Looking for rain (Denver, Colorado Springs, Lakewood: transplants, rent, houses)

[bigmountain15]

My wife and I are from Tennessee and want to move to Colorado. We would like to be within 2 hours of the Denver or Colorado Springs airport. Coming from Tennessee, we are used to 50+ inches of rain and everything being very green and lush. I know the rocky mountains are mostly a desert climate and it doesn't rain much. BUT is there an area that typically is greener and more lush? It seems like most of the houses I've looked at don't have grass yards. Thanks!

[Colorado Rambler]

My family originally came from Kentucky, so I understand how you must feel. Colorado is very, very dry by comparison. Are you REALLY sure you want to move to Colorado? It is arid, mostly brown, and lacks all those wonderful hardwoods that grow in the Cumberland Mountains and the Appalachians. The high mountains of Colorado get pretty greeen in the summer, but I can't think of a mountain town with lots of rain that's only 2 hours from either Denver or Colorado Springs. It would help if we knew what you're looking to spend on housing costs. But if your jobs require you to be near a major airport, you may be out of luck when it comes to green, sorry to say.

[otowi]

I think the short answer to your question is, "no". No city comes close to 50 inches of precipitation. Some mountain passes can beat that, but in snow. And cities that can come close to half in precipitation, that is also due to snow. For Colorado, average precipitation of all types tends to be in the teens annually. You can find grass yards pretty easily, but they will go dormant in winter due to temperature and sometimes in drought years with water restrictions it can be hard to keep it healthy in summer. Whenever we have a drought cycle, more people get rid of grass.

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by bigmountain15

My wife and I are from Tennessee and want to move to Colorado. We would like to be within 2 hours of the Denver or Colorado Springs airport. Coming from Tennessee, we are used to 50+ inches of rain and everything being very green and lush. I know the rocky mountains are mostly a desert climate and it doesn't rain much. BUT is there an area that typically is greener and more lush? It seems like most of the houses I've looked at don't have grass yards. Thanks!

In general, Colorado is much less lush than Tennessee. People come here to enjoy the sunshine and low humidity. If you want green mountains, perhaps Oregon or Washington or northern California would be a better choice.

Along the front range of Colorado It tends to be greener and wetter north of Denver. For example, pop up Google Maps and look at all the lakes near Loveland and Ft. Collins.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Vision67

In general, Colorado is much less lush than Tennessee. People come here to enjoy the sunshine and low humidity. If you want green mountains, perhaps Oregon or Washington or northern California would be a better choice.

This. Although the lakes referred to above are mostly man made. It's not really green or wet anywhere by Tenn standards.

Why do you want to move to Colorado?

[beezle1]

If you rent or buy in a forested area, you will have the year-round green of evergreens. Plenty of places within an hour of two from Colorado Springs and Denver with natural pines - Black Forest, Monument, Evergreen, etc.

[bigmountain15]

I guess I should have added some more details. We have been to Washington (we actually got engaged at Crystal Mountain) and Colorado many times and love the cascades and rockys. We are big snowsports people and love the resort atmosphere. We have ruled out Washington for now because of the distance. We can, and have, driven back to Tennessee in a day from CO. I am a nurse practitioner and she is a elementary teacher. We understand the arid-ness. I just got back from Summit County yesterday and my eyes and fingers are dry as a rock. I am particularly interested in Evergreen area. From my research the northern part is within commuting range to the Lakewood area, small town feel, and within an hour of slopes. I may be able to talk her into the Salt Lake area if that has the greener feel we are looking for. Washington, Bellingham or Lynden in particular, would be perfect if not for the distance from our parents.

[Gorges]

If you move to CO, embrace the brown. Even though Evergreen has the evergreens and is beautiful, the ground around the homes is still brown. Make sure you're ready to give up your green lawn. When we moved here, I was ready for a change from the east coast and was looking forward to the brown because it looks like the West. Some transplants are really bothered by it.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by bigmountain15

I guess I should have added some more details. We have been to Washington (we actually got engaged at Crystal Mountain) and Colorado many times and love the cascades and rockys. We are big snowsports people and love the resort atmosphere. We have ruled out Washington for now because of the distance. We can, and have, driven back to Tennessee in a day from CO. I am a nurse practitioner and she is a elementary teacher. We understand the arid-ness. I just got back from Summit County yesterday and my eyes and fingers are dry as a rock. I am particularly interested in Evergreen area. From my research the northern part is within commuting range to the Lakewood area, small town feel, and within an hour of slopes. I may be able to talk her into the Salt Lake area if that has the greener feel we are looking for. Washington, Bellingham or Lynden in particular, would be perfect if not for the distance from our parents.

Salt Lake is not greener. If lush green is really important, you are setting yourselves up for failure.

If you move here, embrace what it is. Don't look for what it isn't.

[NW Crow]

Rye CO gets about 23 inches of precipitation and may be about tops in state for rain with 80% of the precipitation coming between April and October. Some mountain towns and peaks may get equal or more precipitation but it is coming more from huge snowfalls. About 1.5 hours SW of edge of Colorado Springs. At the southern tip of the Wet Mountains.


Some areas are green part of year from pretty long sustained mountain snow runoff. But if you want rain, Rye gets at least 50% more than most spots on the front range. But even there the ground doesn't hold it as long as back east and the soil isn't as good on average. Best you can do would be bottom land on the river just as it comes out of the mountains or just above that. That is what Rye is and it happens to be favored with the best micro-climate conditions for squeezing out warm season rain.