By mid-July, the Colorado mountains are in their full summer glory—lush, vibrant, and alive with activity. Wildflowers blanket the meadows in vivid purples, yellows, and reds, while mountain streams run clear and cold with lingering snowmelt. Long, sunny days offer perfect conditions for hiking, biking, and high alpine adventures, with temperatures that are warm in the sun but still cool and crisp in the shade of the pines. Trailheads buzz with visitors and locals alike, taking full advantage of this fleeting, perfect season. In the towns, farmers markets, festivals, and patio dining bring the community outdoors, celebrating the height of mountain summer.