There were waits of up to 90 minutes at park entrances, and once people got inside, they found the parking lots full, according to media reports and social media posts. A long line of hikers formed at the upper section of the hiker’s route on iconic Half Dome, just below the summit — a section so steep, there are steel cables for protecting hikers against falls.

Timed-entry requirements also were dropped this year at Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, after local county commissioners sent a letter to the park superintendent withdrawing their support for the reservation system. They cited an 18% decline in visitor spending since the imposition of reservation requirements in 2022. Glacier National Park in Montana and Mount Rainier National Park in Washington also got rid of their reservation requirements.

Supporters of entry reservation requirements, including conservation groups and some elected officials, have blamed the Trump Administration for pressuring the parks to remove them. It’s the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the National Park Service, which includes staffing cuts, mining expansion and an executive order that required the parks to remove exhibits that “inappropriately disparage Americans,” which critics said is an effort to whitewash history.

But in Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park was allowed to keep its six-year-old peak-season timed-entry system, which took effect this year on Friday, May 22, and will run into October. That’s because Interior Department officials went along with the recommendation of superintendent Gary Ingram to continue with its two-tiered reservation system. And when Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met with community leaders last month, they expressed their support for the policy.

“There were a lot of businesses and other groups around the table, and it was pretty much universal that the [9 a..m. to 2 p.m.] timed entry for the vast area of the park — not counting the Bear Lake corridor — is not a deterrent to visit,” recalled Estes Park mayor Gary Hall.

“The timed entry in Rocky is not a substantial impedance. Most people agree with that in town,” he added.

People are much happier

Timed-entry at Rocky began in 2020 as a response to the COVID pandemic, but park officials were already evaluating potential strategies to prevent overcrowding at what was then the fourth busiest of the nation’s 63 national parks. Timed entry was retained as a trial “pilot” program from 2021 through 2023 and was adopted permanently in 2024.

Rocky was the sixth busiest national park in 2025, when Yosemite bumped it out of fifth place.

As in previous years, reservations for 2026 are required from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m. for the popular Bear Lake corridor, while reservations for the rest of the park are required from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Ingram, who has been in charge since 2023, is aware of what happened at Yosemite this month after its reservation system was eliminated.

“I can’t speak for the other parks,” Ingram said. “The key aspects we’re looking for are maintaining positive visitor experiences. The safety aspect has always been key to me. When you have gridlock going up to Bear Lake, or any one of these areas, it¶¶Òõap hard to get emergency vehicles to someone who has fallen and hit their head at Rock Cut or having some sort of episode up at AVC,” a reference to the Alpine Visitor Center high on Trail Ridge Road.

“The other thing is that it protects the resources,” Ingram said. “We can manage people a heck of a lot better when we spread out that visitation through the day.”

In the four years before timed entry, Rocky averaged more than 4.5 million visitors annually. In the past four years, it averaged just over 4.25 million.

“When timed entry was first launched six years ago, it was a very difficult year following many difficult years of visitors and park employees being incredibly frustrated with crowding in the park,” said Estee Rivera Murdock, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, which is the park’s non-profit partner. “Fast forward six years, and the local community largely understands the value of timed entry. They see that they have a better experience.

“The local business community was really concerned in the beginning,” she added. “Now that we’ve had years of sales tax (data), they know people are much happier, rather than sitting in standstill traffic for two hours.”

At Yosemite, superintendent Ray McPadden said in an announcement that he decided to scrap the reservation system after conducting an analysis of last year’s traffic patterns, parking availability and visitor use.

“We are committed to visitor access, safety and resource protection, and will continue active traffic management strategies to ensure a great visitor experience,” McPadden said. “While reservation systems are one valuable management tool, our data demonstrates that a season-wide reservation requirement is not the most effective approach.”

John Buckley, executive director of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center, strongly disagrees, citing frequent incidents of vehicles parked illegally between trees in Yosemite Valley along roads packed with cars.

“I’ve frequently seen vehicles parked along the edges of meadows where parking is not allowed,” Buckley said. “When visitor numbers are spiking, I’ve often seen sensitive habitat areas such as riverbanks along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley get so crowded that riparian vegetation gets trampled and stream banks suffer.”

Buckley is one who suspects pressure from the Trump administration and a local lawmaker were behind the decision to eliminate timed entry.

