Best Time to See Ticks in Colorado
May, June and April is the best time to see ticks in Colorado. Based on 494 verified iNaturalist observations, here is exactly when ticks are most active across the year in Colorado.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
American Dog Tick · Nova Patch CC BY-SA
American Dog Tick · Matthew Lindsey CC BY
Asian Longhorned Tick · Zachary Dankowicz CC BY
494 verified observations of ticks in Colorado, recorded across 9 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When ticks are recorded in Colorado
Peak month
May
187 records (37.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 0% |
| February | 2 | 0.4% |
| March | 23 | 4.7% |
| Aprilpeak | 80 | 16.2% |
| Maypeak | 187 | 37.9% |
| Junepeak | 138 | 27.9% |
| July | 47 | 9.5% |
| August | 12 | 2.4% |
| September | 0 | 0% |
| October | 3 | 0.6% |
| November | 0 | 0% |
| December | 2 | 0.4% |
Ticks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| American Dog Tick | 148 |
| Rocky Mountain Wood Tick | 147 |
| Lone Star Tick | 8 |
| Gulf Coast Tick | 1 |
| Mammal Soft Ticks | 1 |
| Brown Dog Tick | 1 |
| Winter tick | 1 |
| spinose ear tick | 1 |
Weather to expect, source Open-Meteo
Typical weather in Colorado
Recent typical conditions by month, so you can plan a trip around both when ticks are active and what the weather is doing. The best months to look for ticks sit around 20 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack for that.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°F | 5°F | 0.5" |
| Feb | 27°F | 3°F | 0.9" |
| Mar | 34°F | 9°F | 1.3" |
| Aprbest time | 46°F | 20°F | 1.1" |
| Maybest time | 57°F | 31°F | 2.5" |
| Junbest time | 69°F | 42°F | 2.1" |
| Jul | 76°F | 49°F | 2.5" |
| Aug | 75°F | 48°F | 1.7" |
| Sep | 69°F | 41°F | 1.1" |
| Oct | 54°F | 27°F | 0.8" |
| Nov | 40°F | 18°F | 0.6" |
| Dec | 30°F | 10°F | 0.9" |
Typical recent conditions (5-year means) from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged for Colorado. Weather varies year to year, so treat these as a guide.
More on ticks in Colorado:
Sightings of ticks in Colorado peak in May, when 187 of the year's 494 verified observations are logged — about 37.9% of the annual total. Activity stays high through May, June and April.
The quietest stretch is January, September and November, when ticks are hardest to find — no verified records exist for January. If a reliable sighting matters, plan around the peak window rather than the off-season.
The ticks you are most likely to encounter in Colorado are American Dog Tick, Rocky Mountain Wood Tick and Lone Star Tick — the most-recorded species in the state. Each keeps its own seasonal rhythm, but the month-by-month pattern above reflects every reported sighting together.
Where to go
Best places to see ticks in Colorado
- Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site — National Historic Site
- Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park — National Park
- Colorado National Monument — National Monument
- Curecanti National Recreation Area — National Recreation Area
- Dinosaur National Monument — National Monument
- Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve — National Park & Preserve
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see ticks in Colorado?+
May is the single best month, and the broader peak window runs through May, June and April, based on 494 verified iNaturalist observations.
When are ticks hardest to see in Colorado?+
January is the quietest month for ticks in Colorado, with no verified records on iNaturalist.
Are ticks active year-round in Colorado?+
Ticks are recorded in 9 of 12 months in Colorado, concentrated around May and June.
More places to see ticks
More wildlife in Colorado