A part of the Denver Mountain Parks system, Red Rocks is an interesting geological wonder as well as a world-class entertainment attraction. The Red Rocks Amphitheater is the only natural 
stone entertainment venue in the world. In recent years, a variety of performers including the Beatles and Rolling Stones, have played on this stage. The concert season runs from May to October and people planning to use the park for hiking or picnicking should check the concert schedule ahead of their visit by clicking here. The park generally closes early when there is an event in the amphitheater.
The Trading Post Trail is the only maintained trail in the park. It is a 1.4 mile loop that circles through the rocks and affords some very nice scenery. Don't be daunted by the signs posted at the trail head. This is a pretty easy hike. There is a very short area that has a pretty steep drop just west of the marked trail head. This drops you into a canyon filled with choke cherry bushes. The trail is well marked and when the grade drops or climbs steeply, there are erosion barriers that serve as steps. There are also a few short stretches toward the end of the trail where the trail is only about 30" wide with fairly steep drop-offs on the left hand side. The trail does cross the road in several places as well. That being said, my two-year-old was able to walk about .7 miles of the trail unassisted and rode easily in the backpack on the remainder.
The Trading Post itself has some great souvenirs of your visit to Red Rocks, as well as a snack bar and fudgery. There is a small display of photographs taken of artists like Bruce Springsteen and John Denver playing at the amphitheater.
The Red Rock Amphitheater was the brainchild of John Brisben Walker (the ruins of his mountain castle can be seen at Mt. Falcon Open Space Park just southwest of Morrison), who in 1907 invited opera performers up to the then unimproved rock formation to sing and give account of the incredible natural acoustics of the site. After the City of Denver acquired the property for Walker in the mid-1930's, with the help of other investors and visionaries, the amphitheater was built. Construction was interrupted by World War II but the New Deal Conservation Corp completed the structure in time for the Easter Sunrise Service in 1947.
Don't miss the view of Denver from the amphitheater atrium. On a clear day, you can see as far west as the Denver Airport. The Visitor Center at the amphitheater has more historical and interpretive displays and gifts available for purchase. The Ship Rock Grill at Red Rocks is open for lunch adjacent to the Visitor Center.
This is a free attraction (excluding any concert admission or dining that you might choose to do while visiting) and is very family friendly. Click here to get more information and check concert schedules.
Trading Post Trail Difficulty: 1.8
Have fun!
stone entertainment venue in the world. In recent years, a variety of performers including the Beatles and Rolling Stones, have played on this stage. The concert season runs from May to October and people planning to use the park for hiking or picnicking should check the concert schedule ahead of their visit by clicking here. The park generally closes early when there is an event in the amphitheater.The Trading Post Trail is the only maintained trail in the park. It is a 1.4 mile loop that circles through the rocks and affords some very nice scenery. Don't be daunted by the signs posted at the trail head. This is a pretty easy hike. There is a very short area that has a pretty steep drop just west of the marked trail head. This drops you into a canyon filled with choke cherry bushes. The trail is well marked and when the grade drops or climbs steeply, there are erosion barriers that serve as steps. There are also a few short stretches toward the end of the trail where the trail is only about 30" wide with fairly steep drop-offs on the left hand side. The trail does cross the road in several places as well. That being said, my two-year-old was able to walk about .7 miles of the trail unassisted and rode easily in the backpack on the remainder.
The Trading Post itself has some great souvenirs of your visit to Red Rocks, as well as a snack bar and fudgery. There is a small display of photographs taken of artists like Bruce Springsteen and John Denver playing at the amphitheater.
The Red Rock Amphitheater was the brainchild of John Brisben Walker (the ruins of his mountain castle can be seen at Mt. Falcon Open Space Park just southwest of Morrison), who in 1907 invited opera performers up to the then unimproved rock formation to sing and give account of the incredible natural acoustics of the site. After the City of Denver acquired the property for Walker in the mid-1930's, with the help of other investors and visionaries, the amphitheater was built. Construction was interrupted by World War II but the New Deal Conservation Corp completed the structure in time for the Easter Sunrise Service in 1947.Don't miss the view of Denver from the amphitheater atrium. On a clear day, you can see as far west as the Denver Airport. The Visitor Center at the amphitheater has more historical and interpretive displays and gifts available for purchase. The Ship Rock Grill at Red Rocks is open for lunch adjacent to the Visitor Center.
This is a free attraction (excluding any concert admission or dining that you might choose to do while visiting) and is very family friendly. Click here to get more information and check concert schedules.
Trading Post Trail Difficulty: 1.8
Have fun!