“The local congressman, Tom McClintock, has consistently promoted unlimited visitation to ensure higher profits for Yosemite region gateway businesses when there are maximum levels of tourism,” Buckley said. “He’s repeatedly expressed strong opposition to any limits on vehicles or visitors to the park, and he has publicly taken some of the credit for the administration choosing this year to abandon any day-use reservation system in Yosemite Park.”

McClintock has been a longtime advocate of expanding public access to Yosemite and opposing reservation requirements.

“The 750,000-acre national park can welcome many more visitors than it does today without restricting access,” he wrote last year in a column on his official website. “All that is missing is a visitor-friendly attitude by Yosemite Park management and a willingness to be a good neighbor to the gateway communities and businesses that depend on tourism.”

“Logical arguments”

If the decision to eliminate reservations at Yosemite came from the top in Washington, as critics allege, that doesn’t explain why Rocky was allowed to continue its approach.

“I can’t speak to their decision to approve this,” Ingram said. “I can tell you, since day one of my arrival here, it was all about the adaptability and flexibility that our timed-entry program has. It gives an opportunity for the short daytrippers who want to come in before 9, or just want to come up and see a sunset, they’ll be coming after 2. Even at Bear Lake, you can still get in there before 5 o’clock in the morning or after 6 (in the evening).”

Hall, the Estes Park mayor, suspects Rocky got approval for retaining its policy because of Ingram’s relationship with his superiors.

“You could call this speculation, but I’ve seen enough signs that I feel he makes good logical arguments, and it has been accepted,” Hall said. “I do believe that Mr. Ingram has a good relationship with Interior, that he has a good argument for why the 9-to-2 is not draconian, and why it does really help management of the park. I think his arguments got through and make sense to Interior, and he’s allowed to do it.”

In Moab, Grand County (Utah) commissioner Brian Martinez sees the decisions at Rocky and Arches as an indication that the Interior Department is sensitive to community sentiment.

“It sounds like the Department of the Interior listened to the local communities and gave them what they wanted,” Martinez said.

Timed entry at Arches cost Grand County businesses $40-$50 million per year in lost revenue since it was introduced in 2022, according to Martinez, plus about $10 million in county and state tax revenues.

“Over the last three years, Arches National Park visitation has been reduced to 2015 visitation levels,” the county commission wrote in its letter to the superintendent last year. “This is having a detrimental impact on Grand County’s economy, negatively impacting Grand County’s working people and the ability of the Grand County Commission to provide services to the local community.”

Community leaders in Moab have been working with park officials to create a shuttle system from town to manage traffic and parking issues in the park.

“When I look at the problem of the crowding that they talk about at Arches, it¶¶Òõap not a people problem, it¶¶Òõap a car problem,” said Martinez, who expects the shuttle service to begin this fall. “It¶¶Òõap not that we have too many people, we just have too many cars, and we don’t have the infrastructure and the road to deal with them.”

While community leaders in Estes Park voiced support for timed entry when Burgum visited last month, they did raise concerns over conflicting messages coming from the Trump administration last year regarding national parks staffing in the wake of Elon Musk’s DOGE cost-cutting.

“Last year we lost a lot of potential business because people didn’t know what the status was going to be after those firings, rehirings, furloughs and various other things,” Hall said. “Consistency of messaging was the single biggest issue that was discussed around the table. The secretary seemed to accept that as a valid point.”

Ingram said his more than 33 years as a park ranger, which taught him how to deal with life-and-death situations, also helps him navigate the uncertainty coming from Washington.

“It taught me to be flexible and limber and always try to find solutions in worst-case scenarios,” Ingram said. “Whether it was a high-angle rescue, a swiftwater rescue, a car over the edge, a violent person in a campground, we’re always going to give it our best shot to find a solution.

“Whenever a new administration comes in, there’s always change,” he added. “I have counted on my ability to be flexible and to respond in a positive way that will have the least amount of impact to the park, the park employees and the visitors.”

A couple of previous experiences in the mountains have shaped my comfort level camping and lodging in Colorado.

On one hand, I had no issue sleeping in the back of my camper truck — when it still worked. (Rear-wheel-drive vehicles and ice don’t mix very well.) On the other hand, one weekend without Wi-Fi at a resplendent lakeside cabin had me climbing up the logs trying to get in touch with civilization.

