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Colorado, United States

Colorado follows Mountain Time, alternating between Mountain Standard Time and Mountain Daylight Time as applicable. Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, and Pueblo keep the same civil time, but sunrise varies across the plains, valleys, and mountain communities.

Denver, United States

00:05:01

Friday, 4 September 2026

UTC−6 · America/Denver

Time and sun data for Denver — the administrative centre of Colorado

The sun in Denver

Sunrise 06:32 Solar noon 13:00 Sunset 19:29 Daylight 12 h 57 min Night 11 h 03 min Civil twilight 06:05 – 19:56

United States · 1 997 cities · page 1 of 10

Largest cities

Denver 729 019
Colorado Springs 456 568
Aurora 359 407
Fort Collins 170 924
Lakewood 152 597
Thornton 133 451
Westminster 116 317
Arvada 115 368
Centennial 109 741
Pueblo 109 412
Greeley 108 795
Boulder 106 803

All cities — page 1

Current time in Colorado, United States

Colorado is a western U.S. state entirely within the Mountain Time Zone. Mountain Standard Time is UTC−7, and Mountain Daylight Time is UTC−6. The state observes the usual seasonal clock change, with all Colorado communities moving together.

When neighbouring zones follow corresponding seasonal schedules, Colorado is one hour ahead of Pacific Time and one hour behind Central Time. Its relationship with Arizona requires more care because most of Arizona does not observe daylight saving.

A live local clock reflects the active offset. For future events, provide the date and say “Mountain Time” so participants can apply the correct standard or daylight designation. Colorado’s mountains can hide the Sun, but even the highest summit cannot negotiate a separate time zone.

A common clock for Colorado’s cities

Denver is Colorado’s capital and largest city. Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Lakewood, and Pueblo are also major centres. Every one of them uses Mountain Time, as do ski towns, farming communities, and settlements on the Western Slope.

Denver observes Mountain Time. Colorado Springs uses the same time as Denver. Fort Collins shares the statewide clock in northern Colorado. Pueblo remains on Mountain Time in the south. Resort and mountain communities make the same seasonal clock changes.

No conversion is needed for an appointment between two Colorado cities. A trip into Utah, Wyoming, or New Mexico normally retains Mountain Time, while travel toward Kansas, Nebraska, or states farther west may encounter another zone depending on the destination.

Elevation, horizon, and sunrise in Colorado

The official sunrise calculation is based on the Sun and a standard horizon, not the mountain directly outside a window. In a valley, a ridge can keep the observer in shadow after the listed sunrise. From an exposed viewpoint, direct light may arrive closer to the calculated event.

Eastern and western Colorado differ in longitude, and northern and southern locations differ in latitude. These geographic distinctions produce different sunrise and sunset times even though every community displays the same civil clock.

For hiking, skiing, driving, or photography, select the closest locality and intended date. Review twilight and sunset too, and allow for terrain, weather, route difficulty, and the possibility that a named city is not a good proxy for a remote trailhead.

Questions and answers

Which time zone covers Colorado?: Colorado uses Mountain Standard Time outside daylight saving and Mountain Daylight Time during the daylight-saving period.
Do Denver and Colorado Springs show the same time?: Yes. Both cities follow Mountain Time and change clocks on the same schedule.
Why might the Sun appear after the listed sunrise?: Mountains and other local obstructions can block direct sunlight after astronomical sunrise has occurred at the standard horizon.