Enjoy Perfect Summer Weather in These High Altitude Towns
Nothing is more pleasant than the few first weeks of summer sunshine, when the season finally breaks through the hold of the previous months' transitional dreariness of spring rains and lingering cold snaps. However, by the middle of the summer, the most pleasantly sunny towns can become overbearingly hot, humid, and uncomfortable—even at night, even with a touch of ocean breeze, and even when the air conditioning is cranked up high. This time of year, though, is when extreme-high-altitude towns shine. Mountain roads are finally cleared of snow and ice, and bitter winds transform into refreshing summer breezes. The towns below all offer a great opportunity to experience the best kind of summer weather, where visitors can enjoy fresh mountain air, generally dry climates, and a pleasant warmth that peaks in the 70s (°F).
Mammoth Lakes, California
Average temperatures in July: 78° high / 48°
Mammoth Lakes features rugged mountains, craters, hot springs, and alpine lakes—and with the center of town sitting at 7,880 feet elevation, the views are quite literally breathtaking. There are plenty of things to do during the summer. The area is a top destination for hikers, with trails of all lengths and difficulties, and there are ample opportunities for both mountain and road biking, lake activities like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, mountaineering, and rock climbing.
Get incredible views of Rainbow Falls, a 100-foot plunge along the San Joaquin River, with a 3-mile round trip hike on the Rainbow Falls Trail or head to the waterfall on a pack trip from Red’s Meadow Resort and Pack Station. They also offer longer rides to other popular destinations in the area. If you like fly fishing, Hot Creek is home to more fish per square foot than anywhere else in California. Book a beginner or advanced guided trip with the Troutfitter Guide Service or the Sierra Drifters Guide Service. To learn more about the area's history, step back into time with a day trip to Bodie State Historic Park, home of a gold-mining ghost town that was once a booming city of 10,000 people in the late 1800s.
For lodging, choose from mountain cabins and chalets, charming bed and breakfasts like The White Horse Inn in Old Mammoth, traditional hotels like The Mammoth Lodge, or rough it at a backwoods campsite. Local public transportation, including shuttles and trolley service, add an extra bit of convenience to visitors.
Telluride, Colorado

Average temperatures in July: 74° high / 47°
Colorado has no shortage of high-altitude towns. Many of the Rocky Mountain ski resort towns are just as fun in the summer, when ice melts and trails are open for hiking and mountain biking. In addition to hiking trails, Telluride has some of the finest trout streams in the Rocky Mountains, and a variety of lakes, ponds and alpine creeks. For young families, fishing at The Kids’ Fishing Pond in Telluride Town Park is open to children under the age of 12 for either catch-and-release or catch-and-keep fishing. Stop by the information center in the park to pick up a free fishing rod before heading to the pond.
Colorado is also at the forefront of one of the latest adrenaline rush experiences offering more Via Ferrata routes than any other state. “Via Ferrata” is Italian for iron path and offers a unique vantage point that feels a lot like rock climbing. A typical course is set up so that steel cables and ladders (or rungs) are fixed to a rock, and climbers are harnessed in with two tethers attached to the protected route. The Gold Mountain Via Ferrata is a brand new edition to high altitude adventures available within the small mining town of Ouray (about an hour's drive from Telluride). This new via ferrata course climbs roughly 1,000 feet of elevation, scaling the infamous "Gold Mountain", a historic and highly profitable mining claim and tops-out with a cable bridge and private vista overlooking the San Juan mountain range. For a great place to stay nearby, head to The Western, an iconic Old West property located in the historic district of Ouray that is being restored with select modern, luxe touches. Also in town, Sauvage Spectrum opened a wine lounge experience featuring small bites laced with wine education.
Telluride is also home to several festivals celebrating everything from yoga to mushrooms. Kids will especially love to see all the hot air balloons in June during the Telluride Balloon Festival. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of both the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, which takes place this June (unfortunately, the event is already sold out, so if you can't find resell tickets, plan ahead for next year) and the Telluride Film Festival happening in August.
Laramie, Wyoming

Average temperatures in July: 79° high / 49°
Laramie is best known as the home of the University of Wyoming, so while the rest of the state is incredibly sparse, the college attracts more restaurants, lodging options, and activities than many of the other mountain towns in the Cowboy State. It's also a much more manageable drive from the closest international airport in Denver (flights into smaller airports in Wyoming can be incredibly expensive).
Check out a museum like UW's Geological Museum or Art Museum, Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, the American Heritage Center, or Laramie Plains Museum. Book a tour to see the nearby wild horse sanctuary at Deerwood Ranch and learn about these frontier animals that figure so prominently across the Western states. The ranch also hosts overnight visitors in their Deerwood Station Guest Cabin (rates starting at $250/night). Outdoor enthusiasts will also enjoy the hike to the top of nearby Medicine Bow Peak or a day spent exploring the unique rocky trails of Vedauwoo.
Nearby destinations with similar weather and conditions include Red Feather Lakes on the border of Colorado, Saratoga (home of some incredible hot springs), and the tiny mountain town of Encampment. It's also not a long drive to Cheyenne, which hosts a rodeo and live music at Frontier Days each July.
Leadville, Colorado

Average temperatures in July: 69° high / 38°
At an elevation of 10,200 feet, Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America. Colorado's two tallest mountains, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, make for a spectacular skyline view. The town also has a rich history, stemming back to when gold was first discovered in the California Gulch in the 1800s (the town would prove to be home to several precious ores, including its namesake of lead).
Visitors will find some of the most beautiful wilderness in the San Isabel National Forest. Like most Rocky Mountain towns, outdoor activities take center stage; there are an abundant amount of trails and four-wheel-drive roads, as well as several alpine lakes for excellent fishing and boating. The Arkansas River also provides the country’s best whitewater rafting. Let’s not forget to mention that Colorado’s two tallest mountains—Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive—grace Leadville’s skyline, making for spectacular 360° views. For a great place to stay and eat, head to Leadville’s historic Victorian-inspired Delaware Hotel, which just opened a new restaurant, Mineral 1886.
Also nearby at just 45 minutes away from Leadville, lies the popular ski resort town of Breckenridge. Head here to stay at The Carlin, billed as a ‘restaurant with rooms’ featuring four luxury hotel suites on the top floor, an open kitchen restaurant on the main floor and a subterranean tavern. While in Breckenridge, connect and communicate with your intuitive self at Be Your Own Guru Wellness Center, offering yoga retreats, tarot card readings, reiki energy healing, foraging hikes, silent disco dance walks and more.