Earlier this year, I found my sweet spot at Castle Mountain Lodge, a roadside inn with cabins and hotel rooms in Estes Park on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park. The lodge had almost everything we needed for a calming weekend getaway, whether our plan was to venture into the park, stroll the town or lie low and let hours go by.

Our excursion ended up being more of the latter. My wife recommended Castle Mountain Lodge as a destination for our “babymoon,” a getaway before our child is born, and a sort of redemptive opportunity after our last trip to the “Cabin with No WiFi.”

The lodge began with a single dwelling, purchased by architect Igor Polevitsky in the early 1950s. More cabins — including the Little Pines studio with kitchenette and fireplace where we stayed — were built by the adjacent Fall River.

Castle Mountain Lodge is now owned by Chris Wood and Michael Hodges, according to the website. It has 29 units, a playground, a hot tub room and picnic area, said Joel Tramel, the inn’s manager.

It has not changed much over the years, according to Tramel, who did single out the addition of the laundry services and hot tubs to some cabins. “It has always been a very family-focused collection of cabins.”

The lodge is on the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park, where many of the guests head for the day, he said. Others stay near the lodge, casting for fish stocked in the Fall River, watching for grazing elk or walking by not-so-wild turkeys that roam the grounds. Black bear sightings are possible, though we did not come across one.

Since we are expecting, we were not looking for excitement, so we splurged on a babymoon package that included a couples massage. Our room came ready with a vase of roses, a basket of treats, a box of chocolates and firewood dropped off by the front door. In the basket was also a gift certificate to Bird & Jim, an American restaurant in Estes Park, that did not go unused.

While that package is no longer available, there are others: The “Sweetheart” deal comes with roses and chocolates, a snack basket, a certificate to Bird & Jim and extra firewood. The “Spa and Pamper” package adds a one-hour couples massage performed on-site by professional massage therapists.

Truly, I would’ve been fine just enjoying the serenity of the outdoors out on the deck, or streaming a baseball game on the television, or reading from inside our warm room, as we did.

The lodge is open year-round. Rooms and cabins are still open despite the busy summer and fall season, Tramel said.

Many longtime guests are familiar with Wanda Bauder, who has worked there for about 20 years and now assists at the concierge desk. Tramel has an even longer history with Castle Mountain Lodge, having worked there while attending college in Kansas between 1989 and 1993. He is now two years in to what he considers his “third act” in life as lodge manager.

“I had been coming to Estes Park since I was a little kid and always loved it,” he said. “I worked summers in college here, made friends and kept coming back out year after year.”

I don’t have the same history with this area as Tramel does. I can definitely see myself coming back, though.

Castle Mountain Lodge is at 1520 Fall River Road, Estes Park. Check online at for bookings and availability.

The app is especially important to Colorado, it turns out, because the state placed second to California for the most navigations (activities recorded by app members) and elevation gained, according to 2025 data released by the company. Colorado was also third for hiking distance with 11.6 million miles logged, following Oregon and California.

But not all trails on AllTrails are created equal. Here are the 10 most popular hikes in Colorado, listed from most to least navigated using AllTrails last year. Routes range from easy to strenuous, and all are within a two-hour drive of Denver.

10)

Arapaho National Forest, Dillon

Hike length: 6.6 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 1,758 feet

This short but challenging stretch of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) is especially popular during peak wildflower season. Rosy paintbrushes and blue and white columbines line the path in July, followed by golden willows in autumn. The start of this hike is especially steep, as is the last half-mile to Herman Lake, but the views are unparalleled. Plan to start early, as this trail ascends above treeline.

9)

Roosevelt National Forest, Eldora

Hike length: 4.2 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 830 feet

A popular day trip and backpacking destination, Lost Lake is located just west of Eldora. A free shuttle operates between the town and the Hessie Trailhead on select dates between May 22 and Oct. 11, as parking is limited. This moderate route features several waterfalls and wooden bridges over Boulder Creek, along with eight designated campsites around the lake. Note that moose are often seen on this trail.

8)

Mount Evans Wilderness, Idaho Springs

Hike length: 7.3 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 2,736 feet

Many summit Mount Bierstadt as their first fourteener given its distance from Denver and lesser degree of difficulty. Still, this Class 2 trail demands serious effort. From the trailhead, a wooden boardwalk leads to steep switchbacks and some scrambling near the 14,064-foot peak, which offers panoramic Front Range views. Arrive before dawn to secure parking and to beat summer’s afternoon storms.

