Bears in Colorado in July

Yes, July is one of the best months to see bears in Colorado. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 467 of the 2,340 sightings logged across the year (20%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.

American Black Bear photographed in ColoradoPacific Black Bear photographed in ColoradoAmerican Black Bear photographed in Colorado
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bears in Colorado

20%

of yearly sightings

467

records in July

#2

busiest month of 12

2,340

verified records a year

June 20%, July 20%, August 18.5%. Busiest month is June at 20%.

Best months: June, July, AugustPeak season right now

2,340 verified observations of bears in Colorado, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bears are recorded in Colorado

Peak month

June

469 records (20% of the year)

Quietest month

February

8 records

MonthObservationsShare
January110.5%
February80.3%
March391.7%
April833.5%
May27311.7%
Junepeak46920%
Julypeak46720%
Augustpeak43418.5%
September33814.4%
October1637%
November421.8%
December130.6%

Bears you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
American Black Bear2,340

In Colorado, July carries 20% of the year's bears sightings, about 11.7 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between June and July, and it heads toward August (18.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so July is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The bears most often recorded in Colorado are American Black Bear. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.

Which bears you are most likely to see

  • American Black Bear2,340 records
Plan your tripBent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Plan your bear trip in Colorado

Start with live tours near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bears in Colorado in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 467 of the 2,340 verified bears sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 20% of the annual total.

Is July a good time to see bears in Colorado?+

July is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of June, July and August.

What month is best for bears in Colorado?+

June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, July and August, based on 2,340 verified observations.

Which bears are you most likely to see in Colorado?+

The most-recorded species in Colorado are American Black Bear, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.