Discover Colorado

Practical info

Emergency numbers in Colorado

For any life-threatening emergency, call 911. Cell coverage is unreliable above treeline and in canyon country — carry a satellite communicator (Garmin inReach, SPOT) on backcountry trips and check avalanche conditions before winter travel above 9,000 ft.

Life-threatening emergency: call 911. County sheriffs coordinate search and rescue — never wait.

Immediate emergencies

  • 911

    Police, fire, medical — life-threatening only

    911
  • Non-emergency police (statewide referral)

    Available in Denver + many metro cities; elsewhere call local dispatch

    311

Search & rescue / backcountry

  • Colorado Search and Rescue (via 911)

    Always dial 911 first — county sheriff coordinates SAR

    911
  • Rocky Mountain National Park dispatch

    After 911 — park-specific incidents

    +1-970-586-1399
  • Colorado Avalanche Information Center

    Forecasts: avalanche.state.co.us

    +1-303-499-9650
  • US Forest Service — Rocky Mountain Region

    Trail closures, fire restrictions

    +1-303-275-5350

Medical

  • Poison Control (24/7)

    Rocky Mountain Poison Center

    1-800-222-1222
  • UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital

    Aurora — Level I trauma

    +1-720-848-0000
  • Denver Health Medical Center

    Denver — Level I trauma + altitude medicine

    +1-303-436-6000
  • St. Anthony Summit Medical Center

    Frisco — mountain trauma center

    +1-970-668-3300
  • Vail Health

    Vail

    +1-970-476-2451
  • Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    24/7 mental health crisis

    988

Roads & weather

  • Colorado road conditions (CDOT)

    Or cotrip.org — closures, chain laws, weather

    511
  • State Patrol road conditions (out-of-state)

    +1-303-639-1111
  • Report aggressive driving

    *CSP from any cell phone

    *277

Wildlife & environment

  • Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW)

    Wildlife conflicts, hunting/fishing violations

    +1-303-297-1192
  • Operation Game Thief (poaching)

    1-877-265-6648
  • Wildfire reporting

    Always 911 — then call local sheriff

    911

Tourist & visitor info

Helplines

Numbers compiled from Colorado Tourism Office, CDOT, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, and federal land agencies. Verify before travel — institutional numbers change. Spot an error? Let us know.