Red Rocks Amphitheatre is famous for concerts, but you absolutely do not need tickets to a show to enjoy it. This Red Rocks Amphitheatre guide covers what you need to know if you are visiting during the day, whether or not there is a concert on your Colorado itinerary.
We visited Red Rocks and spent about an hour exploring the amphitheatre and Visitor Center. If you are visiting Denver or Golden and want to see Red Rocks without a concert, it is an easy sightseeing stop that does not need to take up half your day.
If you are planning several days in the area, I included Red Rocks in my Spend a Week in Colorado: The Perfect Denver and Golden Itinerary.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is an outdoor concert venue in Morrison, Colorado, just outside Denver, but the geology is just as impressive as the music history.
The sandstone formations here date back hundreds of millions of years. Creation Rock and Ship Rock frame the amphitheatre, and the massive rock formations are a huge part of what makes the venue so unusual. Red Rocks sits at about 6,450 feet above sea level and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2015.
Seeing it in person gives you a much better sense of how dramatic the setting actually is. Photos show you the amphitheatre, but they do not quite convey how enormous the rocks surrounding it are.
Yes, and I would absolutely recommend it.
Admission and parking are free for daytime visitors to Red Rocks Park, the amphitheatre, Visitor Center, and Trading Post. On non-event days, the park and amphitheatre are generally open from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.
The schedule is different on event days. The amphitheatre often closes to daytime visitors around 2 p.m. so crews can prepare for the show, although closure times can vary and sometimes happen earlier.
If there is a concert scheduled the day you want to visit, I would check the Red Rocks schedule before driving over.
Red Rocks also works really well with a day in Golden. If that is how you are planning your visit, my One Day in Golden Colorado: The Perfect Day Trip from Denver has the rest of the stops I would combine with it.
We visited around noon, and even without a concert happening, there was still a lot going on.
There were tons of people working out on the stairs and throughout the amphitheatre, so the whole place still had a lot of energy. Apparently, looking at 193 stairs (yes, really that many) and thinking, yes, this seems like a good place to exercise, is a thing people do here.
We mostly walked around the amphitheatre, walked down toward the stage, and took in the surrounding rock formations. It was also very hot and there is not much shade, so August at noon is definitely not the coolest time to visit.
Still, it was really fun to see the venue in person without the crowds of a concert.
If Red Rocks is just one stop on your trip, I have more sightseeing ideas in Top Things to Do in Denver Colorado.
Parking was surprisingly easy for us.
We were able to park along the road about five minutes from the amphitheatre, so we did not have a long walk from the car.
Depending on where you end up parking, though, there can be a decent amount of walking and stair climbing involved. Red Rocks is built into a hillside, so even a relatively short visit is not necessarily flat.
Daytime parking is free. Concert parking is obviously a completely different situation, and Red Rocks recommends arriving early for events because traffic control directs vehicles into the available lots.
We had a rental car for our Colorado trip, which made it easy to combine places outside downtown Denver. You can compare current rental car rates through Discover Cars.
We spent most of our time exploring the amphitheatre itself and then went inside the Visitor Center.
Those are the two things I would prioritize if you only have about an hour.
Definitely walk down far enough that you can see the stage framed by Creation Rock and Ship Rock.
This was the part I really wanted to see. Red Rocks is so recognizable in photos that you almost feel like you already know what it looks like, but standing inside it is completely different.
The amphitheatre was designed to work with the existing rock formations rather than overpower them. Architect Burnham Hoyt specifically wanted to preserve the site's views and natural acoustics as much as possible.
Once you are standing there, that makes a lot more sense.
I also recommend going inside the Visitor Center. It gives you enough information about the geology, construction, and music history of Red Rocks to make the visit more interesting.
The Visitor Center also includes the Red Rocks Hall of Fame, exhibits, restrooms, food and drink options, and a store. Current seasonal hours vary, so I would check them before your visit.
One random fact I loved learning about Red Rocks was the connection to Sicily.
George Cranmer, who helped drive the development of the amphitheatre, had seen an ancient theatre in Sicily, and that experience influenced the concept for Red Rocks. The overall idea was to work with the natural landscape instead of competing with it.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
We spent about one hour at Red Rocks, and that felt like enough time to explore the amphitheatre and Visitor Center without rushing.
For a basic Red Rocks daytime visit, I would allow around 1–2 hours.
One hour works if you mainly want to:
If you want to hike, explore more of Red Rocks Park, or spend more time taking photos, you could easily stay longer.
Red Rocks Park itself covers 738 acres, so there is much more here than just the amphitheatre.
If you are trying to decide how Red Rocks fits into a shorter Denver trip, my The Perfect 3 Days in Denver Colorado shows how I would organize your time.
Red Rocks sits at around 6,450 feet above sea level. I did not feel any effects from the altitude during our visit. That said, everyone reacts differently, especially if you are coming straight from a much lower elevation.
The altitude combined with all those stairs could definitely catch up with you faster than expected. Red Rocks recommends drinking plenty of water ( or this is my favorite refresher) and taking your time while walking and climbing the stairs.
If you have just arrived in Colorado, I would not make your first activity sprinting up and down the amphitheatre stairs with the locals.
We visited Red Rocks in August, and it was hot. Really hot.
What I wore was also not the best choice for this particular activity. Had I known how much walking, stair climbing, and direct sun were involved, I would have worn lightweight workout clothes and comfortable sneakers instead.
Since you are pretty exposed around the amphitheatre, light, comfortable clothing makes the most sense during the summer.
I would bring:
For water, I travel with my Brita Water Bottle, and I would definitely have water with you here, especially during summer.
Red Rocks also recommends sunscreen and paying attention to changing weather conditions because you are outdoors and fairly exposed. I use SuperGoop Face Sunscreen, and Coola Spray Sunscreen is easy for arms and legs when I know I am going to be outside for a while.
If you plan to hike around Red Rocks Park, stay on the designated trails and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes. The dry Colorado heat can sneak up on you, especially when you add elevation and walking.
Based entirely on our experience, noon in August would not be my first choice if you have flexibility.
I would probably visit earlier in the morning during summer if your schedule allows. You would still get the amphitheatre experience without as much midday heat.
Morning also gives you more flexibility on event days since the amphitheatre can close to the public in the afternoon.
Yes! I would absolutely stop at Red Rocks even if you are not attending a show. The amphitheatre itself is impressive, but the natural setting is what really makes it special.
It is also very easy to work into a Denver or Golden day. For us, about an hour was enough to walk through the amphitheatre, visit the Visitor Center, and understand why Red Rocks is such a big deal.
I would definitely go again—and next time, maybe not at noon in August.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
If you are flying into Denver, my Denver Airport Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Denver International Airport covers what we learned about the airport, rental car shuttles, and getting into the city.
For flights, you can compare options through Skyscanner, and Discover Cars is useful if you want a rental car for Red Rocks, Golden, or other places outside downtown Denver.
We stayed at The Maven in downtown Denver. Read my The Maven Hotel Denver Review: What to Expect if you are deciding where to base yourself.
You can also compare Denver hotel prices through Booking.com.
If you want to add guided activities around Denver to your trip, browse current options through Viator or Get Your Guide.
For another easy stop outside Denver, read my Hammond’s Candies Factory Tour Review: What to Expect.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Filing this one under “go now before it gets cold.” Bonneville Hot Springs is one of those trips where fall access is honestly the sweet spot the campground road is open, the hike in is short, and you skip the snow-and-gate situation we dealt with when we went in March.
September and early fall mean clearer trails, easier parking, and pools that are just as good without the extra mile of hiking to earn them. Fewer than 10 people out there when we visited, a rustic changing booth, zero amenities, and pools that range from “relax” to “actually scalding” until you move some rocks around and mix in river water. Small waterfalls feeding in, mountains in every direction, not polished, and that’s exactly the point.
Full breakdown on parking, what to pack, and timing it right is linked in my bio.
Summer’s not even over and I already have the itch. Fall hiking season is calling and I am answering.
Save this if you feel the itch too.🍁
Columbus hotel roundup because “just find something downtown” isn’t a strategy✈️
I stayed across the price spectrum on this one so I could actually compare notes. Hotel LeVeque is the splurge Art Deco lobby, marble bathrooms, and a restaurant (The Keep) worth visiting even if you don’t book a room. If you want to walk everywhere, Le Méridien puts you right in the Short North with murals and shops outside your door. And if budget’s the priority, Aloft gets you clean and modern near Ohio State without the markup.
Want a full escape from the city instead? Hocking Hills lodges and Gervasi Vineyard are both an easy drive out and worth the detour.
Not every hotel on this list is for every trip... that’s kind of the point. Full breakdown by neighborhood and budget, link in bio 🍂
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
