The Dillon Ice Castles are a magical place to visit! Located in the heart of small-town Dillon, the Ice Castles are a must-see.
They are a great place for a romantic date night out, a night of family fun, or a great place to visit with friends.
The Ice Castles are the main attraction in Dillon in the winter months, and it’s a popular winter Denver day trip!
Dillon is just one of the four locations in the US that hosts the construction of these gorgeous man-made ice castles.
How Are the Dillon Ice Castles Made?
The Ice Castles are hand-built by ice architects! These masters grow then place icicles one by one in the design they want. After, these icicles are sprayed with water.
They repeat that process many times over the span of two months until the castles grow to the size of their liking. Typically, this requires about 25,000 tons of ice!
Where Are the Dillon Ice Castles?
The Ice Castles are located off of Highway 6, on Lake Dillon Drive in the Dillon Town Park.
The outside of this attraction can be seen from the streets throughout town, but the inside will blow you away!
From a distance (in the daylight) the castles will look blue because of their density, but as you get closer the intricacies will have you taking a second look.
Once you walk inside, you enter into another world!
In this article, I am going to give you some tips to make visiting the Ice Castles a smooth trip!
7 Tips for Visiting the Dillon Ice Castles
Get your tickets online in advance.
Getting your tickets online in advance will guarantee you entry into the Ice Castles on the day you want. It is $17.99 to get in during the weekdays and $22.99 Friday through Sunday. You can buy tickets online on their website here.
There are lower prices for children’s tickets as well and children under 3 are free. If you buy tickets the day of, the prices are typically more expensive, and there is no guarantee they won’t be sold out.
When you purchase tickets, you are not only purchasing a ticket for the date you want, but for the time you want to go as well. No matter what arrival time you purchase tickets for, you can stay as long as you want.
Opening and closing days do vary each year at the Ice Castles due to weather conditions. Getting tickets online will also ensure that the Ice Castles will be open.
Typically in Dillon, the castles open in late December or early January and close at the end of February or in the first few weeks of March.
Arrive early.
When you purchase a ticket for the Ice Castles, you are buying an arrival window. For example, if you purchase an arrival window from 5 PM – 5:30 PM, you can enter the castles anytime between those times and stay as long as you want.
If you arrive before your time slot, you will just have to wait to enter. If you arrive after your time slot, you may lose your ticket and not be able to enter at all.
You may have to wait in line to enter into the Ice Castles during the more popular times from 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM, so arriving early will ensure you have enough time to wait in line and still enter during your arrival window.
It is also important to arrive early because parking can be scarce. There is a pretty large parking lot right on Buffalo Street in front of the Ice Castles. This is prime parking and it fills up very quickly!
If that lot is full, there is some overflow parking in the Town Hall parking lot. If both of those lots are full, you can find some parking along Lake Dillon Drive, which will leave you a short walk to the castles. Make sure to obey all parking signs in town and only park in designated areas.
If you are looking to avoid the parking situation, look into taking the free Summit Stage Bus from anywhere in the county. The Summit Stage bus drops you off and picks you up right on Buffalo Street.
You can get off at stop number 193 on the schedule if you’re taking the bus from Silverthorne or Keystone. Typically the bus comes every 30 minutes and runs on time.
If you are taking the bus from Frisco or Breckenridge, be sure to check out the Summit Stage schedule online.
Dress appropriately.
The winter months in Colorado can be frigid! When visiting the Ice Castles, be sure to wear the correct clothing to ensure your comfort.
I recommend that everyone in your party wears snow pants, base layers (like this merino wool top and bottoms) and mid-layers (like this North Face fleece, one of my winter staples), a winter jacket (I also suggest a North Face parka), and a hat and gloves.
The Ice Castles hardly shut down due to adverse weather so be prepared for anything!
You will be standing on cold snow and ice mixture the whole time, so wearing warm winter socks and boots will help you stay warm. The only kind of boots that will keep your feet sufficiently warm is snow boots (I love these Sorel boots), which will be perfect for the 30-60 minutes you may be in the castles.
Packing some hand warmers in your pockets will allow you to enjoy your stay longer if you do start to get cold! I suggest these Karecel rechargeable hand warmers as they are less wasteful than the disposable ones, and they’re very affordable!
Bring a nice camera.
I know that many of us have really nice cameras on our smartphones that we bring everywhere!
If you really want to capture the intricate details though, I recommend bringing a nice camera and visiting the castles in the daylight to capture each individual icicle in a photo that will last forever.
If you plan to arrive around 4:00 PM, you will be able to see the castles in the daylight, catch the sunset over Lake Dillon, and enjoy the ambiance that darkness creates!
Take care of your bodily needs before you enter!
As a ski instructor, we always say “NO PEE, NO SKI” before we take the kids outside to ski. Well, the same goes for the ice castles!
Even though you aren’t going skiing, it’s almost the same in my eyes because there are no bathrooms inside.
There is also no reentry allowed if you have to leave to use the bathroom. I am just trying to say that you should plan ahead!
No food is allowed inside.
Unfortunately, food is not permitted inside the Ice Castles. Plan to have eaten before you go inside, or plan a meal for afterward.
Your journey inside can last a long time, especially if you’re into photography and capturing every last detail, so be prepared for anything!
If you are planning to eat in Dillon afterward,both Pug Ryan’s and Arapahoe Cafe are within walking distance of the castles and have great offerings.
Take your time inside.
As soon as you walk into the castles, you will be greeted with so much to look at: beautiful walls, archways, rainbow-colored lighting, and carved ice sculptures!
There are many different rooms to explore all with something different to offer. The castle is lit up with all different colors inside creating a different ambiance in each room.
Insider Tip: If you are looking for a nice romantic or private getaway, be sure to book a VIP experience in a private alcove!
If not, you can explore multiple different rooms, ice slot canyons, and walk under the many arches. Be sure to look up when you’re under the arches, to see what looks like a beautiful ice chandelier!
Don’t forget the ice slides.
If you’re looking for more action, make sure to visit the ice slides inside. There are ice slides of different sizes throughout the castle. Believe it or not, many slides are both adult and kid-friendly!
The lines can get long at the slides so make sure to keep your eyes on it. Visiting during the middle of the week and at unpopular times can help you avoid these lines.
If you’re not seeking the adrenaline rush the slide has to offer, you can slide your way through ice tunnels of all different sizes!
They are adult and kid-friendly as well. As the darkness sets in, the tunnels will light up with all different colors.
If traveling with kids…
If you have young kids, I recommend bringing a sled to tow them around!
Strollers are not permitted in the castles and would be extremely hard to push through the snow. Bringing a sled will allow you to stay longer even if the young ones start to get tired.
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No matter how you choose to enjoy the ice castles, it will be a great time!
The Ice Castles are so easy to look at, that you may spend hours wandering around looking at every little detail.
The architects do an amazing job every year creating these castles bringing something new and different each year to the design.
I highly recommend planning some time for the Dillon Ice Castles when you are planning your trip to Denver in winter. This is an experience like no other!
Breckenridge, Colorado is home to world-class skiing in the winter months and exceptional hiking in the summer.
In the summer, hiking in Breckenridge means beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, a myriad of wildflowers, and great forests to immerse yourself in.
There is truly something for everyone in Breckenridge in the summertime. You can walk down Main Street, window shopping and eating delicious food, or you can dive into the vast trail network in the area.
There are over 100 different hiking trails in Breckenridge, Colorado. The five trails in Breck I will be talking about are a few of my favorites and offer a wide variety of terrain and scenery to enjoy.
A Note Before Hiking in Breckenridge
Hiking and mountain biking are very popular in and around town. Many trails in the summer do become very saturated with mountain bikers.
If you do find yourself on a trail with a ton of bikers make sure to stay alert, always listen for bikes and keep your eyes up.
If you are hiking and encounter bikers, it is always helpful for hikers to step off the trail and let the bikers through so they don’t have to dismount, especially if the bikers are climbing.
The town of Breckenridge is located at an elevation of 9,600 feet. It is important to drink plenty of water in the days leading up to traveling into town as well as continue to hydrate when getting to town.
Some signs of altitude sickness are headache, fatigue, and trouble breathing in adults. For children, altitude sickness often manifests as a stomach ache.
It is important to give yourself time to acclimate before pushing yourself on a challenging hike.
Make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks with you on the trails. It is helpful to carry a backpack on all of your hikes.
It is also extremely important to pack a few extra layers. The weather in the mountains can change extremely fast, and oftentimes it does not matter what your weather app says. Be prepared for anything!
If you have some binoculars, I would pack them as well because there is no shortage of wildlife in this area.
Enjoy your trip!
The Best Hikes in Breckenridge
Bald Mountain Trail
Distance: 10.5 miles out and back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 3,075 ft
The Bald Mountain Trail leads you to the top of one of the infamous 13ers in the community, Bald Mountain.
The Bald Mountain trailhead is located just east of town. On the drive to the trailhead, you get a tour or the beautiful homes in the community.
For this trail, you park at the intersection of Baldy Rd (Rd 520) and Goldenview Dr, right by the Summit Stage bus stop. After you park look to the other side of the road, for the dirt road that is the Bald Mountain Trail.
This hike is best accessed from June through October. Snow can still be found along the trail in June as you get higher in elevation.
This trail offers expansive views of Breckenridge Ski Resort, The Ten Mile Range, and Mt. Guyot, as well as beautiful wildflowers and some wildlife.
Look for a cabin in the woods on your right within the first 0.5 mile of the hike! Further along the hike, about 1.5 miles in you will pass by Iowa Mill, which was built in 1935.
When you get to the top, be prepared to put on extra layers as you will be at the top of a 13,000-foot mountain and it can be a bit breezy up there.
When you are finished, you can head back down the same way you came to get back to the car!
Quandary Peak Trail
Distance: 6.6 miles out and back
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation gain: 3,570 ft
Quandary Peak is the only 14er in the Ten Mile Range and is a great introductory 14er.
This is a heavily trafficked hike near Breckenridge, best accessed July through September, that offers a spectacular journey through various landscapes.