7)

Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park

Hike length: 5.2 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 1,112 feet

Located in Rocky Mountain National Park, this extension of Colorado’s most popular trail connects four alpine lakes: Nymph, Dream and Emerald, as well as Haiyaha. To reach the last in the series, take the side trail on the east end of Dream Lake, passing Longs Peak views before reaching Lake Haiyaha. Trout swim in its brilliant turquoise waters, while elk and sunbathing marmots are often seen from the path.

6)

Mount Galbraith Park, Golden

Hike length: 4.3-mile lollipop loop

Elevation gain: 921 feet

With its easy access, moderate difficulty and expansive views, the Mount Galbraith Loop is appealing. Follow the narrow Cedar Gulch Trail, then veer left at the junction to ascend the circuit clockwise, admiring Golden scenery and the distant Denver skyline. Though rocky, the loop’s descent is shaded by pines, unlike much of this otherwise sunny hike. Be wary of rattlesnakes in the warm months.

5)

Arapaho National Forest, Idaho Springs

Hike length: 1.7 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 508 feet

Past the town of Idaho Springs, drive up forested Fall River Road to this short but famous and much-loved trail with its grand views. The route gains steady elevation to the glistening shore of Saint Mary’s Lake, which is set beneath a semi-permanent snowfield. Many hikers cool off on this patch of frost before returning the way they came. Be sure to arrive early, as lots fill quickly during peak season; there is also a $20 parking fee.

4)

Pike National Forest, Manitou Springs

Hike length: 4.1-mile loop

Elevation gain: 1,978 feet

Despite its heart-pounding difficulty, the Manitou Incline is the state’s fourth busiest trail. Railroad ties of a former cable car track create its steep staircase, which ascends around 2,000 feet in less than a mile. Downhill hiking is not permitted on the Incline, but three bailout points help ease concerns. Those who reach the top return via the Barr Trail’s switchbacks. Note: free online reservations are required.

3)

Clear Creek Canyon Park, Golden

Hike length: 2.5-mile lollipop

Elevation gain: 239 feet

Located west of downtown Golden, the Gateway Trailhead provides hikers access to this easy lollipop route, which features a short segment of the paved Clear Creek Trail (previously known as the Peaks to Plains Trail). Around the one-mile marker, cross the sturdy Welch Ditch suspension bridge and start back towards the trailhead, following along the rugged canyon walls that often draw rock climbers.

2)

Red Rocks Park, Morrison

Hike length: 1.6-mile loop

Elevation gain: 364 feet

Visitors to Red Rocks Amphitheatre see a new perspective of the landscape on this short, moderate loop. The dusty path weaves between spiky yucca, twisted shrubs and towering sandstone formations of rusty hues. Despite the frequent crowds, mule deer are a common sighting. Hikers can start this trail at the Trading Post or from access points adjacent to the Upper South Lot.

1)

Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park

Hike length: 3.3 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 715 feet

It may come as no surprise that Colorado’s busiest trail is set in Rocky Mountain National Park. On this moderate route, hikers pass lily pad-covered Nymph Lake and dramatic Dream Lake views before reaching the edge of sparkling Emerald Lake. From May 22 to Oct. 18, timed-entry reservations are required, and the park’s free shuttle is recommended, given limited parking at the Bear Lake Trailhead.

“I made a couple of nice plays and got a couple of shots on that (Kings crease) and obviously was lucky to get one,” Avalanche forward Nicolas Roy reflected when asked about his scrappy overtime goal, the one sending Colorado into Los Angeles on Thursday night with a 2-0 series lead.

“But again, I like to be in this area (of the crease), and a lot of those goals are scored there. So I try to be there as much as I can.”

The Nic of Time came 7:44 into overtime late Tuesday, not long after the referees had gifted the K.O. Kings a 1-0 cushion — forcing Marty Necas to go reverse 5-hole with Gabe Landeskog and claw the Avs back.

The 6-foot-4 Roy, acquired from Toronto for a first-round pick at the trade deadline this past March, is built like the girder of an old-time baseball park. He’s strong, lean, sturdy, and hard as all heck to see around during parts of the action.

In the Colorado spirit, once Big Nic started camping in Los Angeles goalie Anton Forsberg’s crease, it was only a matter of time before somebody started a fire. While Roy and Kings defender Brandt Clarke swapped shoves in front of the L.A. net, the Avs’ Josh Manson collected a feed from Nazem Kadri, cocked his stick back, and fired from the blue line.

