“There’s no better place to see the stars”. So goes the slogan on the official Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre website, and for once, the motto doesn’t seem to exaggerate.
We are in Colorado, in Morrison, near Denver, where there is the Red Rocks Park, known for its typical reddish rocks (we have already talked about this place in our article on what to do in Denver) … Well: there, in the middle of a beautiful natural esplanade, above a jutting out rocky conformation, stands an amphitheatre, with its typical inclined terraced structure with steps to facilitate listening and viewing of the magnificent landscape.
Are you wondering what an amphitheatre is doing in this place? Let’s find out and explore all that Red Rocks Park has to offer!
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Red Rocks Amphitheatre
History of Red Rocks Amphitheatre
In the early 1900s, entrepreneur and publisher John Brisben Walker had a vision: artists performing on a stage set in the beautiful acoustic environment of Red Rocks Park. His dream soon came true realized, as concerts were held on a temporary stage as early as 1906 through 1910.
After the park was bought by the city of Denver (1928), the project became even more ambitious and the construction of a permanent amphitheatre was entrusted to the architect Burnham Hoyt, who began work in 1936 and completed it in 1941.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre Schedule and Tickets
Numerous internationally renowned artists have performed in this splendid red sandstone paradise: from Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring to icons of rock history such as Jethro Tull, Grateful Dead, Phish, the Beatles (during their famous British Invasion of America tour), U2, Sting and many others.
In short, if you want to enjoy a concert in a natural, dream-like setting, this is the right place. Clicking on the button below you can see the scheduled events and buy tickets:
Buy tickets for a concert at the Amphitheare
Visit Red Rock Amphitheatre
The amphitheatre should be considered an attraction in itself, even without seeing a concert, and it is definitely worth including in a travel itinerary that covers the top natural attraction in Colorado. Visiting it is very easy. Just drive to one of the 2 adjacent parking lots (the Top Circle Lot or the Upper North Lot), from where you can access not only the amphitheatre, but also the Visitor Center and the Ship Rock Grille, a restaurant with a panoramic view.
In addition to being the tourist information point, the Visitor Center also includes the Red Rocks Hall of Fame, where the most important artists who have performed in this beautiful amphitheatre are celebrated, a truly impressive collection of bands and musicians. In the visitor center you will also find some interesting works of art, which are part of Denver’s artistic heritage, all inspired by the Red Rocks Park.
Once you reach the amphitheatre you will notice Americans intent on exercising or running up and down the grand staircase. Take your souvenir photos of the beautiful view and, if you want, imitate the locals by doing a bit of exercise. On some days of the week there are also group yoga classes and, during the summer, film screenings.
Things to Do at Red Rocks Park
But the amphitheatre isn’t the only thing of interest here… as already mentioned, this famous concert venue is located in a nature park, Red Rocks Park, so named for the typical reddish coloration of its rocky monoliths.
Red Rocks Hiking Trails
- Red Rocks Trading Post Trail (1.5 miles a/r, 330 feet of elevation gain): a simple loop trail that starts from the Historical Trading Post parking lot (discussed below), southeast of the amphitheatre, and goes around a series of classic rock formations in the park, with their wind-carved shape.
- Geological Overlook Trail (1.1 miles a/r, 300 feet of elevation gain): in a completely different location than the previous trail, this trail is located north of the amphitheatre and to start it you’ll have to go to the small parking lot at the end of Plains View Road. It offers beautiful views of the park from above; bear in mind that you’ll have to walk along a paved road used by cars to get back to your starting point.
- Red Rocks and Morrison Slide Trail (3 miles a/r, 620 feet of elevation gain): even further north than the previous route, this trail starts at the intersection of Red Rock Trail Road and Alameda Parkway (coordinates in the map below). Here you will find a small parking lot where you can leave your car. There are 2 entrances to the Red Rock Trail, one directly from the parking lot, the other on the road in front (Alameda Parkway). The latter is the one you need to take. The trail connects with the Morrison Slide Trail and allows for some really impressive overhead views.
Red Rocks Park is located in the Front Range, an area inhabited by rattlesnakes. Although it’s not all that common to encounter them, it’s wise to be careful when hiking the trails.