When attempting to do any 14er, make sure you are acclimated to the elevation that you are starting at, because you will be going to an elevation of over 14,000 feet.
Start early, not only because the parking lot can fill up fast, but you want to give yourself ample time to get to the top.
In the mountains, it is typical for afternoon showers to come in, so getting up and down the mountain as early as you can is helpful.
Bring layers! Sometimes it can feel like a different climate on the top than it did at the parking lot. A wind/rain layer and an extra mid-layer can help you stay warm at the top so you don’t have to cut your time short.
Last but not least, pack snacks and more water than you think you will need. Anything can happen on this adventure. You want to be prepared for weather, injuries, and anything else you can think of.
Parking for The Quandary Peak Trail is located off of Rt 9 on Blue Lakes Road. Once you park you walk onto McCullough Gulch Rd for a short while until you come across the Quandary Peaks Trail on your left.
At this point, you will be on a single-track trail that switchbacks through the amazing forest. After you get above the treeline, you are hiking an exposed ridge with 360-degree views. The trail gets extremely rocky and the wind will start to howl!
As you get closer to the top you might see some mountain goats. Once to the top, you get great views of the Gore and Sawatch Ranges.
Once you’re done taking in the views, head back down the same way you started. Take your time on the way down and watch your footing.
Spruce Creek Trail to Mohawk Lakes Trail
Distance: 8.4 miles out and back
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation gain: 2,106 ft
The Mohawk Lakes Trail is a must! This is a heavily trafficked trail, best used from July through October.
You start at the Spruce Creek Trailhead and begin gradually gaining elevation. Once you get to an intersection of the Wheeler Trail and McCullough Gulch Rd, continue straight to get to the Mohawk Lakes Trail.
There are seven lakes along this trail and you can see all of them if you would like. First you will get to Mayflower Lakes.
After this, the trail begins to get steeper, but it is worth the effort to keep going to see the biggest lake, Mohawk Lake. Once you get to Mohawk Lake you can turn around to make the hike shorter, or you can continue on to see three more lakes.
I do recommend hiking to all seven lakes if you have the energy to get there as there are not many hikes in the county to see that many alpine lakes!
Gold Hill (Colorado Trail seg 7.1 & 7.2)
Photo Credit: Katie Jakubowski
Distance: 7.2 miles out and back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 1,466 ft
The Upper and Lower Gold Hill Trails offer you an opportunity to hike a small section of the Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trails runs 567 miles from Denver to Durango.
You park just off of Route 9 at the bottom of Sherwood Trail Road. From there you get on the Gold Hill Trail.
You start to climb on the trail and continue to gradually climb for 3.6 miles until you reach the Peaks Trail.
Just a quarter-mile into the trail, you get amazing views of Breckenridge ski resort. When you look back across Route 9, you can see the Colorado Trail switchbacks.
The sage in the area smells amazing and the wildflowers in peak season are incredible.
You can go as far as you would like on this trail, and even add extra miles on the Peaks Trail if you’re feeling good!
B & B to Reiling Dredge to Minnie Mine
Photo Credit: Katie Jakubowski
Distance: 3 mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 413 ft
This 3-mile heavily trafficked loop trail in Breckenridge offers you a view into history!
Breckenridge started as a mining community. On this loop, you are able to see The Reiling Dredge, which used to mine gold in the area, as well as all of the rock and sediment the dredge left behind.
You park at the B & B trailhead off of French Gulch Road and make your way to the B & B Mine Trail.
After hiking for about 1 mile, you will come across the Railing Dredge, which has sunk and now sits in the most beautiful water.
After leaving the dredge you will cross the road and head to the Minnie Mine Trail. Once you get back to French Gulch Road, make a right to head back to your car.
This is a low-intensity trail in Breck you can do if you just want to get out for a nice walk. You will come across many old artifacts around the trail so keep your eyes peeled! This is the trail to do if you are interested in seeing history.
Denver is a great location to access so many different places from, making it a great base for day trips in Colorado.
There are just so many great things to do and see within a few hours from Denver!
In this article, I hope to give you some great ideas on how to spend some of your days trips from Denver — in both the summer and the winter, because Denver is truly an all-season destination!
No matter what you like to do, you can find somewhere to do it on one of these incredible Denver day trips.
13 Best Day Trips from Denver, CO
Lookout Mountain Park
Drive Time: 30 minutes
This is a great place to visit for awesome views of Golden, CO, and to immerse yourself in the wilderness just 30 minutes outside of Denver.
This foothill of the Rockies is a road bikers heaven! The northern part of Lookout Mountain Road is curvy and often has a lot of road bikers climbing to the summit at 7,377 ft.
If you’re not feeling cycling to the top, you can drive your car to Lookout Mountain Park by taking I-70 to exit 256 to Lookout Mountain Road, one of the most scenic drives in Colorado.
If you want to take the more scenic, longer route get on to W Sixth Ave and make a left on 19th street until it turns into Lookout Mountain Road. You can follow that road all the way to the park.
There is some hiking in this area, but I recommend packing a picnic and just hanging out and enjoying the views.
Bring a good book and a hammock and find a nice spot to take in the peaceful atmosphere so close to Denver!
The summit of Lookout Mountain is home to the gravesite of Buffalo Bill. There is a museum and shop you can visit here as well.
The Coors Brewing Factory, located in Golden, offers a 30-minute self-guided tour of their facility showcasing the malting, brewing, and packaging process while offering you a look into history.
The Coors Brewing Factory has been in operation since 1873 and is a staple in Colorado. The tour is $10 for out-of-state residents and $5 for Colorado residents.
At the end of your tour, three 8-ounce samples of your choosing are included, as well as a commemorative glass.
This is a great afternoon activity to do with a group of any size!
Boulder
Drive Time: 40 minutes
If you’re looking to check out a historic street with a myriad of shops and restaurants, check out Pearl Street in Boulder. There are over 1,000 places to shop and dine on this pedestrian-only street!
There is artwork all around, beautiful architecture, and festive lights to catch your gaze. Be on the lookout for musicians and performers as well!
Boulder is known for its high-quality restaurants and has ample breweries for you to visit. You can also go to see the historic Boulder Theater which has been around since 1906 and has hosted many world-class shows.
If you love tea, don’t forget to check out the tour of Celestial Seasonings. The tour is free and you get a tour of the production floor to see how teas are blended and packaged. Then you get to taste any of their 90 varieties of tea.
Another great destination for tea lovers is the Silk Road-style Dushanbe Boulder Teahouse, a gift from Boulder’s sister city which is the capital of Tajikistan. It was hand-made there, shipped to Boulder in pieces, and assembled on-site!
After having some tea, you can check out the Museum of Boulder. This museum is full of interactive exhibits which will show you how Boulder became the outdoor enthusiast, health-crazed, tech-savvy mecca it is today.
While at the museum make sure to check out the rooftop views of the Flatirons. If you want to explore more, consider checking out the Boulder Creek Path, which is a paved recreational path that runs along the river with plenty of shade.
If you want more activity, consider hiking around the meadows of the Flatirons, starting at the Chautauqua Trailhead.
Boulder has no shortage of activities to do. It might take you more than one day to do all the things you want, so make sure to leave yourself enough time!
Red Rocks Park
Drive Time: 40 minutes
Red Rocks Park is home to The Red Rocks Amphitheater, a must on any Denver itinerary.
I highly recommend planning your trip to the amphitheater to see a live concert. This venue is known for its amazing acoustic sounds. Pick your favorite artist and get ready for an emotional ride at this venue!
If you look out over the stage, you can see the hustle and bustle of the city while you enjoy the great sounds. It is the most epic venue I have ever been to.
Even if you can’t make it to The Amphitheater for a show, I would recommend taking a day trip from Denver to the park to go see it. It is a magical place!
The Trading Post Trail, a short 1.4-mile loop will take you around all the must-see rock features in the park.
When visiting Colorado, going to a hot spring is a must!
Indian Hot Springs is just 40 minutes from Denver. There is a mineral water pool, geothermal caves, outdoor jacuzzis, and indoor private baths.
Be sure to check out their website for pricing and combo deals to use multiple amenities!
If you want to spend the night, they do offer lodging as well as a spa, so you can have a relaxing getaway.
Central City / Black Hawk
Drive Time: 45 minutes
Love to gamble? Then you should make the trip to Central City and Black Hawk.
The two towns have been designated the Central City/ Black Hawk National Historic District. This is one of the three places in Colorado gambling is allowed!
There are over 18 casinos in operation in this area. Ameristar’s Blackhawk Casino is the largest in Colorado.
With these casinos only being 45 minutes outside of Denver, it’s easy to go for just the day, but if you want to spend more time, there is plenty of lodging in the area.
The drive to this area is very beautiful and offers great views so I would recommend making it in the daytime! Have fun gambling and come home a winner!
Fort Collins
Drive Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
North of Denver, Fort Collins is a historic town with an old-fashioned trolley, buildings from the 1800s, and a plethora of shops and restaurants.
Fort Collins is also the home of Colorado State University, so it can be very crowded during the school year.
Make sure to visit the Horsetooth Reservoir, just minutes outside of Fort Collins. This reservoir offers you all the summer activities you can think of including swimming, scuba diving, and paddleboard rentals.
Take the family here for the day to escape some of the heat and maybe think about renting a boat or getting a tour!
There is plenty of places to hike and bike in this area, and you can even go for a ride high in the sky on a hot-air balloon.
If you want to escape the elements, check out the many museums and art galleries located throughout Fort Collins. There is also plenty of live music and shows going on in town.
No matter how you choose to explore this wonderful place, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Garden of the Gods
Drive Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Garden of the Gods is located in Colorado Springs. It is a 1,300-acre public park full of sandstone formations. There are plenty of activities to do in the park and there is no fee to enter!
The park’s best attraction is its Visitor and Nature Center and museum. There are interactive exhibits where you can take the whole family to learn about the rock formations and enjoy a 20-minute movie about the park.
There is also a restaurant in which you can dine inside with amazing views of the park and Pikes Peak. When you are ready to get away from the Visitor and Nature Center there are plenty of adventures for you to participate in.
The park offers front-range climbing trips, jeep and segway tours, bike and e-bike tours and rentals as well as other adventure programs.
If you’re not feeling like participating in any of the tours, you can also grab a map and do some hiking on your own within the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Drive Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Rocky Mountain National Park is the most popular of the four National Parks in the state, and it’s an easy day trip from Denver.
This park showcases what Colorado is all about! There is plenty of wildlife, wildflowers, and beautiful mountain views to look at.
There is a $25 entrance fee per vehicle unless you have an annual National Park Pass which you can purchase for $80 at the park or ahead of time.
I would recommend the annual park pass if you are planning to visit more than one National Park in a year — it quickly pays for itself!
I recommend driving Trail Ridge Road in the park. It is the park’s most heavily trafficked road because of the epic journey it takes you on.
11 miles of the 48-mile road take you above the treeline at over 11,500 feet! This road winds through alpine meadows with a myriad of wildflowers, near rivers, through aspens and lush forest, and offers wildlife viewings.
Be on the lookout for bighorn sheep, pikas, and ptarmigans, and other Colorado wildlife.
On this journey, you will cross over the continental divide at Milner Pass. The Trail Ridge Road is one of America’s Byways.
Leave yourself at least half a day to do this drive so you can take in all that the park has to offer right from your car. There are plenty of pull-offs to take in the views if you need to stretch your legs.
If you’re looking to get away from some of the crowds and off of a paved road, consider checking out the Old Fall River Road.
This 11-mile road is primarily a gravel road, with no guard rails that take you up to Fall River Pass which is 11,796 feet above sea level. The road is narrow and has many switchbacks.
Be on the lookout for elk feeding in the meadow after passing Willow Park. Eventually, this road joins with Trail Ridge Road near the Alpine Visitor Center.
Rocky Mountain National Park is a must-visit if you are in Colorado because it gives you a look into many of the landscapes in Colorado all in one place.
High alpine tundras, lush meadows, aspen forests, winding rivers, a variety of wildlife, and amazing wildflowers. Don’t miss out on these views!
Summit County
Summit County is a great getaway with so much to offer that you might need more than one day to explore it.
The county is home to Keystone, Silverthorne, Dillon, Frisco, and Breckenridge. Below, I am going to talk about some of those towns because they all offer something so unique!
Dillon
Drive Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Dillon, Colorado is a small town nestled off of Exit 205 on I-70 that has some of the best views in Summit County!
Dillon has a spot right on the Dillon Reservoir, which is Denver’s largest water supplier. The reservoir has 26.78 miles of shoreline and is bordered by Dillon, Silverthorne, and Frisco.
The reservoir is a great place to recreate. You can head to the Dillon Marina and rent a vessel of your choosing: anything from paddleboards and kayaks to pontoon boats and sailboats.
If you’re feeling like being chauffeured around what the locals call Lake Dillon, you can hire a captain for the day. After you’re done exploring the lake, you can have lunch and drinks lakeside at the Tiki Bar, or you can head into town for other options.
There is a lakeside park for the kids to play in as well as an amphitheater right on the Lake to catch a show! Bicycle and e-bike rentals are another option for your group. There is a rec path that runs around the whole lake.
You can pack yourself lunch, and cycle somewhere around the lake to find a sweet secluded spot for a picnic. You can even ride your bike over the Dam!
If you love to shop, head one town over into the Silverthorne to check out the outlet mall, just off of exit 205 for some great deals!
Heading up to Sapphire Point Overlook for the sunset is something you don’t want to miss. The Sapphire Point Overlook Trail is a 0.6 mile, easy loop that offers you 180-degree views of the Lake and surrounding towns.
In the winter, Dillon is home to the Dillon Ice Castles, one of the most magical places in Colorado in winter, making in an absolute must on a winter day trip from Denver.
Keystone
Drive Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Keystone, CO is home to Keystone Ski Resort, one of the best family ski resorts around!
Keystone Resort offers three peaks to ski with 4 hike-to bowls, steep tree skiing, and exceptional groomed runs that feel endless. Keystone also is known for its 3.5-mile green trail, Schoolmarm.
Every Saturday, Keystone hosts a parade where kids can walk and dance along with staff members, and Keystone’s mascot, Ripperoo the dog. They even give out cookies at the end!
In the summertime, Keystone offers a downhill Mountain Bike Park. The green trails take you on a 7-mile journey, winding throughout the mountain.
If you are not interested in mountain biking, you can take a scenic gondola ride to the summit, do a little hiking and have some lunch. The Keystone Village offers a variety of restaurants and lodging.
If you are in the mood to walk, walking along The Snake River on the rec path is a great way to spend the afternoon.
If you want to experience mountain golf, Keystone has two world-class golf courses. The River Course is an 18 hole true mountain golf course. The front nine winds along the Snake River, while the back nine offers elevated tee boxes and greens and amazing views of Lake Dillon, Buffalo Mountain, and the Gore Range.
The Ranch plays like a links-style course tucked away in a beautiful valley. There were many homesteads on this property in the 1900s and many are still standing on the course today.
If you want a fine dining experience, consider checking out the Ranch Restaurant for a multi-course meal inside one of the homesteads.
Keystone is a quiet, serene place to go and relax for the day or the weekend. If you are looking for some more activity, be sure to check online for their schedule of festivals.
Breckenridge
Drive Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Breckenridge used to be a mining town in and 1880s and 90s; now, it’s an outdoor paradise all year round!
Breck, as the locals call it, sits at the base of the 10 Mile Range. It is a must-visit for its 2,908-acre ski resort, its vibrant main street, and a myriad of trails to recreate on!
There are plenty of lodging and dining options in the area as well as breweries and distilleries to visit.
In the winter, Breckenridge is home to Breckenridge Ski Resort which offers skiing off of 5 different peaks with multiple bowls to ski in as well as hike-to terrain.
There are plenty of ski-in ski-out lodging opportunities in the area!
In the summer, Breckenridge is a lively community with plenty of places to shop and eat locally on its victorian style Main Street.
If you want to get away from the pedestrian crowds, Airport Road is an alternative to Main Street. You can visit Broken Compass Brewing Company or the Breckenridge Distillery to check out local products.
If you are a road biker, Breckenridge, and Summit County as a whole is the place for you. The red path allows you to take a journey on your bicycle around the whole county.
If you start in Breckenridge, you can ride to Frisco, get some coffee and check out the shops. If you want to ride more you can either ride to Copper or Silverthorne. If you ride to Silverthorne, you will ride right next to Lake Dillon and Cross over the Dam into Dillon.
You can even continue on the path all the way into Keystone! It is quite the journey, and there is no other rec path like this.
There are plenty of bike and e-bike rentals in the county. If you are not a road biker, rent an e-bike and take the epic journey around the county.
Mt. EvansSummit
Drive Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes
This may seem like a far drive for a Denver day trip, but this is an amazing journey!
Just outside of Idaho Springs, Mt. Evans towers 14,265 feet above sea level and you can drive your car right up to the top in the summer!
This is the highest paved road in North America winding through vast meadows, with great views of the surrounding area. You pass right next to Summit Lake which sits at 12,860 ft.
After passing Summit Lake, the road begins to change to switchbacks as you begin the final ascent to the summit. Look out for mountain goats on the switchbacks — if you’re lucky you might even see some babies!
If you’re feeling really adventurous you can ride your bicycle to the summit, which many people do. If you do choose to ride your bike, you can park at Echo Lake, starting your journey above 10,000 feet.
It’s a 30-mile round trip ride with 3,800 ft of elevation gain. The road has many cracks and bumps in it because of the high alpine environment it is in, so be mindful of that as you descend.
I also recommend packing extra layers for the summit, because the wind may be howling and it can be a chilly ride down.
If you are not feeling like driving up to the summit of Mt. Evans, Echo Lake Park, just 55 minutes from Denver, is near the base of Mt. Evans and is a great place to go fishing, hiking, or have a picnic.
Golden is one of Colorado’s underrated mountain towns — and it should be your next stop for a great hike near Denver!
A former gold rush town that sits at 5,629 feet, Golden is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
Historically, it was the capital of the Colorado Territory from 1862 to 1867; it is the ancestral home of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) and Cheyenne Indigenous peoples.
Photo Credit: Leah Nilquist
Photo Credit: Leah Nilquist
Currently, it is known for being the home to the infamous Coors Brewery and the Colorado School of Mines.
The hiking in Golden is a hiker’s playground, offering a whopping 70 trails, ranging from easy to moderate.
Whether you want to take a leisurely stroll or push yourself, there is a trail for every adventurer. Here are some of the best hikes in Golden, Colorado!
The Best Hikes in Golden, Colorado
South Table Mountain Trail
Mileage: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 482 feet
A shorter hike in Golden is South Table Mountain, a two-mile loop that starts at the edge of downtown.
The hike brings you to the top of Castle Rock, a popular landmark in Golden that you can view from all over the area!
This spot is recommended for sunset hiking in Golden and the breathtaking views you’ll find there. The trail is a bit steep going up, but the scenery makes it worth it.
North Table Mountain
Mileage: 8.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,125 feet
If you are looking for a longer workout, hiking North Table Mountain and Rim Rock Loop will be a better pick for you!
This mountain is known for its mountain biking, but it is also great for hikers in Golden looking for a challenge.
The trailhead starts at Tony Grampsas Memorial Sports Complex – Golden Bike Park. Be aware and share the trail with the cyclists!
The 360-degree views at the top make the distance well worth it! You can even spot Coors Brewery on your way to the top.
Chimney Gulch Trail from Highway 6
Mileage: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,755 feet
This is an out-and-back trail in Golden that brings you to the top of Lookout Mountain, one of the most popular mountain roads in the area!
You will be crossing Lookout Mountain Road a few times during this hike, and it is important to be alert for cars and cyclists when crossing.
The hike is rated as moderate but it does have a higher elevation gain.
To get to the trailhead drive up W 6th Ave, towards Lookout Mountain. This scenic spot will show you all of Golden and even Denver in the distance!
Terry Park at Clear Creek
Mileage: 1.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 65 feet
This is one of the easiest hikes in Golden; in fact, it is a more of a nice stroll through the town!
Terry Park at Clear Creek is a shorter route with very minimal elevation gain. We recommend it for all skill levels, and it is great for families.
It is a paved path along Clear Creek, which is a branch of the South Platte River, making it the perfect option for winter hiking as well.
In December, you can see the town lit up with holiday lights! Marvel at statues and trees surrounding downtown Golden on this relaxing path.
Mt Galbraith Park
Mileage: 4.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 928 feet
Located off of Golden Gate Canyon Road is Mt Galbraith Park, a Golden hiking area with over five miles of gorgeous trails.
Mt Galbraith Loop via Cedar Gulch Trail is the most popular in the park, a 4-mile loop that circles the top of the peak. Certain parts of the hike do become narrow, so keep that in mind when planning this hike.
There is a dirt parking lot right off the main road at the trailheadm making this trail is a great option for those living in Denver.
Get a break from the city life and soak in those mountain views, while getting a good workout among this scenic spot known for its unique rock formations.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park – Racoon Trail
Mileage: 3.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 754 feet
When summer begins to turn to fall, Colorado becomes an even more picturesque landscape!
The aspen trees turn from green to golden in early September in Colorado, as the leaves began to change colors at higher elevations.
In Golden, the colorful aspens normally turn yellow in early October, though this is depending on the year.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park is rated one of the top places in the state to view this once-a-year event!
Hike through the golden aspens on Racoon Trail, located in the northern part of the park. This is a scenic loop that is a little over three miles with moderate elevation gain.
Parking can be limited near the trailhead, particularly during the fall, so it is recommended to get an early start!
If parking is unavailable, you can use other lots in the park for added mileage.
Keep in mind, this is a state park. That means there is a $10 entrance fee, unless you have a State Park Pass.
Beaver Brook Trail
Mileage: 13.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,297 feet
Those looking for a challenge can take on this difficult hike in Golden!
Unlike most trails, the elevation gain is mostly on the way back, making it a unique challenge for experienced hikers.
The trail starts in Golden and eventually drops you down near Clear Creek. After a few miles through the forest, you eventually drop even further out to Chief Hosa.
It is important to make sure you have enough energy and fuel for the climb back to the trailhead! Packing high-energy snacks like nuts and protein bars is a smart idea.
Take your time on this one and soak up the views of the canyon throughout the trail. It is tough, but it is worth it!
Apex & Enchanted Forest Loop
Mileage: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,234 feet
Apex Open Space Park is located only a few minutes from downtown Golden. Follow Lookout Mountain Rd to the trailhead.
Note this park has unique rules to help mountain bikers and hikers share the road. Even calendar dates (for example, the 2nd, 4th, etc.) are reserved for bikes only, no hikers or equestrians.
Odd calendar dates (ex: 1st, 3rd, etc.) are reserved for hikers and equestrians only, no bikes.
This is a perfect summer hiking destination in Golden, since half of the trail is in the sun and the other half in the shade.
Enjoy the colorful wildflowers along the dirt path in the spring and early summer!
Clear Creek Trail
Mileage: 20.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 226 feet
This is a great option If you are looking to improve on distance hiking, without massive elevation changes.
This long trail starts off of US-6 west of downtown Golden. The trail follows the twenty miles of Clear Creek all the way from Golden to Adams City.
Along the hike, pass the Colorado Railroad Museum, the adorable Prospect Park, and the Lowell Ponds Wildlife Area.
This is a unique hike that actually runs opposite of the mountains towards the city. The path is paved and is ideal for biking or cycling.
Hikers recommend this during the winter months for a long walk along the river. Of course, you can just do a small portion of this hike if the full 20 miles aren’t for you!
Golden Open Space Trail
Mileage: 2.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 101 feet
Park on the left side of Tony Grampas park and follow the sign for the bike park.
This short and sweet trail brings you by the Golden High Country Archers Range and the Golden Bike Park. Bring your dog since there is a dog park you will be passing as well!
You even walk through local neighborhoods, all while getting in those hilly views. The dirt path is mostly shaded taking you through the forest, while the other half is out in the sun through the neighborhood, offering you a little bit of everything.
Mother Cabrini Shrine
Mileage: 0.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 173 feet
This hike in Golden leads you to a shrine to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, known as Mother Cabrini, where you can hi up to the 22-foot statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Mother Cabrini found this property in 1902. It was used as a summer camp for the Queen of Heaven Orphanage. The purpose was to provide outdoor activities to the girls at the orphanage.
It was built in 1954 at the highest point of the site. You can now trek up the 373-step stairway that leads you to the statue. This is a short but sweet hike that is very historic to the area.
Dakota Ridge Trail
Mileage: 5.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,099 feet
Located right off Highway 70 west is North Dinosaur Open Space Park, a great place for a hike near Golden.
This hike starts you uphill and then drops you down, making it another uphill journey on the way back.
Follow the ridge between Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Green Mountain. You can do the trail in either direction!
This is a fun workout that makes you feel as if you are hiking in the sky once you reach the top. Enjoy the scenery of the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater — it’s simply stunning!
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The foothills near Golden, Colorado are a convenient option for those looking for a day hike only 25minutes outside of downtown Denver.
Take an easier stroll downtown for those looking for an easy and relaxing day, or for those seeking a challenge, head into the mountains for that steep uphill climb!
Since most of these trails are in the foothills, be aware of rattlesnake activity, which are commonly reported from early spring through mid-fall. Always watch the path and never pick up large rocks where they could be hiding.
In the winter months, take advantage of the snow-capped mountain vistas, but be sure to pack and dress appropriately for the weather.
Golden, Colorado has a hike for every season and every skill level. Lace up your boots and head into the foothills. Afterward, take advantage of the delicious dining options downtown. You earned it!
Denver, Colorado, is often seen as the perfect home base for adventuring in the Rocky Mountains, but the city itself is filled with great history, tasty food, and tons of fun things to do.
Whether you’re planning on spending a few days in Denver before exploring the Rockies, or you’re just stopping by for a weekend, this Denver itinerary is the perfect way to find out what’s worth doing in the Mile High City.
Throughout this article, you’ll find out the perfect way to spend two days in Denver if it’s your first time visiting this city. Perhaps you’ll even want to spend longer after reading this!
Flying into Denver International Airport
If you’re flying into Denver, there are a few ways to easily get into the city.
Renting a Car: In my opinion, this is the best option for this itinerary, which has destinations like Red Rocks Amphitheater on it which are hard to access via public transit (and would require a ~$60 return Uber ride).
Not sure where to get the best deal on your rental? I’ve rented cars dozens of times through various search engines and have settled on Discover Cars as the best car rental search engine – it searches over 500 trusted rental companies to find the cheapest price for your rental! Compare prices for car rental from Denver here.
Taking Light Rail: The light rail from the airport is a great eco-friendly alternative to renting a car. Not having a car will make some aspects of this Denver itinerary more challenging, but if you can’t drive — or just prefer not to — light rail into the city costs just $10.50 and is easy and convenient.
Uber or Lyft: If you prefer to land and hit the ground running without having to deal with public transit or renting your own car, a ride-share from the airport to your hotel to drop off your bags is the best bet. An Uber or Lyft from the airport costs around $40.
Where to Stay in Denver
If you’re trying to figure out where to stay on your Denver weekend getaway, we’ve got you covered with a few great suggestions!
In general, on a weekend trip, I don’t suggest Airbnb. Checking in and out can be a pain in the butt with flaky hosts, and Airbnb’s service and cleaning fees have gotten insane lately.
Here are our suggestions for hotels in Downtown Denver:
LUXURIOUS | For a classic luxury hotel experience, The Brown Palace hotel offers up the best place to stay in Denver. It’s over a hundred years old, and you can sense the history in every nook and cranny of this gorgeous hotel, particularly its stunning lobby. Amenities include twice-daily maid service, six on-site restaurants, and an on-site boutique spa. >> Book online here
CENTRAL | Another great option on the luxury end of the spectrum is The Crawford Hotel at Union Station. It’s literally part of the train station, so you can enjoy the food hall and restaurants in Union Station right at your fingertips. The rooms have an industrial-chic vibe and the location couldn’t be more central: the light rail is right in front! >> Book online here
BUDGET | There are a few great hostels and budget-friendly options in Denver. One of the coolest hostels in Denver is Ember Hostellocated in Capitol Hill. This chic hostel has everything from 4 to 16 person bunk rooms as well as private rooms. The furnishings are boutique hotel-level stylish (including the bathrooms!), and there are all sorts of amenities to enjoy like a hot tub, fire pit where you can roast s’mores, and social events. >> Book online here
Day One of Your Denver Weekend Itinerary
For your first day during your weekend in Denver, you’ll be spending a lot of time sightseeing in the LoDo area or Lower Downtown.
This is often seen as the main downtown area, and there are tons of things to do here!
Order breakfast at Snooze, an A.M. Eatery.
Start your morning off right by ordering breakfast at one of the top-rated breakfast restaurants in all of Denver: Snooze, an A.M. Eatery.
They have three locations around the city, but you’ll want to make sure you head to the one on Larimer Street because it’s closer to the second stop on today’s itinerary.
Snooze has a very retro diner vibe, but it’s also very vibrant and upbeat at the same time. Each of their locations is pretty similar, with fun orange seating, and there’s usually a lot of spots to sit outside too.
Their menu is pretty extensive with breakfast entrees because that’s what they specialize in. I always order their “Bella! Bella! Benny,” which is an eggs benedict with prosciutto and balsamic.
Here’s an insider tip from a local: Snooze is popularly visited no matter the day of the week. Be sure to join the waitlist on their app because sometimes the wait times can be an hour or longer.
The earlier you get up to go there, the better your chances of getting seated quickly!
After breakfast, it’s finally time to start exploring all that Denver has to offer!
Begin in the River North Art District, or RiNo, neighborhood, which is most well known for its hipster coffee shops, art galleries, and breweries.
This area of Denver is also known for its fantastic street art!
A lot of the street art pieces are actually part of the city’s Crush Walls, which means that they get painted over with a new piece of art every year.
You can download maps of where the current Crush Walls are by looking online at their site and create your own little self-guided street art walking tour.
You can easily try to walk around RiNo if you want, but the neighborhood is pretty large.
Consider renting one of the electric scooters from either Lyft or Lime to get around and be able to maneuver yourself to find some of the best street art here!
Don’t forget to bring your camera, because this is part of the day where you’ll want to make sure you have it.
Be sure to stop by some of the coffee shops here, because a lot of them have worked with local artists to get personalized street art murals for the outside of their shops.
Exploring the street art in RiNo can really take a lot of your energy, so you’ve probably worked up an appetite!
Don’t worry; there’s one must-visit place to grab food in this neighborhood: the Denver Central Market, a tasty food hall-style marketplace.
This fun and modern eatery is filled with tons of vendors selling everything from pizza to ice cream and even specialty cheeses.
These restaurants allow you to either pick up the food to go or eat it right at Denver Central Market!
Open-air seating is abundant here, and the entire outdoor seating area is surrounded by more amazing street art, including a popular mural that says, “Talk Denver to me.”
Most of the vendors will bring the food directly to your table, too, no matter where you’re sitting outside.
Some restaurants here include GreenSeed, Izzio Artisan Bakery, and High Point Creamery, where you can get a flight of five ice creams with toppings!
Hopefully, you aren’t too full from lunch because before you leave RiNo, you’ll want to stop by Stem Ciders.
This urban city cidery has lots of outdoor and indoor seating and tons of amazing flavors that you won’t want to miss.
They have both seasonal and year-round flavors, so if you were to visit multiple times in a year, you’d find different drinks on the menu.
Some of their best flavors include Lavender, made with cinnamon and cardamom, and Chile Guava, made with Guajillo chiles.
If you have trouble choosing which flavors you want to try, don’t worry. You can order a flight of four different flavors for less than $10. This is the perfect way to try out a handful of their flavors!
They have pre-selected flavors in some of the flights, too, so that you can try some of their bestsellers.
Walk around 16th Street Mall and do some shopping.
From RiNo, make your way to LoDo’s 16th Street Mall.
This mall is a little over a mile long and is essentially a long pedestrian-only street filled with both local and commercial shops and restaurants.
You could easily spend a few hours exploring here, but try not to get too carried away! A few of the shops you absolutely can’t miss include The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Where the Buffalo Roam.
This street has quite a few street vendors too, so if you’re hungry already, you can easily grab yourself a snack.
Don’t worry if you start to get knackered already!
You can hop on the Free Mall Ride, a free shuttle that runs all the way from Union Station to Civic Center Station, which is right next to the Colorado State Capitol building. The bus stops on every single block, making it easy to get around.
Visit the Colorado State Capitol building.
Next, make your way to the Denver State Capitol building.
This historic landmark was built in the 19th century and commands your attention no matter where in LoDo you are, so it’s pretty hard to miss it.
While tours are only offered Monday through Friday, it’s still worth stopping by this building just to marvel at its huge gold dome.
While you’re here, you can also take the time to explore some of the other great spots in this area before heading to the next stop on this Denver itinerary.
One of the spots worth visiting here is Civic Center Park, a huge green space with tons of seating right in front of the Capitol.
It’s often the place where a lot of Denver’s best events and festivals are held, including the annual Christmas Market!
Go to Union Station.
One of the final stops on your first day of this Denver weekend itinerary is Union Station!
This historic building is also a hotel and the central transportation hub in Denver.
It’s where you can catch the train to the airport or even hop on the California Zephyr Amtrak to either San Francisco or Chicago!
This building is glorious, so you’re not going to want to miss it!
The inside is magical, and there are tons of shops and little restaurants that offer to-go food. Even if you’re a picky eater, you’ll be able to find something to eat here.
Spend some time exploring Union Station and check out the shops! One of the best shops here is the Tattered Cover Bookstore, which is the leading independent bookstore in Denver.
They have a few locations around the city. While this location is quaint and on the small side, it’s still great to visit and support a local shop.
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during the winter, then you’ll be shocked at how snazzy Union Station gets!
There’s usually a giant tree that gets placed in the center of the building, and both the inside and outside of Union Station get decked out in holiday lights for all to see.
Grab dinner and relax in Confluence Park.
So, this stop on the itinerary might change depending on the weather or time of year that you’re visiting.
For example, traveling in the winter or when it’s raining might not be a great time for having a picnic in the park, so instead, consider eating at one of the sit-down restaurants right at Union Station for dinner.
Visiting in the spring, summer, or fall, though, is perfect for this fun itinerary item!
Get a to-go dinner from one of the restaurants at Union Station and take a short walk to Confluence Park. You’ll have to cross over a bridge that’s considered one of the most picturesque spots in the city.
Confluence Park is a giant green space in Denver right next to the river that’s filled with spots to sit and relax.
This is an excellent place to have a picnic, which is actually one of my favorite things to do in the city!
After dinner, you could also consider walking along the river a little because there are some great paved trails that will bring you to some of the city’s best natural scenery.
End the day with ice cream from Little Man.
There’s no better time for dessert than after a fun picnic dinner! Arguably the best spot for an ice cream dessert in all of Denver is Little Man Ice Cream.
This Denver staple has been a favorite among locals and tourists visiting the city since it opened in 2008 and immediately took everyone by storm!
To get there, you could either take the bus, order a ride-share like Uber or Lyft, or take a walk. The walk really isn’t that long and allows you to explore this part of Denver on foot.
Little Man Ice Cream is situated inside a huge milk jug-shaped stand that takes orders by walking up to the window.
They have lots of outdoor seating, so you don’t have to worry about walking around while eating your ice cream.
What’s so great about Little Man Ice Cream is its flavors. They switch them out throughout the year depending on the season, so they’re pretty much never the same.
Usually, flavors like Oreo, Snickers, and Twix are always on the menu, among others.
Hopefully, you got a good night’s rest because your second day in Denver is going to be a full day of fun!
You’ll be traveling a bit more around the city today, so consider buying a local day pass for public transportation, which costs $6, unless you have a car with you.
Catch the sunrise at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Today, start your day bright and early!
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is one of the can’t-miss Denver attractions.
It primarily serves as the Denver area’s main concert venue for excellent live music [editor’s note: I saw an amazing Jethro Tull concert there!], but it’s also filled with tons of other fun things to do that most visitors don’t know about.
Red Rocks opens about one hour before sunrise, so try to get there around that time!
Take a quick hike up to the concert venue seating and settle in to watch the sunrise. This is truly magical because you’re surrounded by mountains and can watch the sun begin to hover on top of the city!
If you’d rather catch the sunrise by doing something other than sitting, you’re in luck. There’s an easy trail that brings you around Red Rocks (that also opens an hour before sunrise) that you can walk around, or you can use the seating venue as a fitness area.
Remember that Denver is located one mile above sea level — hence its nickname, the Mile High City — so expect any exercise you do to be a little tougher here due to the altitude!
A few other great places to catch the sunrise other than Red Rocks include Lookout Mountain in Golden or The Flatirons in Boulder.
All of these are within 30 minutes by car from downtown Denver!
If you don’t have a car, you can take this morning tour of Red Rocks and Lookout Mountain. It starts at 8 AM, so you can sleep in a bit, but you will miss the sunrise.
It’ll bring you back to Denver by noon, so you have plenty of time to finish out the rest of this itinerary.
Another one of the best spots to grab breakfast in Denver is a little restaurant called Syrup.
This popular breakfast and brunch spot opens at 7:30 on the weekends, so it’s sure to be open by the time you get there.
The menu at Syrup is immense. You can find everything from delicious beignets to waffle sliders. They even have specialty “crack bacon,” which is made with black pepper and brown sugar!
Because of the order of things on this Denver itinerary, be sure to eat at either Syrup Cherry Creek (Josephine Street) or Syrup City Park (York Street).
They’re closer to the Denver Botanic Gardens, which is next on this list!
Spend the morning exploring the Denver Botanic Gardens.
From Syrup, head to the Denver Botanic Gardens.
While you may think that this is the sort of landmark that must only be worth visiting in the summer, you’re wrong! In the winter in Denver, the botanical gardens get covered in lights, and it’s truly beautiful.
The Denver Botanical Gardens cover just over 20 acres and are separated into different areas based on the type of flora and fauna.
There are also a variety of seating areas throughout the park so that you can rest in a truly peaceful and tranquil area.
Tickets cost $15 per person, and it’s best to purchase tickets online.
Sometimes it can be challenging if you show up to pick up tickets in person, so don’t take the chance if you can help it. Children and students have a discounted ticket price.
If you still are a little hungry after breakfast and need a morning pick me up, you can grab one at the Offshoots Cafe or the Hive Garden Bistro.
Be sure to check the online schedule to see if the gardens are hosting an event during your visit too!
Grab some sweets from Voodoo Doughnuts.
While you’re in the area, you have to head to Voodoo Doughnuts. This is the best place to get donuts in all of Denver, even though it’s not a local business.
Voodoo Doughnuts originated in Portland, Oregon. It’s been featured on quite a few episodes of shows on The Food Network and is known for its fun and crazy doughnut flavors that will have you drooling and begging for more!
Some of their flavors include Dirt, Voodoo Bubble, Chuckles, The Homer, and Bacon Maple Bar.
One of the most underrated (but delicious) flavors is Grape Ape, a yeast doughnut with frosting and sour grape candy dust on top. The flavor is so unique and tasty!
Here’s a tip from a local: if you want to save some money, consider purchasing the baker’s pick dozen.
They’ll pick the flavors for you, but you get a lot more doughnuts for your money versus if you were to buy each doughnut separately. Each doughnut actually costs between $3 and $5.
Right in this area is also City Park, a huge park covering more than 300 acres.
It’s home to the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and tons of trails for you to walk, bike, or run.
Biking is usually the most popular thing to do here!
There are bike shops in the area where you can rent a bike, or you can rent a Lyft bike using the Lyft app on your phone, which is what most people do here nowadays.
Be careful how long you spend on a bike because the price can add up if you’re not careful!
If you’d rather not visit City Park, you could also consider stopping and perusing East Colfax Avenue instead.
This is one of the more hip areas in Denver, so there are tons of fun little stores to pop your head into and explore.
Have lunch at Sam’s No. 3.
For lunch, head to Sam’s No. 3.
It’s a local Denver chain with three locations that is known for its delicious food. Their menu has burgers, sandwiches, steak, salads, and more. They also have tons of breakfast items if you want to have breakfast twice in one day!
Be sure to go to the downtown location instead of the one in Aurora or Glendale. No matter what you order on the menu, you’ll surely enjoy it. Plus, the restaurant is family-friendly and has a really fun atmosphere.
The downtown location also has outdoor seating, so if you’re visiting when the weather is nice, you can enjoy yourself and sit outside.
Go on a craft brewery tour, catch a game at Coors Field, or go to the Denver Art Museum.
Oh no, it’s your last afternoon in Denver! Don’t worry; there are a few things you can consider doing in downtown Denver to go out with a bang.
One of the most popular things to do in Denver is try all of the local breweries, so you could consider going on a craft brewery tour. These usually include stops at all of the best breweries in the area and allow you to taste their drinks too.
The second option is seeing a game at Coors Field to watch the Colorado Rockies play.
Try to wait and buy tickets a few hours before the game instead of in advance because they can usually be purchased for less than $20 if you’re up for playing a wait-and-see game.
If possible, you may be able to catch a Denver Broncos game at Mile High Stadium as well, depending on timing.
Last but not least, you could spend the afternoon visiting the Denver Art Museum, which is Denver’s most popular museum.
If you’re not into art, there are tons of other museums in the downtown area that you could consider visiting instead.
Head back to LoDo to grab dinner in Larimer Square.
The perfect way to spend your last evening in Denver is to go to Larimer Square, the most historic part of downtown. The Victorian buildings here will take you back in time!
Larimer Square is lined with tons of great places to eat, including French bistro and top-rated Italian restaurants.
Plus, the area is mainly pedestrian-only, so there is an abundance of outdoor seating options, and the entire square is covered in lights that make the whole street come alive at night.
No matter where you eat here, you are sure to love it!
Say your goodbye to Denver.
If you have time after dinner, you can walk to the nearby Big Blue Bear, a 40-foot tall sculpture adjacent to the Denver Convention Center, or you can grab drink at one of Denver’s best taprooms or rooftop bars!
I suggest FIRE Terrace for a great rooftop bar in Denver atop the ART, a hotel.
Have More Time in Denver?
If you have a long weekend in Denver planned and need to fill up another day, or are planning a Colorado road trip with other destinations other than Denver, you can add a day trip or two to your itinerary
Rocky Mountain National Park
One of the most bucket-list worthy national parks in the USA, Rocky Mountain National Park is located only a short drive from Denver. The Visitor Center is less than two hours from downtown Denver.
If you rented a car for your weekend in Denver, take that to RMNP and enjoy some of the best hikes and things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. You can visit for the day or stay overnight in Estes Park.
If you did not rent a car and are relying on public transit for your Denver weekend trip, it’s best to go by guided tour. These are relatively inexpensive and are a great, convenient way to avoid the hassle of visiting the park independently.
Located just over 30 minutes from Denver, Boulder is a fantastic place for a day trip from Denver.
This vibrant university town is also a hiker’s paradise — and it’s also heaven for craft beer lovers too, as Boulder is one of the brewing capitals of Colorado, with tons of great taprooms and brew pubs!
One thing not to miss on a day trip to Boulder? The Boulder Dushanbe Tea House, which is a Silk Road-style teahouse in the heart of Boulder’s downtown area.
It was given to Boulder as a gift from its sister city, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and it was sent to Boulder in pieces and constructed on-site!
Krystianna is a brand and web designer who runs her own studio and is always chasing her wanderlust. After studying abroad in Dublin for six months, she was bitten by the travel bug and hasn’t looked back. She runs the travel blog Volumes & Voyages.
So, you’re here because you have a hunger for adventure. We love to see it! Whether you’re a Denver native or a tourist planning a future trip or currently visiting the area, we’ve got some great, dog-friendly options for you!
Boasting vivid landscapes of forests, mountains, mesas, high plains, plateaus, canyons, desert lands and rivers, Colorado is one of the most beautiful states of the southwestern United States.
Denver, the capital and most popular city, is known as the “Mile High City” because its official elevation measures at exactly one mile above sea level! (Bet you tourists didn’t know that one!)
This means that hikes near Denver require a little extra stamina due to the lower oxygen levels at elevation, so don’t be surprised if a hike marked as ‘easy’ ends up leaving you feeling a little winded! It’s just one thing to prepare for before visiting Denver.
Denver is where the great outdoors, and Mama Earth, meet urban and artsy sophistication. What people adore about this treasure of a city is that, as mentioned, it offers the best of both worlds. Denver’s an outdoor city with renowned cultural attractions.
It’s got buzzing craft breweries for you beer-drinkers (pun intended,) chef-driven dining your tastebuds will come to worship, bumping music scenes for the dancing folk, and the Rocky Mountains just around the corner.
Alright, you’ve been let in on our little secret: We love this city.
What’s one of the best ways to experience it, you ask? Day hikes.
A day hike refers to a hike that can be completed in a day. (Yeah, nothing gets past you, huh?)
No, really, that may sound obvious but knowing hiking lingo is quite important for this hobby or pastime. Hiking for multiple days, for example, is referred to as backpacking.
The common rule of thumb is that the average hiking extraordinaire can generally walk between 2.5 and 3.5 miles per hour. So, with that estimation in mind, a trained walker can walk up to 20 to 30 miles per day.
A day hike can be any amount you can walk while the sun is up!
The Best Dog-Friendly Day Hikes in Denver
North Table Mountain
This mountain is more of a mesa. A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped hill with steep sides. When the sun rises, you’ll see the details of its steep sides framed by the lower surrounding town of Golden, Colorado.
Trails stretch in abundance waiting for hikers, photographers and mountain bikers alike.
This is perfect for walkers who may not have tons of spare time on their hands, but are in need of a good stretch of the legs and breath of fresh air to their lungs.
The trails of Table Mountain are accessible year-round; however, it’s the most beautiful and picturesque during the spring and early summer months when flowers start to bloom.
In their unique and unruly wildness, each petal reaches towards the sky and serves as a reminder that the loveliest things are free.
Hike Breakdown:
Distance: 2.7 – 7.7 miles
Duration: ~ 1-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs: Leashed only
Drive Time From Denver: 25 minutes
Meyer Ranch Open Space Park
Extending 30 minutes outside of Denver, Meyer Ranch offers three different hiking options. That’s what makes this spot so great, there’s something for everyone, from easy to moderate.
You’ll see meadows so big they could swallow you whole, vibrant flowers, as well as your friendly neighborhood deer and elk.
Bonus activities here include going on a mountain bike ride or picnic. It’s a fantastic area in Aspen Park and the relatively new ramada makes the perfect spot to bust out the snacks for a picnic!
Additionally, if you’re stopping by during the winter, there are perfect hills for sledding!
We’ve mapped out three dog-friendly hikes near Denver in Meyer Ranch below!
Hike Breakdown:
Distance: 2.4 – 4.8 miles round trip
Duration: ~ 1 – 2.5 hours round trip
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
Dogs: Leashed only
Drive Time From Denver: 30 minutes
Hike Options in Meyer Ranch
Lodgepole Loop (3 miles / Moderate)
Directions:
Owl’s Perch Trail South → Straight left down to next junction → Continue right to the Lodgepole Loop for 1.2 miles → Arrive back to Owl’s Perch Trail → Going left will bring you back to the parking lot
Sunny Aspen Trail Loop (3 miles / Moderate)
Directions:
Owl’s Perch Trail South → Straight left down to next junction → Continue right to the Lodgepole Loop for 0.6 miles → Take right onto Sunny Aspen Trail for 0.8 miles to return to Lodgepole Loop → Going left will bring you back to the parking lot
Old Ski Run Trail (4.8 miles / Moderate)
Directions:
Owl’s Perch Trail South → Straight left down to next junction for .2 mile → Go left onto the Sunny Aspen Trail for .5 mile → Arrive at Old Ski Run Trail → The Ski Run trail loops 2 miles out and back → Return the way you came via Sunny Aspen Trail
Chautauqua in Boulder
The Chautauqua Trail has 1,747 reviews and 4.5 stars on one single trail review site. So, yeah, you could say it’s a crowd favorite!
This heavily trafficked hike leads to many other popular trails such as the Royal Arch and Flat Irons. So, if you’re just getting started at the end of the Chautauqua, you can always hit one of the other treks as well!
On the Chautauqua, you can expect a lot of width, a little incline, and a boatload of wildflowers, vistas, and views of the rugged Flat Irons.
Fun (historical) fact: This is the only Chautauqua west of the Mississippi River that continues in unbroken operation since the peak of the Chautauqua Movement of the 1920s.
Hike Breakdown:
Distance: 3.6 miles
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs: Leashed Only
Drive Time From Denver: 35 minutes
South Boulder Peak
We needed to have a difficult one on the list for all you weathered day-hikers!
South Boulder Peak will demand a lot out of you! It’s a 3.7-mile hike one way nestled above the South Mesa.
In the famous Flatirons, near Boulder, hikers can also hit Bear Peak and return through the Fern Canyon for an 8.7-mile loop.
If a tiring (but, rejuvenating!) thrill is what you seek, South Boulder Peak is just that. You’ll be stunned by the views. Don’t take our word for it.
Hike Breakdown:
Distance: 7.4 miles round trip or 8.7 mile loop
Duration: ~ 3 – 5 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Dogs: Leashed Only
Drive Time From Denver: 45 minutes
Tips for Day Hiking Near Denver
Day hikes are fantastic for beginner hikers to hone in on and build up their skills, no matter how newfound those may be.
The key takeaway I want to imprint on new day hikers is this: Research, research, research. Find trails that are well-marked, well-maintained, and will be easy to get to and from your stay.
You never know how tired you will be when you’re finished with the hike, and want to make sure you aren’t too far from “home.”
Be sure to study a map before you begin your trek. Here are a few things to consider:
Scope out the area to consider how hard it will be for you in terms of time and energy.
Make a note of water sources if you are not bringing your own. If you aren’t, be sure to bring a water filtration system like the GRAYL water bottle, which can filter any potentially contaminated water from an unmaintained source and make it perfectly safe to drink.
Decide ahead of time your calculation of when to turn back and at what time. Be realistic about your energy level and also keep in mind what time during the day this will all take place, especially if it is a new spot. You don’t want to run out of daylight and get turned around!
If you’re tackling a sunset hike or a sunrise hike, be sure to bring a headlamp. In fact, this is just good practice no matter what time of day you’re hiking. It’s lightweight but could save you from a nasty tumble in the dark or worse, getting disoriented, if your hike ends up being in the dark longer than you expect.
Anticipate landmarks. That way, if you take a wrong turn, you’ll notice and know what to look out for.
Finally, pack a lunch so that midday you can take care of your body, soul and mind! Exercise is key, but in order to take on the challenge to your best ability, rest and nutrients are just as important… if not more important!
To piggyback on the previous point, a small sack or pack to store your food and water source will be of GREAT value to your trip. Pack smart as to not weigh yourself down but, with that, be strategic in choosing the right essentials!
Why Hike Near Denver?
In case you run into any motivation issues while hitting that alarm button and planning to head to the trails, we’re gonna end this thang with some health benefits.
So, bring on the phenomenal benefits:
Reduced risk for heart disease
Lower stress levels
Enhanced mental state due to endorphins
Improved mood
Increased control over healthy weight
Lower cholesterol levels
Lower body fat
Improvement in bone density
Increase in coordination and flexibility
Enhanced connection with others
Better quality of life
Lots of that sweet, sweet Vitamin D!
So, despite your achy legs, you’re gaining countless benefits. And, in Denver?
We may be a little bit biased, but we’d say you’re combining the best activity with the best location. You. Just. Can’t. Beat. It. Folks.
We hope this guide of dog-friendly hikes in Denver was everything you needed and more, as well as the navigation, tips, tricks, and health benefits.
We’d love to hear about your Denver hiking experiences below! As well as any day hiking information you may be itching to share with us.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Imagine finding yourself surrounded by nature, breathing in the crisp, cool, mountain air while hearing the rippling sounds of a stream nearby. You look up and see a woodpecker foraging as a pine marten swiftly crosses the path up ahead. These are just a few of the magical moments you might experience while adventuring through Rocky Mountain National Park!
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) has so much to offer- from relaxing, scenic drives to heart-pounding hikes. RMNP is made up of 415 square miles of pristine mountain landscapes.
It offers snow cap mountain views in the winter and beautiful waterfall scenes during the summer. The park is located northwest of Denver and only about an hour and a half drive from the city and airport.
If you happen to visit the Mile High City, RMNP is an area you must see if you enjoy nature! Here are just a few of the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park if you’re looking for some outdoor adventures!
Go for a Scenic Drive to see Beautiful Landscapes and Abundant Wildlife
The park offers various scenic byways that showcase a variety of different landscapes and peaceful views. I live 45 minutes away from this amazing park and one of my favorite things to do is pack up the car and head over to RMNP for the day.
Upon arriving you will pass by the visitors center. This is a great place to take a quick bathroom break before starting the drive of your life!
The visitors center offers information on the history of the park, souvenirs, and daily updates regarding which trails and highways are open and/or closed in the park. I highly recommend always popping into the visitor’s center to get any important news that might affect your visit.
The rangers at the visitor’s center will also let you know which areas the elk are currently traveling through, along with the most recent reported wildlife encounters.
Gather information on the different trails to ensure you take the path that best suits what you are seeking!
My favorite tool I use to find different drives and hikes that suit my comfortability is the AllTrails app. AllTrails gives you the length of the trail/drive, the activities the trail offers (such as a waterfall or wildflowers), driving directions to the trailhead, and recent reviews so you can have a better idea of the weather conditions you may come across.
The early morning sunrise is the best time to hit the path if you are hoping to see elk foraging in the meadows or a moose wandering near the road.
However, if you are not fond of chilly morning temperatures, a sunset drive may be more appealing when you decide to pop out to capture a stunning picture! If you are just looking to see some beautiful, eye-catching views, then anytime during the day is a wonderful time to get out and experience a variety of extraordinary spots and stop for a picnic lunch.
Pick a Trail and Take a Hike
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best hiking areas in Colorado as it offers over 300 miles of hiking trails that range from easy to difficult, allowing anyone to find adventure!
Bear Lake is one of the most exquisite lakes and one of the easiest to get to. Visitors can drive right up to it and has an easy, flat walking path to the lake.
Emerald Lake is just a short walk from Bear Lake and comes with breathtaking views of an immensely blue lake with an alpine backdrop! Breathing at high altitudes and hiking up inclines can be challenging, but Bear Lake is accessible to folks of all abilities.
The lake area has more visitors during the summer due to the beautiful weather and the accessibility of a variety of hiking trail heads starting at the lake.
During the winter months, Bear Lake is covered in snow with small, yet impressive frozen waterfall features.
If you are more of a daring soul, I recommend the Sky Pond hike which starts at Bear Lake.
On this trail you will encounter three different lakes and a beautiful waterfall! I love hiking, but I was surprised when I did this hike in early June and there was still snow on the ground.
At first this adventure will seem fun and easy as you pass by beautiful lakes, raging waterfalls, and encounter a lot of wildlife as you hike up the trail. However, you will be tested when you get past Glass Lake on the last leg of the hike up to Sky Pond.
Climbing the waterfall is one of the more challenging obstacles you will encounter during this hike. One thing to note for this trail is you will need walking sticks or snow chains for your shoes. Even in the summer, these are necessary once you make it to the alpine portion of the hike.
Catch the Sunrise for Incredible Wildlife Photography Captures
As a wildlife photographer, this is definitely one of my favorite things to do in the park.
I recommend getting to the park by sunrise before all the animals have gone into hiding for the day, and this will also help to avoid other tourists enjoying the sites.
During sunrise, you will have access to some incredible animal sightings including a variety of bird species, elk, moose, pine marten, yellow-bellied marmot, and pika. These are just a handful of the amazing creatures I have had the opportunity to capture within the park!
Aside from wildlife photography, the landscape photography within the park is absolutely breathtaking as well. If you enjoy peaceful mornings with your camera as much as I do, then you will not be disappointed by the pictures you will leave with!
I recommend taking a casual drive through the park before deciding where you find the most beauty. When you know where you are heading, you can set up by the time sunrise occurs!
Meadows and open spaces are the best place to set up if you are hoping to capture birds, elk, and moose. While higher in the rocky alpine is a better place to capture yellow-bellied marmots and pikas. Pine martens are sneaky, but if you are lucky you might come across one while hiking in the forest.
Go Rock Climbing to Feel the Thrill
Rocky Mountain National Park is world-renowned for mountain and rock climbing, and it’s easily one of the best national parks in the US for rock climbing.
However, most climbing within the park is very committing and should be taken into consideration for any experience level.
Almost all the climbing within the park is between 12,000 and 14,000 feet making it even more of a challenge to conquer climbing within this park.
A good climb for a beginner (with a guide) is the North Ridge of Spearhead, while a more advanced trail would be the steep Hesse-Ferguson on Hallett.
Climbing can be a safe and fun activity when completely prepared. Unlike other activities offered in the park, climbing can be extremely dangerous, so you should always make plans well ahead of time.
nform friends or family where you are going and give an estimate of how long you will be gone. If you decide to go climbing, gear up and strap in for some of the most stunning views you will come across in the Rocky Mountains and probably in your life!!
Note: a good website that offers information regarding weather patterns and important climbing info is Mountain Project. Always check snow and weather stats before starting your journey – the weather can change very fast in the Rocky Mountains.
Go Shopping in Downtown Estes Park and Stop by the World Famous Stanley Hotel
While taking a scenic drive through the park, another relaxing opportunity is to spend the afternoon in the town of Estes Park.
Estes Park is at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park and has a cute, small-town mountain vibe that leaves you wanting to see more!
In the winter, this little town looks like a scene from a movie and is picture perfect! My favorite part of the town is the stores selling local art and showcase how intimate the town is.
Parking is easy to find and there are loads of restaurants to choose from that offer delicious meals, and many use local meat and produce.
If you find yourself in Estes, you simply must drive five minutes up from the town center to the Historic Stanley Hotel! The Stanley offers day and night tours, an intimate restaurant, and a whiskey bar.
The Stanley is known from the iconic movie “The Shining” and although the building itself was not used in the film, it is where Stephen King got the inspiration for the movie.
Take a step back in time by visiting the free museum inside this 1909 Historic Hotel. It is always recommended to call ahead if you are hoping to get a tour; otherwise, the hotel is open to passers-by who pop in to see the small museum and grab a drink at the Whiskey Bar!
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I hope by now you are packing your bags with excitement and on your way to visit Rocky Mountain National Park!
A few tips to plan your trip are:
(1) Always call to make sure roads are open: this is an area where heavy snowfall can result in road closures and these can change daily (October-May);
(2) Pack lots of water, a map, and gloves- these are always necessities I have found myself in need of;
(3) Have fun!! There is so much adventure to be found within this park, make sure you take your time and slow down during your trip to enjoy all the things to do that Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer!
About the Author
Christine is a travel writer and eco-enthusiast living in Denver, Colorado.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Note: This is a guest post from Meg of Fox in the Forest.
Denver, also known as the Mile High City, is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Over the years, this small city has erupted with culture, food, craft beer, and more.
