Denver-based or just rolling through the Mile High City, there are plenty of adventures to be had all within a quick drive. Outdoor adventure or a history lesson, the regions around it have something for everyone on your next roundtrip.
Just a short jaunt to the nearby Rocky Mountains means winter sports, summer hiking and drives around incredible lakes set amidst towering snow covered peaks. In addition to the mountains, charming historic towns and interesting mining communities offer further inspiration or you can pay a visit to beautiful wolf sanctuary.
So, has your mind equalized the decision but do not know where to venture out from Denver; keep scrolling down for our list of 25 top day trips you can take here.
25 Colorado Day Trips From Denver: Epic Hiking and Trip Ideas
1. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
30 minutes from Denver (19 miles)
Red Rocks Park, 19 miles from Denver It’s a great stop not only for locals in Denver, but even tourists out and about exploring the Mile High City.
There are two principles attractions in Red Rocks Park. The first is the renowned Amphitheatre, which sits in a dramatic red rock formation and serves as an awe-inspiring backdrop for performances. Concerts at the theater (it holds fewer than 10,000 people) frequently sell out swiftly; plan ahead and are aware of the schedule.
The park itself is also a great place to hike for short distance. Once called the Garden of Titans and littered with massive red rocks, It’s surrounded by good parking options and is a superb place to lose yourself without venturing far out of the city.
2. Mount Evans Scenic Byway
1 hour 30 minutes from Denver (60 miles)
A day excursion just 40 minutes from downtown Denver, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway is an outstanding driving experience. While Denver is already known as the Mile High City thanks to it’s altitude, this scenic drives goes up even higher.
The 14,130-foot peak is located some 7,000 feet above sea level and starts from Exit 241 of Interstate 70. On your journey, you will get immense sights towards the Rockies in the west and Denver beneath to east as you drive. The fifth highest paved road in the world, this byway is also North America’s highest country drive and a truly unique car adventure.
Available only from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day for driving 28-miles, It costs $10.00 per car load. A pilgrimage that is really well worth it: the views are fabulous, with sheer drops and tight twists to keep an enthusiast happy.
3. Boulder, Colorado and Chautauqua Park
50 minutes from Denver (31 miles)
just a short drive from Denver, this city full of small-town charm is set against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. A few minutes from the city, Boulder draws visitors with it’s outdoor activities and laid-back vibe.
Boulder does have many delicious places to eat, craft breweries and a beautiful mountain background but let’s get real– the main thing Boulder has going for are trails in the Flatirons. With nearly 300 miles of hiking trails to offer, there are year-round adventures taking place on the Mountain Trails.
Chautauqua Park is a huge piece of land that borders Boulder and the trailheads are found mostly within its limits. This is where you’ll be running routes over top of the world to 4.6 km high mountaintops and through beautiful mountain passes while breathing in crisp snow-capped air at altitudes higher than most airport runways!
In winter, if you want to fit some ski time into your schedule then just take a 30-minute drive to one of the many nearby resorts and use Boulder for hiking/skiing base.
4. Vail, Colorado
1 hour 40 minutes from Denver (97 miles)
By area, it is the largest ski field in Colorado and one of the best ski resorts in America. With 193 marked ski trails and 7 fantastic ski bowls to explore, it has earned that reputation fair on Vail Mountain.
But, Vail has more to offer than just skiing. The town itself and the valley around it have something to offer in all seasons. There are festivals during the summer and fall, skiing and snowboarding in winter to spring. The nearest trailhead leads to hiking and mountain-biking trails, while further up are the world’s highest botanical garden. In the winter, it’s very popular for snowmobiling and night skiing.
Among American ski resorts, Vail the town is a unique place. Vail is made up of several parts that have their own unique feel — Vail Village will make you think you should be speaking another language, while Lionshead feels a bit more luxurious.
Vail is a great place to spend the weekend — there is so much to do! But it could also be done in a day if the interstate traffic gods and snowfall are friendly with commutes from Denver.
5. Cheyenne, Wyoming
1 hour 40 minutes from Denver (102 miles)
Cheyenne Though often overwhelmed by other attractions, Cheyenne is a quaint getaway just across the Wyoming state line. It also happens to be Wyoming’s capital, which makes it a convenient (and scenic) day trip from Denver.
But if you want to learn more about Cheyenne history—never mind that of the state! —you’re in luck; there are a handful of interesting museums here. An example of this type facility is the Governors’ Mansion, which has been a museum since 1976.
You can walk the town center easily. Begin with the Wyoming State Capitol and its environs, highlighting five museums within a brief walk. Or for a different perspective, board the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley’s antique buses to see what makes this town tick.
Cheyenne holds the distinction of being home to the world´s largest outdoor rodeo year round. Either way, popping into the Park on a summer Saturday will see you smack dab in the middle of Cheyenne Frontier Days – an end of July rodeo and Western festival. The city becomes a touristy hoard of an excuse to come.
Great to do everything kind staying in vail for a weekend. The town of Granby is the entrance to this land, about a 2 hour drive west from Denver — provided there’s no traffic or winter weather whirling along with you.
6. Central City and Blackhawk
50 minutes from Denver (40 miles)
The nearby mountain towns of Central City and Blackhawk provide a look at the state’s mining past. It became a mining center, with miners coming from Auraria and many other surrounding towns during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush of 1858 — attracted by rich discoveries near Little Dry Creek. By the early 20th century though, as mines were tapped out, fortunes faded in the towns.
The legalization of gambling in the 1990s brought further change. Fourteen operate in Central City, and 10 are located in Blackhawk today It has lodging in the towns, from five star hotels to service campsites and flavoursome tasting houses (restaurants) with lots of bars, all targeting those tourists who want gaming amusements. The more populous of the two, Blackhawk is where you’ll find 18 casinos (it was first on the original route).
Both towns have more to offer in terms of local hikes and breweries, but the reigning kings are their casinos. Want to take your chance on gaming tables or slots — a day trip to Central City and Blackhawk might suit you if so.
7. White River National Forest
1 hour 30 minutes from Denver (87 miles)
The White River National Forest, located west of Denver and stretching across much of the Rocky Mountain terrain. As you drive west toward Vail on Interstate 70, it stretches all the way from Colorado’s Western Slope and a good portion of northwestern Colorado.
The forest borders 12 ski areas, including Aspen, Vail and Beaver Creek. Non-skiers can enjoy the nature too. This forest holds 10 mountains stretching above 14,000 feet and features over. This means you can hit new trails every weekend for years without repeating the same route.
The most visited national forest in the U.S. White River never feels crowded because of its enormity and spectrum of things to do. Look for deer, moose and elk as you explore this area. Yes, there are bobcats, and lynx found as well; although it is rare to ever find one in the open.
Those who prefer to relax can take in a drive through the serene forest on some of its scenic roads.
8. Rocky Mountain National Park
1 hour 30 minutes from Denver (73 miles)
Rocky Mountain National Park Drives Hiking is the main attraction at Rocky Mountain, plus getting out to explore nature and gape in awe of towering peaks. Getting there from Denver is easy. Take I-25 north, then follow Highways 66 and US-36 to Estes Park (the main park gateway). While staying, Estes Park has the primary visitor center and plenty of places to stay overnight.
This park has a large network of mountain trails and campsites scattered across the area which, combined with small lakes surrounded by mountains, is ingredients for great Nature photography.
With two parts separated by the Continental Divide, this park includes five different regions that give way to landscapes sweeping from broad meadows to sharp glacier-capped peaks. Take A Look At The Park Map & Planning Your Visit Correctly
Take a scenic drive along Trail Ridge Road if you want to explore further. In the summer, you will have a shorter detour route to Steamboat Springs from Denver but in winter it could snow and on snow days this short cut may not be so convenient.
9. Georgetown, Colorado
50 minutes from Denver (45 miles)
If you are heading an hour into the Rockies from Denver, Georgetown has a pleasant surprise waiting for you. Tucked next to Georgetown Lake, sitting off Interstate 70 — the road leading out of Denver into the mountains — this former mining town nestled in mountain landscapes is defined by its restored Victorian-era architecture.
At the outskirts of this town, you can find Georgetown Loop Railroad. The train is a historic locomotive that runs along an 1880s narrow-gauge track, gently swaying around the valley during the summer months.
Geek out on your way to Vail, Aspen, and other areas in White River National Forest for skiing with a pitstop experience at Georgetown. Well worth a visit if you get the chance
And for a nice place to drive, head up Guanella Pass Road (a turn off I-70 in Georgetown). This road finds its way up into the mountains and then south to Grant where it reaches Highway 285. This appropriately difficult run is only open during the summer and offers gorgeous views without drawing as much traffic as some of the mountain routes.
10. Glenwood Springs, Colorado
2 hours 40 minutes from Denver (157 miles)
Glenwood Springs is in the White River National Forest and can be reached by driving west from Denver on I-70, toward Grand Junction. When you get close to Glenwood Springs, Highway 82 splits off toward Aspen.
This park is home to the world’s largest hot spring pool, The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool. It has over one million gallons of water kept at a comfortable 90° to 93°F (about 33°C).
We also have the Therapy Pool, with a temperature of 104 °F (40 °C) for those looking at warmer temperatures. In fact, even in winter the water from Yampah Spring is 122 °F (50 °C) and has to be cooled before it can reach the pools!!
About 10 miles outside of Glenwood Springs, you get to the Hanging Lake Trail. In non-winter months, you can still park and take a one-mile walk uphill to see an amazing mountain lake in the confines of such as narrow gorge.
11. Pawnee National Grassland
1 hour 45-minute drive from Denver (109 miles)
The road east from the Rocky Mountains leads you out into the endless prairie, and that Hill Country suddenly is a long way away When You go over north into Pawnee National Grassland.
While most day trips from Denver will take you west into the Rockies, which are renowned for their breathtaking scenery and endless outdoor activities like skiing or snowboarding, this one stands out. Immediately north of a line running east from Fort Collins lies Pawnee National Grassland, where the grasslands extend so flat and smooth for miles that you can see incredible distances without any hills breaking the horizon.
With a host of trails and camp sites this is one to plan an extended stay; but everyone visiting will gain from the broad strokes. Do note that there is a network of small roads and dirt tracks dispersed throughout the Grassland – some of which are public, others private. Look for signs to prevent arguments with the people that live around there.
12. Bear Creek Canyon & Evergreen
40 minutes from Denver (29 miles)
An Evergreen is the perfect little escape. An ideal day trip for those pressed for time, the pleasant getaway serves as a welcome respite from hectic city life.
Start your journey on the Bear Creek Canyon Scenic Mountain Drive, an enjoyable path that goes from Morrison and Idledale. For example this scenic drive begins near Red Rocks Park and you can knock two worthwhile activities off your list in one day.
While ascending to Idledale (in Colorado State Highway 74) and then going up towards Evergreen, you can experience the beautiful vistas. Evergreen is a great place to visit for lunch or dinner.
Catch an evening show at the old saloon or pay a visit to Revival Brews offering upwards of 70 craft beers just down the road in Evergreen. Consider staying at a hotel close by if you are going to partake in the local brews.
Take a stroll around Evergreen Lake, or hit the downtown area for quaint shopping. There are various parks and hiking options on both sides of the highway along the entire route from Morrison to Evergreen.
The ascent of Mount Falcon has rewards in the form far-reaching views, mixing white peaks under a wash of blue with shadowed foothills. Lair o’ the Bear Park has a nice stretch along Sincaid and up into Holmes Gulch, great for relaxing while following picturesque trails next to Bear Creek.
13. Golden, Colorado
25 minutes from Denver (15 miles)
Golden is the antithesis of city hustle. This short drive will bring you to a laidback mountain town that is so charming on its own.
Thankfully, Golden does not feel like a mountain town that is close to Denver. With the Lookout Mountain Park and North Table Mountain Park framing it, this provides a much calmer environment compared to massive resorts like Aspen or Vail as well.
If you want a different type of activity from hiking, then the Colorado Railroad Museum and original Coors Brewery which has been in operation since 1873 offer tours. These local attractions are a special addition you may include for your day trip, and each of them tells the history of where it is located.
14. Colorado Springs, Colorado
1 hour 20 minutes from Denver (69 miles)
One day does not give much justice to the city that is Colorado Springs I would recommend staying overnight or making multiple excursions to truly experience everything it has to offer.
Although most visitors concentrate on the nearby mountains and parks, there is plenty to see in the city itself. Old Colorado City, just west of downtown, formed the state capital in 1859. Wander charming local shops, dining diversity or art galleries.
It is also home to a number of unique museums. With things like the quirky Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum or expansive Colorado Springs Pioneer Musuem, there’s something for everyone. Some highlights are exhibits on trolleys of old, vintage aircraft and mining history mixed with the unconventional a preserved bordello, which this mish-mash makes for a historical/curiosity combo.
15. Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak
1 hour 30 minutes from Denver (74 mies)
Pikes Peak dominates the Colorado Springs skyline. Standing at 14,115 feet (4,302 meters), this towering peak is one of the prominent fourteeners in the region.
There are several ways to reach the summit. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which starts in Manitou Springs, is a popular choice for a leisurely ascent. However, this railway is currently closed for upgrades and is expected to reopen in 2021.
In the meantime, you can drive to the top via Pikes Peak Highway. Although this toll road features 19 miles of winding turns, it offers access to one of the most famous mountain races globally—the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.
If you prefer hiking, the 13-mile trail to the summit provides a challenging trek, ascending over 8,000 feet (2,400 meters). Plan for several hours to complete this hike both ways.
Situated between Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods is renowned for its striking red rock formations. Notable features include tall slender spires, a massive balancing rock, and formations resembling cathedrals in the aptly named Cathedral Valley.
16. Biking trails in Fort Collins and Lory State Park
1 hour 30 minutes from Denver (75 miles)
In Fort Collins, there are plenty possible activities that visitors overlook. The historic city to the north on I-25, though has a lot of fun and great things in store for explorers.
Fort Collins is home to an Old Town area with unique boutique storefronts promoting items from flatware to flavours. If you book a room for the night, perhaps this is why people call the city “Napa Valley of Beer.” With close to two dozen craft brewery options, your drinking choices are vast.
The biking infrastructure is outstanding in this city and has separated roads for all bikers. Rental bikes are plentiful if you didn’t tote your own. The city is littered with bike racks, and renting takes just a few minutes via app.
More outdoor fun is close by at Lory State Park located just outside Fort Collins. You will drive around Horsetooth Reservoir to get into the park. There, you will find numerous trails winding through volcanic terrain for hiking, mountain biking and more.
17. Lake Dillon
1 hour 15 minutes from Denver (69 miles)
a Blue River reservoir in the Rockies. An ever-popular destination, which sees many visitors across all seasons of the year for a variety of activities from hiking and mountain adventures or skiing.
Here there are peaceful RV campgrounds in summer, while its waters edge the snow-capped grasped tops with a system of cycling trails and golf follows for those needing relaxation. A summer concert series is held in the town of Dillon, and boat rentals are available at the marina from late May through September.
In winter, snow sports four major ski resorts within a 10-mile radius of Lake Dillon (Copper Mountain, Keystone or Breckenridge). Certainly a day trip, these resorts are so close to Denver you can get up there and back in the same 24 hours.
18. Aspen, Colorado
3 hours (159 miles) from Denver in the summer, 4 hours 20 minutes (223 miles) from Denver in the winter
This popular ski resort in Aspen is a little further away than the other nearby choices. Due to the travel distance, you may want to extend your visit there so that you can enjoy everything Aspen has on offer.
From Denver the best route is to head west on I-70 and get off at Copper Mountain, then drive south toward Aspen on Highway 91. Take Highway 82 all the way into Aspen. Take Highway 82; however, during the winter months this road is closed due to snow and ice so in winter you will need to take a longer route through Glenwood Springs continuing south on highway 82.
Skiing: Aspen is widely regarded as a ski Mecca featuring four distinct, impressive mountains side-by-side – Aspenn Mountain (Ajax), Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass.
Even if you are not all that interested in skiing, Aspen provides for a wonderful vacation. Take in the views while hiking or dining at a mountaintop restaurant, relaxing with bodywork appointments and listening to music on top of Ajax Mountain; Wheeler Opera House offers year-round concerts and performances reaching back as far as 1890.
19. Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center
2 hours from Denver (97 miles)
The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is accessible by highways through Colorado Springs or a scenic mountain drive on Highway 67 to Woodland Park.
In the center, you can approach and handle wolves that live in their sanctuary. The park offers a number of tours (e.g. Standard, Meet & Greet Tours and Feeding Tours), even with VIP options also available. Which you go for will depend upon how much time you have, your budget and whether or not travelling up the major highway to see animals more closely is worth it.
The center also has wolves, coyotes and foxes. The different types of wolf within the species makes for an educational experience into these western creatures.
These animals probably would not survive in the wild and this is there their habitat is as close to natural environment.
20. Steamboat and the Fish Creek Falls
3 hours from Denver (159 miles)
Although Steamboat Springs is a 3-hour drive, you could make it an overnight trip. But if you like a nice mountain drive, it is probably just far enough to be out of range for a day trip.
While it was a privilege to fly into Denver and have access to the metropolis, our intention all along was for you folks at home who might be planning your next trip out west. Meanwhile, isolated in Northwest Colorado high-country without lift-served skiing Steamboat Springs offers an unfiltered mountain town experience with ranching history going back generations. The town home to a myriad of hiking trails have you on easy access from the picture perfect, Fish Creek Falls that are an impressive site as well worth your time.
The city boasts 98 Olympians, a remarkable number for such a small Rocky Mountain town. Steamboat SpringsOfficially twinned with the Swiss ski paradises of Saas Fee, it is little wonder that Steamboat has gained an international reputation.
If skiing is not your thing, Steamboat offers plenty of other winter activities like snowmobiling and tubing. In the summer, ski runs become mountain biking trails and hot springs at Strawberry Park provide a soothing end to an active day.
21. The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
2-Hour Drive from Denver
The Royal Gorge Bridge, one of the world’s highest suspension bridges spans 1,260 feet (384 m) across and plunges more than 955 ft (291m) into a granite canyon carved by the Arkansas River. The bridge, partly due to some of the most beautiful views afforded by any structure in Britain since it’s completion in 1929 has always been an attraction for visitors.
(On a side note: The Royal Gorge Bridge held the title of highest bridge in the world for 72 years until it was bested by China’s Liuguanghe.)
The view is what most visitors enjoy the best; but there are other things to do too. A visit there might include a stop at the small amusement park, trackside dining facilities and gondola ride. Thrill seekers are accommodated by a via ferrata and an enormous zip line that runs the length of the canyon.
22. Idaho Springs
You can get a taste of living mountainside just outside Denver by visiting Idaho Springs.
Choose to visit St. Mary’s Glacier on foot, zipline over the treetops or take a guided tour of historic mines and scurry through downtown streets at your leisure. You won’t want to miss a slice of famous Colorado-style pizza from Beau Jo’s after you finish up!
The park is close to Denver therefore the town does get really busy but still an ideal spot for a a day trip. The flight to Beat The Crowds Head there first thing in the morning and you might dodge your half-way pay by being faced with packed beaches.
23. Breckenridge
You can get a taste of living mountainside just outside Denver by visiting Idaho Springs.
Choose to visit St. Mary’s Glacier on foot, zipline over the treetops or take a guided tour of historic mines and scurry through downtown streets at your leisure. You won’t want to miss a slice of famous Colorado-style pizza from Beau Jo’s after you finish up!
The park is close to Denver therefore the town does get really busy but still an ideal spot for a a day trip. The flight to Beat The Crowds Head there first thing in the morning and you might dodge your half-way pay by being faced with packed beaches.
24. Nederland
Home to both the annual NedFest music and arts festival, as well as Frozen Dead Guy Days (honoring a Norwegian immigrant’s odd wish to have his dead grandfather cryogenically frozen), you can bet life in this tiny mountain town is interesting. These events literally scream Nederland to a capital.
Visitors who don’t make it during any of these festivals still have access to the beautiful hiking trails, a charming lake and an adorable downtown.
25. Twin Lakes
Located between Leadville and Buena Vista, Twin Lakes sit in the shadow of fourteeners on both sides, a favorite summer getaway. Works you can take part in here includes boating, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking.
The surrounding county land has some fantastic hiking and biking trails, and Twin Lakes Ghost Town that too can be accessed all year round.
In the winter, the area also appeals to others who fish on ice, or snowmobile in serene surroundings after a fluffy blanket of white has been laid down.