Historical Trading Post and Hall of Fame
This historic building was designed by the architect W.R. Rosche in 1931 in the Pueblo Revival style to celebrate Native peoples. Here you can buy a souvenir as a reminder of your trip, but not only that; since 2015, the building has housed the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, an interesting free museum that traces the state’s musical history.
Schedules, Tickets and Directions
For those who simply want to visit, the Red Rocks Amphitheatre is open every day of the year from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset (and so is Red Rocks Park), however, whenever concerts are held, the amphitheatre is closed early (usually after lunch but it may be earlier). My advice is to always check the official website to see if there are any events scheduled on the day of your visit. The Visitor Center is always open except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, at the following times:
- April through October: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
- November through March: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
The Trading Post follows the same opening days as the Visitor Center but with different opening hours: 10am to 4pm
Admission is free, both to the amphitheatre and to all other attractions.
Getting to the site is pretty easy, it’s about 5 minutes from the town of Morrison, 15 minutes from Golden and just over 20 minutes from Denver. There is plenty of parking in the area to get to the various areas and trailheads, but if you just want to visit the amphitheatre, the go-to area is the Upper North Lot. Here is a map showing places of interest, trailheads, and useful parking:
A good map to get an idea of the park can be found here.
Where to Stay Near Red Rock Amphitheatre
Just 10 minutes away from the amphitheatre is the official hotel of Red Rocks Park, the Origin Red Rocks: high-level accommodation managed by the Wyndham chain. However, there are plenty of other lodging options nearby. Here are some useful links to consider based on your itinerary
- List of places to stay near Red Rocks sorted by distance from the place of interest -> see all accommodations
- List of accommodations in Golden, the nearest major city -> see see all accommodations
- List of accommodations in Denver -> see all accommodations
If you are looking for a hotel in the area, I suggest you take a look at this page.
Places to eat Near Red Rock Amphitheatre
The Ship Rock Grille is the only restaurant inside the park and its main strong point is the panoramic terrace, where you can eat blissfully while enjoying a beautiful view of the park. About 10 minutes from the amphitheatre, we find The Fort Restaurant (19192 CO-8, Morrison), located in a historic adobe structure built in 1963 modeled on Bent’s Old Fort. The house specialty is bison meat, and the wine list is impressive, but beware of the prices; this is not a cheap restaurant.
For a quick, cheap but characteristic lunch, you can fall back on Willy’s Wings (109 Bear Creek Ln, Morrison); the specialty of the house here are obviously chicken wings, to eat with fries and various croquettes.
Things to Do Near Red Rocks Park
In the immediate vicinity of the park there are a number of attractions that you can include in your itinerary:
- Dinosaur Ridge Discovery Center (5 minutes): if you are looking for dinosaur bones and fossils you will be happy here. The site, where the Stegosaurus was discovered, boasts more than 15 geological sites with the opportunity to observe over 200 dinosaur tracks.
- Morrison Historic Town (5 minutes): you can travel to the small town of Morrison, with its main street of restaurants and stores, or see dinosaur fossils and bones at its natural history museum, or visit the Morrison Heritage Museum to learn about the town’s history and culture.
- Bandimere Speedway (8 minutes): if you’re a racing fan and want to enjoy a live race, head to this track to watch a National Hot Rod Association race.
- Golden (15 minutes): as you can tell from the main street (and its recognizable sign), this town was founded on the discovery of gold and the legend of the west, and the frontier permeates almost everywhere. Golden sits at the foot of Lookout Mountain, which, in addition to offering beautiful hiking trails, is home to the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave, dedicated to the legendary figure who, among other things, founded the town of Cody in Wyoming. Another popular activity in town is a visit to Coors Brewery, where you can take a tasting tour of Rocky Mountain craft beer, which has been brewed here since 1873.
All of these attractions are part of the Lariat Loop Scenic & Historic Byway, a 64-mile scenic byway that winds through the hills between Golden, Morrison and Evergreen.
Video
Want to get an idea of what to expect at Red Rocks amphitheatre? Here’s a video:
