6 Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You in Denver
Visiting Denver? Don’t stay indoors! It’s time to get out and explore the natural beauty of The Mile High City. Denver, Colorado is home to a wide variety of outdoor adventures that change with the seasons. Whether you enjoy skiing, hiking, wildlife watching, biking, rafting, or rock climbing, Denver was made for the outdoor enthusiast. Let us look at just some of the great outdoor activities you can experience on your next Denver holiday.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Whether you enjoy relaxing leisure walks or strenuous backcountry day-hikes, Rocky Mountain National Park offers incredible scenery and loads of wildlife. Most trails are open to horseback riding and come winter one can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Make your way up Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved road in the US, and explore over 350 miles of well maintained trails. You may encounter bald eagles, bighorn sheep, elk, black bear, coyotes, bison, and more. You’ll find the easiest access points to the park near Estes Park.
Horseback Riding
Have you ever wanted to find out how it felt riding on horseback through the Wild West? Nothing beats horseback riding in Colorado’s fresh mountain air and booking a horseback guided tour is both easy and customizable. Horseback rides out of Central City just outside of Denver allow you to pass through historic cemeteries and old mining sites such as the old “Glory Hole”. Central City along with its sister city Black Hawk have become casino destinations which provides funding for the State Historical Fund. You’ll find options that range from hour long rides to half day rides that finish under a starry sky.
Red Rocks Amphitheater
A sight to behold is the Red Rocks Amphitheater, a concert venue crafted by mother nature herself. This venue has hosted some famous symphonies and performers thanks to its acoustic perfection. Not there for a concert or a film? No worries, since this place has become quite the fitness destination. Jog through the surrounding area and take in a panoramic view of Denver. Try your hand at the cobra and downward dog poses by joining in on Yoga on the Rocks, a place where hundreds gather for challenging positions. The area is also known for its great mountain bike trails.
Denver Botanic Gardens
Walk through beautiful gardens of native Colorado flowers by visiting the Denver Botanic Gardens which is spread out over several locations. The gardens 24-acre York Street location also offers plants found in Asia, South Africa, and Patagonia, while the Chatfield Gardens location offers wonderful birdwatching opportunities at Hildebrand Ranch. This area also offers autumn corn mazes and winter Christmas light displays. See the highest cultivated garden in the U.S. at Mt. Goliath where you will find fields of wildflowers and gorgeous panoramic vistas.
Just a short distance from the gardens York Street location, you’ll find the lovely City Park along with the Denver Zoo. For more information on how to experience these great Denver outdoor attractions, check out this 12-hour Denver City Guide.
Whitewater Raft and Zip Line
Once the mountaintop ice melts in the spring, paddle on an awe-inspiring whitewater raft voyage of a lifetime. Paddling options include family fun for kids to high-adrenaline Class V whitewater journeys. For those wanting even more excitement, AVA Rafting and Zipline offers the option of a zip line and rafting package of your dreams, ranging from half-day to multi-day packages.
Fly Fishing
Denver offers more than enough lakes and rivers to find your own secret peaceful fishing spot. You’ll find numerous public access points to some of the country’s best fly fishing where you can catch some beautiful rainbow, brook, and brown trout. Since the weather conditions can change quickly in Colorado, consult a local fly shop to keep up to date with the current bug hatches and fishing reports. You will have to purchase a fishing license and in some cases, a habitat stamp if you are a traveling visitor. You can find more information by checking out the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.
December 14, 2018
Denver has a lot to offer for those who are adventure junkie. A kind of activity for adrenaline rush. Thanks for sharing this post. I’ll definitely gonna try the whitewater rafting.
April 10, 2019
Im sold! I have never fished in Colorado I know the fishing is great there. I have been fly fishing for over 10 years now and have never made it down there from northern California as of yet. Thanks for the great idea.