From the incredible street art murals to the incredible access to the outdoors, there are endless activity options for any type of traveler. However, before you visit Denver, there are a few key things to know in order to have a more fruitful trip.
For the past 11 years, I’ve called Denver home. Over the years, I’ve learned a few handy hacks, tips, and tricks to navigating the city and squeezing the most out of life here in Colorado. As a regional outdoor expert, I highly recommend visiting Denver as a starting point to exploring the incredible outdoor scenery Colorado has to offer.
11 Things to Know Before You Visit Denver
Take a hike!
Photo by Meg Atteberry
One of the best things about a Denver visit is the access to the mountains. Even though Denver isn’t located in the mountains, there are several amazing hiking trails near Denver. A few of these trails (look at Golden, Boulder, and Indian Peaks Wilderness) are accessible via public transportation. Hiking is one of the most cost-effective ways to experience the mountains near Denver.
Avid hikers and beginners alike who have access to a car may want to check out some of the most scenic alpine lake hikes in Colorado. Many hikes can be done in a half to a full day, including drive time, so you can be back to Denver in time for happy hour! Alternatively, avid hikers who have a lot of experience on tougher terrain may want to check out Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. Called 14ers by those in the know, these jaw-dropping mountain hikes take some proper preparation but are a big reward for the experienced hiker.
As always, be prepared for your Colorado hike by wearing sturdy footwear, packing plenty of water, snacks, extra layers, and check the weather. Keep in mind, during the summer months, mountains hikes often become dangerous with violent thunderstorms that roll in each afternoon – so certainly check the weather before heading out.
Remember that you’re a mile high
Many people who come to visit Denver forget that the city is a mile (5,280 feet to be exact) above sea level. That’s pretty high up there! Drier, thinner air means you’ll want to acclimatize properly to the altitude. Take it slow the first day or so and don’t be surprised if you’re winded after hoofing it up a few flights of stairs. Here are a few quick tips for dealing with the altitude:
Avoid alcohol your first 24 hours – especially if you plan on continuing into the mountains where the elevation is even higher.
Drink plenty of water. Aim for at least 2 liters a day. Carry a refillable water bottle with you.
Take it slow. It’s normal to feel light-headed or have a headache the first day or two at altitude. If symptoms worsen or progress, seek medical attention.
You don’t need bottles of oxygen here. Many stores try to sell bottled oxygen to tourists, it’s a scam and only provides temporary relief. Instead, focus on taking it slow and drinking plenty of water.
If you experience symptoms at higher altitudes, the only way to relieve them is to go down in elevation.
Expect wild weather
There’s a saying in Denver, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes.”
In the Mile High City, we experience a crazy array of weather patterns from sunny days to violent hail storms. Keep in mind that during the summer months, the weather can turn in an instant. It isn’t uncommon to get violent afternoon thunderstorms after a picture-perfect morning. These storms tend to only last 30-minutes or so but certainly pack some rain gear.
Spring and fall shoulder seasons are an excellent time to visit Denver. The weather in the fall tends to be mild, sunny, and wonderful. While the spring is a bit less predictable.
During the winter, temperatures are typically cold, but dry. It does snow in Denver, but not nearly as much as you might think. Also, a surprise day in the mid-60s isn’t uncommon, just be sure to check the weather when you plan to visit Denver.
Denver Airport
Most people are shocked to fly into Denver International Airport (DIA) and feel like they are in farm country. It is about an hour drive from DIA to downtown Denver and feels about a world away. Locals joke and say that the airport feels more like Kansas than Denver.
You can take the light rail for $15 and get dropped off right at the heart of the action at Union Station. It’s easy to get downtown, just build in some extra time to get to the city proper. If you’re visiting on a longer layover, it might not be that efficient to hop into the city for a few hours.
As of 2019, DIA is undergoing a massive remodel. At the time of this post, only one of the TSA security checkpoints is open. The construction has the airport cut in half, so be sure to build in a few extra minutes (even if you have TSA PreCheck) to get to your gate.
4WD cars when visiting Denver
One question I get asked over and over is about rental cars. Lots of people want to know if you need a 4WD vehicle in Denver or for visiting the mountains. The short answer is no. Denver and Colorado do a great job with snow removal in the winter and there are plenty of accessible roads to see nature during the summer months.
However, if you have specific plans to visit a certain area, certainly do a little research to see if you’ll need a 4WD vehicle to get to where you’re going. For the most part, you can visit most of Rocky Mountain National Park, Red Rocks, Boulder, Breckenridge Area, Colorado Springs, Estes Park, and Fort Collins without needing a 4WD vehicle.
Get outside, but respect nature
Denver is truly an outdoor city. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, there are plenty of outdoor dining options, beautiful city parks, public bike rentals, scooters, and more. Not to mention, it’s only an hour and a half drive to Rocky Mountain National Park, the Continental Divide, and an endless array of stunning mountains to see.
Every year people flock to Denver and the surrounding areas to soak up some nature. However, for many people, it’s their first time visiting natural places. There are a few key points to remember when venturing into nature – even if it’s just a city park.
Don’t litter. This includes things like orange peels and apple cores. Carry a small baggy with you and keep your trash until you can put it in a trash can.
Don’t approach wildlife. Every year tourists and visitors get trampled by elk in Estes Park because they try and get close to wildlife to take a picture. The wildlife in Colorado will bite back. Enjoy from a distance.
Follow all regulations and signage. Some years, we don’t get enough rain, and if you plan on camping in Colorado, this could mean fire bans. Stay up to date with trail closures, wilderness regulations, and fire bans by contacting the ranger district you are traveling in.
Stay on the trail. The mountain landscape is fragile, your footprints can cause irreversible damage, so stick to the trail.
It is possible to visit Denver without renting a car; however, keep in mind you’ll be very limited. Uber and Lyft are both available throughout the state of Colorado (even in smaller mountain towns), but you’ll be paying a pretty penny to get from place to place.
Overall the public transportation in Denver isn’t that efficient and doesn’t really take you where you need to go. It has improved over the years and you can now take the light rail to places like Arvada and Golden. But if you want to travel to Boulder, you’ll need to take a bus.
A general rule of thumb is that if you plan on leaving downtown Denver proper, you’ll want to have a set of wheels to get there. If you’re just looking for a city break, then you can get along just fine using Uber and Lyft or you can hop on the light rail or a bus (typically not the most efficient system in the world). Denver is also an active city and you can rent City Bikes and travel along the Cherry Creek Bike Path to get to various points within the city. Scooters are also quite popular, especially in the RiNo, LoHi, and LoDo neighborhoods.
Marijuana in Denver
Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana. With that territory comes a highly-regulated, recreation weed industry that caused development throughout the state to utterly explode. Unlike other states, Colorado has a long list of regulations and quality control surrounding weed products.
First, as a visitor, you can purchase up to 28 grams of weed. This is an exceptional amount of pot, and I wouldn’t recommend buying that much. Recreational weed products in Colorado are fairly potent, so you really don’t need that much and it’s easy to over-do it. Hospital visits associated with edibles are fairly common, so please take it easy.
A good rule of thumb is to do a small dosage then wait an hour to an hour and a half to feel the effects. Stick to edibles that come in doses, such as chocolate or gummies. Avoid things like soda where you get copious amounts of THC, but no way to determine just how much you are consuming.
Keep in mind it is illegal to smoke or carry open weed products in public. Similar to open-container laws, you can get in big trouble if you smoke in public. Many hotels do (and don’t) allow marijuana, so be sure to check with where you are staying. Also, it is 100% illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana. Cops do administer field tests and the consequences are similar to getting a DUI. Lastly, it’s super-illegal to take weed out of Colorado. The airport is frequently patrolled by drug dogs.
In short, be smart, be safe, and have fun when it comes to recreational marijuana in Colorado. Discrete consumption is always best. Start small and don’t operate any machinery under the influence.
Plenty of Parks
There are over 5,000 acres of parks in Denver including river trails, scenic views, public golf courses, and more.
No trip to Denver is complete without visiting a park. During the summer, many of these parks have awesome activities such as City Park’s Jazz in the Park or Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake.
Traffic in Denver
For a small city, Denver has quite a big traffic problem. Keep in mind that the entire downtown area is clogged during rush hour. Also, if you do head up to the mountains, expect to sit in tremendous amounts of mountain traffic along I-70 during the weekends. If you’re coming back into town on a Sunday from beyond the Eisenhower Tunnel, expect delays of 30 minutes or more.
Other areas of heavy traffic include between Boulder and Denver, Colorado Springs and Denver, and Fort Collins and Denver. These popular routes are typically always congested during rush hour (6:30 to 10 am and around 2:30 until 6:30 pm on weekdays), but also experience heavy weekend traffic too.
Food, Rooftops, and Breweries
Despite its size, Denver’s eateries and bars cater to a wide variety of diners. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian foodies won’t have much trouble finding something tasty to nosh on in Denver. Most trendier restaurants cater to every taste, but it’s always a good idea to check the menu first.
Denver is also home to a variety of world-class breweries and rooftop bars. For the most happening places, head to the RiNo district. There are plenty of awesome watering holes that are remote-worker friendly by day and the perfect place to sip on something at night.
If you don’t drink, most breweries offer some type of non-alcoholic beverage, such as artisanal sodas or kombucha as well.
Denver is an awesome city-escape for anyone looking to enjoy a youthful culture or get out into the great outdoors. With a little local know-how, you can make the most out of your trip to Denver, Colorado. Experience the magic of the Rockies along with the hip urban lifestyle of Denver’s unique eateries.
About Meg at Fox in the Forest
Photo by Meg Atteberry
Meg is a thirty-something adventure addict. Meg climbs, mountaineers, backpacks and hikes her way across the globe. As a full-time freelance writer, Meg’s goal is to empower you to get out there and go on your epic adventure. She’s written for REI, Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine, and more. When she’s not out adventuring, she enjoys spending time watching sunsets with her fiance and adventure pup. To learn more about Meg, check out her blog, Fox in the Forest. She’d rather be dirty than done up.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
