipitation: Hourglass Rsvr, CO (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Estes Park

805115b
−15 to −10 °F
805175a
−20 to −15 °F

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about Estes Park

What planting zone is Estes Park, CO?

Estes Park, CO is in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F; 5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Estes Park, CO?

The median last spring frost is June 5 and the median first fall frost is September 16 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rustic 9wsw station).

When can I plant a garden in Estes Park, CO?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 24 – May 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Jun 12, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Estes Park, CO?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Estes Park, CO get?

About 20.6 inches of precipitation a year and 174 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).