With that, Brandt blocked Manson’s wrister, only to lose the rubber as it trickled under him. An alert Roy leaned in and shoveled the loose puck past Forsberg to end one of the weirdest playoff nights in Ball Arena history.

“(Roy has) been awesome,” Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon said later. “I mean, he’s a great player. He’s a really smart player, awesome guy. (Joel Kiviranta) almost scored right before him, and then (Roy) found a way to get it done.”

Avs 2, Kidney Punch Kings 1. They found a way. They found a Roy, in spite of it all. Hockey justice is supposed to be blind in April. But not nearly as blind as the zebras that worked Avs-Kings Game 2.

Artemi Panarin lofted the puck over Colorado net-minder Scott Wedgewood on the power play with 6:56 left in the third period to break the deadlock, giving the underdogs a 1-0 lead. But ain’t it funny how officials didn’t notice the cross-check in front of the Avs goal, as Los Angeles’ Scott Laughton shoved Devon Toews halfway to Littleton?

Cale Makar? Elbow to the chin.

Marty Necas? Elbow to the nose.

That second one, a cheap shot by the Kings’ Mikey Anderson, is a felony in 45 states. On Tuesday, it was two minutes for roughing.

From four blind mice in stripes to in-game stadium repair, it turned into one long, strange trip of an evening. The second period had a little bit of everything. Everything, that is, except a goal.

Some goaltenders raise the roof. Wedgewood rattled the windows — helping to break the glass that separates Avs fans from the Kings’ bench.

Not directly, mind you. See, roughly 3:12 into the second stanza, Wedgie stoned a penalty shot awarded to the Kings’ Quinton Byfield, the result of a particularly curious call on Cale Makar. The Avs goalie dove hard to his left, extending a glove to stop the Los Angeles forward’s backhanded try.

With that, the superb gave way to the surreal. Ball went justifiably bonkers over Wedgewood’s stop. So bonkers, in fact, that the glass partition behind the L.A. bench completely shattered due to repeated banging by Avs faithful. The collision sent a shower of shards into the back and shoulder of unsuspecting Kings coach D.J. Smith and his staff.

And cue the oddest of odd playoff delays. The away bench had to be cleared as cleaning and maintenance crews rushed in to sweep up debris. New glass was installed after a 17-minute delay, during which both teams remained on the ice.

In hindsight, the stoppage might have slowed down a chance for the Avs to immediately capitalize on the juice generated from Wedgewood’s penalty save.

“That’s a different one,” said Avs coach Jared Bednar, who took a stray puck to the face against Vegas earlier this month. “I mean, stuff happens.”

The rough stuff happened early and often. Manson separated Laughton from his spine with 10:28 to go in the first. After Wedgewood smothered a Trevor Moore wrister on a Kings 2-on-1, a full-scale donnybrook exploded near the Colorado net.

Once order was restored, the assailants skated to the Los Angeles end of the ice. But not all — Necas got sandwiched between the Kings’ Mathieu Joseph and Anderson at center ice, a collision punctuated by Anderson reaching up to elbow the Avs winger right between the nostrils.

Meanwhile, Artturi Lehkonen boarded a dude behind the Los Angeles net with the subtlety of an Estes Park elk. Somebody grabbed Sam Malinsky, and we had another scrap, only on the other end, and with everybody on the dance floor.

When the dust settled for a second time, Brett Kulak got four minutes — two for roughing, another two for cross-checking — in the box, and Anderson only had to serve two in his box on a roughing charge.

Nevertheless, the chippy persisted. The Kings’ 6-foot-5 forward Jeff Malott bopped the 6-foot Makar in the face with 4:18 left in the opening period as they hovered above Wedgewood’s crease just before a stoppage in play.

Necas got a little of his back in the Avs’ last possession of the opening 20 minutes, shoving Anderson into the boards behind the Kings’ net a few seconds ahead of the stanza-ending horn. Why should Vegas and Utah have all the fun?

“I guess I’d better keep my head up, huh?” . “No bicycles on the highway.”

The goalie duel continued, even as the Avs generated a 3-on-1 with 4:26 left in the second stanza, a rush that had the natives rising to their collective feet again.

Only Necas dished to Landeskog rather than ripping one while he had a good look. That little hesitation gave Forsberg enough time to snuff out the danger.

Shoot, Marty!

Ah, shoot, Marty.

Playoff Necas rebounded. With 3:35 left in regulation and the Avalanche down, 1-0, Marty camped out behind Forsberg’s left shoulder, waited for help, and found an open Landy cutting into the crease. No. 88 slipped a perfect diagonal pass between Forsberg’s leg pads and onto the stick of the Captain, who didn’t miss — lighting the lamp and sending another grindy contest into overtime.

In case of awful officiating, just break glass. And call on Roy to clean up the NHL’s mess.

“I’m joining a group of guys (in Colorado) that have built something really good here,” Saint Nic said of Avs life. “(I’m) just trying to chip in as much as I can, help these guys out in any way I can.”

No bicycles on this highway, kids. Here today. Goon tomorrow.

Saturday. The touring screening of “The Princess Bride” with star Cary Elwes is finally coming to Denver, having been postponed from Dec. 27, 2025. The shows at 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, both feature the 1987 movie and Elwes, who played the dashing Westley, on stage after the credits roll. He’ll talk about the film’s best behind-the-scenes moments — including working with director Rob Reiner, who died tragically last year along with his wife, Michele.

The “Inconceivable Evening,” as it’s called, takes place at the Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in downtown Denver. All previously purchased tickets will be honored, and new ones are on sale for $39-$54 at .

Frozen Dead Guy Days

Various activities and entrance fees are covered with tickets starting at $55. Some events are free to attend. Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way in Estes Park. Free parking at 691 N. St. Vrain Ave. includes shuttles to the event. See the full list of bar crawls, brunches, a polar plunge and more at .

Meow Wolf’s trash-fashion

Thursday. Meow Wolf Denver is bringing back its trash-fashion show this month with “Absolute Rubbish: EXTRA Terrestrials.” The immersive-entertainment company’s alien theme fits well within the surreal sculptures at its Denver outpost as designers and models take the stage at its Perplexiplex venue for a night of beautiful and bizarre creations. Names this time range from Andrea Fischer and Autumn Olive Crochet to starrsprite and Wimsysways.

The 8 p.m., 18-and-up show on April 2 is hosted by Alisha Sweeney from Indie 102.3, with music from DJ Blaque Gurl and a show from performance artist Gale Force. 1338 First St. in Denver. Learn more and buy tickets, $44.75, at .

Denver Gay Men’s Chorus

Friday-Saturday. Last month, the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus renamed its spring show from “Party in the USA” to the more civic-minded “The Pursuit of Happiness: Warding the Freedoms of America,” in response to the current national climate, producers said. “We could not move forward without embracing a new charge: to protect those who need protecting, to stand firm in the face of tyranny, and to fight, as our forefamilies have done, in our pursuit of happiness,” according to the 40-plus-year-old LGBTQ organization.

That gives its performances on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, a bit more social urgency, though the chorus will no doubt inject the same joyous vigor and skill that it is known for. The musical showcase takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Elaine Wolf Theatre at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center, 350 S Dahlia St. Tickets are $27-$43 via .

Thermometers hit a on Thursday, marking the hottest March day since forecasters started keeping records in 1872.

The temperature peaked at 3:41 p.m. before dropping slightly to 84 degrees, also breaking the daily record high for March 19, according to the National Weather Service.

The last monthly record high was 84 degrees and was set 55 years ago on March 26, 1971, according to the agency. The last was 81 degrees and was set 119 years ago, in 1907.

Thursday is the first of three days of record-breaking heat forecast for Colorado, with some areas in the northern state and Eastern Plains expected to hit 90 degrees by Saturday, forecasters said.

The anticipated Colorado heat records are several of dozen expected across the western U.S., .

“Human-caused climate change is making this heat more likely and will also accelerate snowmelt, during a year already marked by widespread snow drought across the region,” the climate alert stated.

for Friday, March 20:

• 73 degrees in Estes Park, breaking the 66-degree daily record and the 70-degree March heat record
• 83 degrees in Boulder, breaking the 80-degree record
• 84 degrees in Denver, breaking the 80-degree record
• 86 degrees at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, breaking the 80-degree daily record and the 81-degree March heat record
• 86 degrees in Fort Morgan, breaking the 85-degree daily record and the 85-degree March heat record
• 87 degrees at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, breaking the 82-degree daily record and the 85-degree March heat record

for Saturday, March 21:

• 74-degrees in Estes Park, breaking the 68-degree daily record and the 70-degree March heat record
• 87 degrees in Denver, breaking the 78-degree daily record and the 84-degree March heat record
• 87 degrees in Boulder, breaking the 83-degree daily record and the 83-degree March heat record
• 88 degrees at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, breaking the 79-degree daily record and the 81-degree March heat record
• 90 degrees in Fort Morgan, breaking the 84-degree daily record and the 85-degree March heat record
• 90 degrees at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, breaking the 82-degree daily record and the 85-degree March heat record

But in the face of unnecessary radicalism, we urge policymakers not to entrench themselves in their positions but to take a moderate approach that accepts the reality that, on both sides of the issue, there is ground to give.

CPW acting director that her staff has received anonymous threats over two mountain lions who were euthanized following a fatal attack on a runner. And after the release of 15 gray wolves into Colorado, CPW staff were followed during operations and threatened with violence.

We expect healthy and robust debate about Colorado’s wildlife management practices, but both sides of these issues have gone crazy. This outlandish and harassing behavior must stop.

Hunting is a vital part of our wildlife management, our economy and our Western culture as is Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s ability to euthanize animals who pose a threat to humans. The Denver Post editorial board opposed a ban on mountain lion hunting in 2024’s Proposition 127. But we also supported the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado in 2020’s Proposition 114. The wolves are native to Colorado and could help our ecosystems find the right balance between predator and prey.

From this middle-ground position, we can call for both sides to simmer down.

Because from our vantage of impartiality, we can see plainly that mountain lion hunting needs much more regulation to protect the apex predator from being overly culled. The ban simply went too far.

And we can see plainly that the reintroduction of wolves has not gone well for the wolves or for the ranchers whose livelihoods have been impacted by wolf depredation.

Neither of those realizations requires a revolution. A strongly worded letter to state officials or reintroduction of ballot measures to change state law could suffice in both instances of policy failure.

Accusations that CPW staff is acting inappropriately or that they are out to get Coloradans who have different ideas for how our wildlife should be managed are both inappropriate and inaccurate. There is no conspiracy to protect mountain lion hunters or the guides who make money pursuing the big cats for clients. There is no conspiracy to chase Colorado ranchers off of public lands with marauding bands of gray wolves.

What we do know is that a Colorado woman was recently killed by a mountain lion while on a heavily used trail near an established neighborhood in Estes Park. The tragic death followed months of reports of mountain lions that appeared to no longer fear humans. Euthanizing those animals was the right decision.

Hunting lions can contribute to the animals retaining a natural fear of humans and dogs. Not banning hunting was the right call. However, the tragic death also shouldn’t lead to vehement anti-lion sentiment like we are seeing with gray wolves.

Apex predators are a critical part of our ecosystem, and while they always pose a risk to humans, managing them, not eradicating them, is the right path.

Gray wolves were naturally entering Colorado’s northern territory before voters decided to accelerate their reintroduction in 2024. Last winter 15 wolves were released in Colorado, and since then, 11 have died. Of the 10 wolves that were released in 2023, an unknown number have survived. The state tracks 19 wolves via collars and knows of at least four packs that are having pups. The mortality of introduced wolves is unacceptable, but so are the continued threats to hunt and slaughter the wolf population. We support hunting lions because the population is stable and needs to be managed. Until the wolf population stabilizes, the animals must be protected.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are doing their best to manage our wildlife and protect our ecosystems. Any conversations about wolf and lion populations and protections must start and end with that truth.

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Re: “Executives stand up for Fed, card rates,” Jan. 14 news story

One of the strongest lobbies in Washington is the financial services lobby. If a regulatory cap on credit card interest rates were going to go into effect, it would be good. It would help save desperate borrowers from being preyed upon. The reality is that it will be quashed by both corporate Democrats and Republicans. It’s good politics because it will make President Trump look like a good guy fighting for people. It’s not goodwill because that’s as far as it will go, and someone smarter than Trump knew all this.

Nice move, Mr. President. We see you (and the people actually doing the smart politics).

Nate Craig, Estes Park

Support candidates who support the bank customers

Re: “,” Jan. 15 news story

The economy is “doing just fine,” says a bank that profits from economic hardship. Evidently, big banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America think that, because they are profiting right now, the economic turmoil that is forcing many Americans to cut costs isn’t that bad. One wonders how much they are spending on groceries each month to be able to make such a claim.

