LiveThursday, August 202:09 PM MT70+ towns

Thursday afternoon on the Western Slope

90° and clear across the Slope, with 45 things still on today. A good day to trade the heat for elevation, or to get on the water early before the sun gets high, and the Elk Fire is burning.

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Tonight This weekend Farmers markets

Right now on the SlopeChecked 4 min ago

Weather90° clear95° Grand Junction · 76° Telluride Alerts1 activeElk Fire TrailsGoodA good day to trade the heat for elevation, or to get on the water early before the sun gets high.RoadsClearNo closures reported Open now7,117 placesOpen right now

NowUpdated 2h ago

Critical· NIFC

Elk Fire

Hinsdale County

The 2026 Elk Fire started by lighting on 7-9-2026. The fire continues to burn in remote, rugged wilderness terrain where steep slopes, limited access, and complex terrain present significant risks to firefighters.

Acres7,257

Contained33%

Personnel223

StartedJul 9, 2026

Full details

TodayThu, Aug 20

Still on, still off

The rest of Thursday

What is still running tonight, what got called off, and what closed early.

Everything today →

OnTim & Taylor12:00 PM · Vail OnColorado Corn Promotion Council Research and Reception Evening Event4:00 PM · Grand Junction OnGo Beyond the Canvas with John Fawcett4:30 PM · Steamboat Springs NewsSilt Pancake Breakfast and Glenwood Concerts Top Roaring Fork WeekendThe Slope Newsroom · 33m ago

This weekendAug 21 – Aug 23

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Friday, August 21 – Sunday, August 23. Pick a day and the rest falls into place: a trail, something on, and somewhere to eat after.

All 181 events

Friday is the day to be outside. 96° with storm chance near 12%. Saturday runs to 74% after noon, so keep that one for town.

TuneRivers Holding steady

12:00aDo something

1 of 6

Mountain Words Writer’s Retreat

Center for the Arts Crested Butte · Crested Butte

Mountain Words invites writers in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to a weekend of generative work in a rejuvenative setting.

1 h · 34 mi

8:30aGet outside

1 of 10

Blue Mesa Reservoir

Gunnison · Easy

Only a 12% storm chance, so the day stays open.

55 min · 32 mi

3:00pEat after

1 of 10

Drive Brew Coffee and Blends

Hotchkiss · Food & Drink · open till 4:00p · 5.0 (67)

Add a stop

3 stops · 66 miles · 12:00a to 4:30p

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Local spotlight

Shady Lady on Blair

Silverton · wheelchair accessible · parking available

Silverton, Colorado, hosts Shady Lady on Blair as a reliable dining spot that operates seven days a week. The…

Open till 5 PM

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This monthAugust

What August is like here

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Cresthaven peaches hit the standsThe best known Palisade variety comes in around mid August, and the harvest runs on into September.Through Sept
Afternoon storms still run the clockThe monsoon holds through August. Start early and be off the ridges by the time the towers build.Through Aug
This is the dry end of the summerFire restrictions are common in August, and smoke from out of state can settle into the valleys.Into Sept
Aspens turn in about five weeksLast week of September on Grand Mesa and Kebler Pass, first week of October lower down.Late Sept

Complete Guide to Telluride, Colorado: The Most Beautiful Place You'll Ever Visit

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Complete Guide to Glenwood Springs, Colorado: The Hot Springs Capital of Colorado

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Towns18 on the Slope

River city

Grand Junction

The largest city on the Western Slope, with red rock and the Colorado River at its edge.

43 events this week350 trails and spots1,679 businesses

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Thursday afternoon on the Western Slope

Elk Fire

The rest of Thursday