Here are some of our favorite outdoor activities and hikes within two hours from Denver.
Red Rocks Amphitheater – Our favorite place on Earth! If you haven’t been, it is the single most important thing you must do while visiting the Mile High City. Whether it be a concert, a hike, morning yoga, Movie on the rocks, hang out in the amphitheater during the day or even a simple drive to the top for the views, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and get up there!
The Fillmore Auditorium / The Ogden Theater / The Bluebird – Three of Denver’s famousmusic venues all located on Colfax Avenue. Hop on Jambase or find a Westword magazine to see all the music that is constantly passing through these three great venues!
Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox – Huge, multilevel gastro-brothel & with live music, dance floor and a restaurant offering eclectic American food.
Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom / Be on Key Psychedelic Ripple / Sanchos – All family-owned venues with local and touring bands. More of the dive bar type venues that are famous in the jam band scene.
Local 46 and The Oriental Theater – Both venues are on Tennyson St. Every Tuesday and Wednesday Local 46 has free live music from 9 – midnight. Great entertainment at a great price!
The Mission Ballroom – Brand new awesome indoor venue 4 miles away. Our new favorite place to see music indoors!
Grizzly Rose – Kicking spot for country music concerts, line dancing, beers & a mechanical bull.
MEOW WOLF – People from around the country travel to Denver to see this arts and entertainment installation that creates a large-scale interactive, immersive, colorful and psychedelic experience for your group to get lost in and enjoy for a few hours.
16th Street Mall – The 16th Street Mall is a very popular pedestrian and transit mall downtown. It is 1.25 miles long and runs along 16th Street in downtown Denver, from Wewatta Street to the intersection of 16th Avenue and Broadway with tons of great shops, bars and restaurants.
Denver Union Station – A historic landmark in the heart of the City for more than a century, Denver Union Station is a vibrant destination for gathering, dining, imbibing and shopping.
Number 38 – RiNo’s newest beer and music venue with an awesome outdoor patio, endless craft brews and amazing food vendors – a great place to go day drink & eat with live entertainment.
Edgewater Public Market – Eat, drink and shop your way through this collective of local food vendors, cafes & bars, retail boutiques and rotating evens with indoor & outdoor seating.
Coors Brewery – Famous brewery offering free tours and tastings in the heart of Golden.
Stanley Market Place – A community of 50+ independently owned Colorado businesses that offer a place for you to pick from many options to eat, drink, shop and play.
Zuni Park – GREAT park very close from the house with a playground, walking trails and views of downtown Denver.
Rocky Mountain Arsenal – Take the family for a drive or hike through one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the nation with more than 15,00 acres of land. You can observe more than 330 species of wildlife (see buffalo in our backyard). The best part is that it is free!
Clear Creek – Tube down the river in the heart of DT Golden during the warm Summer months!
Sloan’s Lake Park – Enjoy a 2.8 mile paved path around beautiful lake – one of the best spots for catching a sunset with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and the Denver skyline.
Chatfield State Park – beautiful Denver park popular with hikers, boaters, bikers, fisherman, and picnickers, including a summer-time swim area.
Confluence Park – Unique urban park on the edge of lower downtown Denver. Spend the afternoon watching kayakers or soaking up the views. Outdoor enthusiasts be sure to check out the nearby REI flagship location.
Coors Stadium, Colorado Rockies – Check the schedule and grab some Rock Pile seats to catch a few innings.
Pearl Street Mall, Boulder – 1000+ shops, bars, restaurants, and businesses fill the red brick, pedestrian only thoroughfare under the magnificent Flatiron Mountains in Boulder.
– There are honestly too many amazing and beautiful hikes in Colorado to name, but below are a few of our favorites that are doable day trips from the city!
Mathews / Winters Park (Red Rocks) – Hands down our most frequented hike in Colorado. The loop takes approximately 2.5 hours and has excellent views overlooking Red Rocks.
Chautauqua Park – Flatirons (Boulder) – Depending on your fitness level, you can combine trails to extend the hike or just walk at the base of the Flatirons. Anything from easy to strenuous. Royal Arch is one of our favorites- very steep 3 miles with vast views of the valley.
Green Mountain is another one of our favorites.
Baseline Rd (Boulder) – A beautiful scenic drive up in the flatirons with amazing views and great hiking trails! Also check out Sunrise Amphitheater and have dinner at the Flagstaff House.
Chicago Lakes Trail (Idaho Springs) – not for the faint of heart- but worth the effort! When you get to the first lake, don’t stop. Keep going about half a mile up for the big reward Diamond Lake (Nederland) – Double check the road to the trailhead is open (otherwise adds about 2 miles to an already 6.1 mile hike) Beautiful lake set at the base of a mountain.
Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs) – The sun rising or setting over the rocks is a site to see. Get there as early as this is a popular day trip from Denver.
Indian Peaks Wilderness – Arrive early for best chance of seeing moose!! There is plenty of hiking in the area for all skill levels – Lake Isabelle Hike, Lost Lake Hike, Blue Lake Trail, Diamond Lake Trail or Rainbow Lakes Trail.
Kenosha Pass – with sweeping views of South Park, the numerous hiking trails are ideal during Fall when the Aspens are vibrant and changing. Part of the Colorado trail intersects here, and a popular area to spot moose.
Rattlesnake Gulch (Eldorado Springs) – Requires a $10 entry fee into the state park, but the views of the Continental Divide are worth the 3 mile hike up the canyon.
St. Mary’s Glacier (Idaho Springs) – 1.9 mile out and back trail offering spectacular mountain views and a pristine glacial lake.
North or South Table Mountain (Golden ) – miles of intertwined trails traversing mesa tops with amazing views of the Denver skyline as well as the Front Range.