These same banks are also against an interest cap, stating they wouldn’t be able to offer credit to “those who need it the most.” These big banks truly care about the poorest in our communities, so much so that they want to bury them under mountains of unregulated debt. They even go so far as to hint that they wouldn’t be able to serve them at all if they’re not able to squeeze them for every penny they’ve got.

This is the kind of corporate greed our communities are up against. They want our politicians to make decisions that enlarge their profits, rather than support policies that protect our people.

As we look ahead to elections, I’ll be supporting candidates who measure the economy, not by how much profit margins widen for corporations, but by how well our communities are supported.

Rayna Castillo, Denver

Time to save TABOR, again

Re: “State Democrats aim for major TABOR change as session opens,” Jan. 15 news story

Of course the Democrats want to steal our TABOR refunds! The only restriction on their tax-and-spend proclivities, TABOR has served well over the decades.

The state has already turned it into an income redistribution scheme when they decided equal checks for those who overpaid and those who paid nothing were more fair.

The voters have consistently rejected these money grabs, but leftist legislators continue to hope for a different outcome this time.

Save our refunds — Hands off TABOR!

Jonathan Williams, Denver

Appreciative of the AG’s efforts for state rights

Thank you, Attorney General Phil Weiser, for protecting states’ rights. This is an important part of our Constitution.

When our forefathers first met after winning the Revolutionary War, they had to plan the future and form a nation. But not so quick, as two or three of the Colonies said, I don’t think so. We like our individual status. Hence the compromise: the , which guarantees the states’ rights.

Not only does our Constitution give us rights of speech, religion, and freedom of the press, but it also created the form of government: A House of Representatives to represent the people, a Senate to represent the states appointed by state legislative bodies. In 1913, the Constitution was changed to have Senators elected, and now they do not represent a state but the people. This has given more authority to political parties. It also has elevated the authority of a president, which our forefathers did not want.

Our Forefathers gave us an excellent document that gives us freedoms and rights. Currently I feel many of those rights are in jeopardy today. I would ask everyone to take time and read this document; it does not take that much time. Schools should do a better job of teaching it and its history.

I wish Mr. Weiser complete success.

Norma Anderson, Lakewood

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As of 7:30 a.m. Monday, from the weather service included:

• 1 inch in Boulder
• 2 inches at Denver International Airport
• 2 inches on Copper Mountain
• 2 inches in Breckenridge
• 2.2 inches in Littleton
• 2.5 inches in Estes Park
• 3 inches in Nederland
• 4 inches on Loveland Pass
• 8 inches in Eldora

Colorado snow totals for Jan. 19, 2026

The snow, which weather service meteorologists said at 5:30 a.m. and was expected to end around 8 a.m., created icy conditions for the Monday morning commute.

Sunny weather and clear skies are expected Monday afternoon, forecasters said. Denver will see temperatures peak at about 39 degrees, but warmer days with highs in the low 50s are forecast for the city in the days ahead, .

A "slight chance" of snow will return to the Denver area on Friday, according to weather service forecasts.

One backcountry skier was caught in an avalanche at about 3:30 p.m. Friday and partially buried east of Vail, according to the . The snow pinned her against a tree and she had cuts on her face, according to a .

“There were no signs of cracking beforehand, but we knew it was not totally stable,” the skier’s partner wrote in the report. “We were extremely lucky to be mostly okay after such a large avalanche.”

Another skier was injured at about noon Saturday, when an avalanche tore down Hallett Peak, . Hallett Peak is a mountain in the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Estes Park.

The skier grabbed a tree as the runaway snow hit, dislocating his shoulder, the report stated. A snowboarder in the same group was caught in the avalanche, but neither was buried.

A shows snow carrying the first person away, and a second wave of snow coming loose as the other members of the group go to follow the caught party down the mountain.

Snow partially buried a backcountry skier later that day on Mount Trelease, east of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, .

That avalanche at about 2 p.m. Saturday carried the skier roughly 100 feet down the mountain, after which she pulled minor debris off herself and carried on, the skier wrote in a report.

At about 11:58 a.m. Saturday, a backcountry skier was seen dropping onto a mountain face along Jones Pass, west of Berthoud Pass, and triggering an avalanche. The snow carried them roughly 150 feet down the mountain, .

The skier was not injured, according to the report.