Its been years since my road trip to Denver. I barely spent two days there last time. You can read about it here. This time I knew I had a lot to explore.
Known as the “Mile High City”, it has a deep Old West history and is surrounded by many national parks which makes it great for hiking and outdoor activities. Which is probably something you already know. What keeps it relevant is the vibrant art scene and booming craft beer industry that the city has become a mecca for.
Whether you are naturally outdoorsy or not there is plenty to do in Denver. Here is a 5 day Itinerary for exploring Denver and the surrounding area. I used Denver as my home base but did day trips to towns around it. We stayed at an VRBO house just outside of the city. It was about a 15-minute drive to downtown Denver which was perfect for us. It was a group trip with friends.
Day 1
Golden
Golden was originally, you guessed it, a gold rush town! Founded in 1859 it was named after the prospector Thomas L Golden. It was the original capitol of Colorado because of its strategic location between the mines in the mountains and the plains. In 1873 Adolph Coors opens the Coors brewery and it became a major employer and staple for the local economy. Further solidifying its importance. Today it is still the largest single site brewery in the world.
Nowadays the big draw to Golden is Red Rocks Amphitheater. Of course you can book tickets to a show while you are there but if you don’t want to see a show or there isn’t anything playing you can also just visit the theater and there are hiking trails to explore. It is a gorgeous theater and worth the visit. They also have other events like yoga and art exhibits. It is free to enter on non-concert days so check the schedule before you go to see what is happening.
The Coors Brewery is still open to this day and it is a huge tourist attraction. They offer guided tours that last about 60-90 minutes where you learn about the history of the company and the brewing process. The cost is between $15-20 USD and minors are allowed on the tour. These book up fast so it is recommended to book early if you want to do this on your trip.
I really love Old West history. I listened to a podcast on Billy the Kid recently and it made me fascinated with the time period. A prominent Wild West figure is Buffalo Bill. He was an American Frontiersman, bison hunter and eventually a showman. He created a traveling show capitalizing on and romanticizing the idea of the American West. Making him one of the most recognizable celebrities of his time. He is buried at the top of a mountain in Golden and there is a small museum you can visit dedicated to him right next to it. The cost of the museum is $5USD but the grounds and grave are free to visit
The Golden Mill After a long day of hiking, brewery tours and old west history you might feel like you need a drink and some food. Head over to The Golden Mill food hall.
This is a tap hall. You register at the front desk and get what looks like a credit card. Then you use to to get drinks/ food then you pay at the end. They have 16 taps that are all self-pour. For the food there are five vendors. Lots of seating space. It is great for large groups, everyone can get what they want.
Day 2
Arsenal Wildlife Refuge
This is also very close to downtown Denver, about 20 minutes. It is also another free park! This nature preserve and wildlife refuge is great for some easy trail hikes and wildlife viewing. I spent about 2 hours here.
Park at the visitor center and check out the exhibits, refill your water bottle and use the restroom. From there you can take the Discovery trail which is about a mile and connects to most of the other trails. Depending on how much time you want to spend walking you can choose to do a lot or a little. We tacked on the Lake Mary Loop and did about 3 miles all together. We saw loads of deer and prairie dogs as we walked.
After that we did the Wildlife Drive and saw bison crossing! It was a great way to spend a morning.
Yak and Yeti Restaurant and Brewpub
On our way back we found an Indian-Nepalese Brewpub for lunch. Built inside a historic mansion in a small suburb outside of Denver this quirky little gem serves up great Indian classics and has its own brewery. Check it out here.
Darkside of Denver RiNo’s True Crime and Murals Tour
I really love true crime. I listen to a lot of podcasts, read a lot of books, watch the documentaries but I don’t like the voyeurism. I don’t want to go where anything happened. It seems distasteful. These are real people, with real families. So, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this tour. I knew I wanted to explore RiNo and I love street art tours as well.
It turned out to be exactly what I wanted. Upon arrival the guide asked us how familiar we were with crime in Denver, and I rattled off all the big cases. He geared the stories towards things we were less likely to have heard. We walked around the neighborhood and looked at the murals that often had to do with the crimes. Often paying homage to the lives lost, but never to a scene of a crime. It was tasteful. It was informative.
This tour will run you $25 and it last about 2 hours. You can book it here.
RiNo District
Once you are in the area you might as well stay. Otherwise known as the “River North Art District”, it was a neglected industrial area and of course was gentrified into a vibrant neighborhood.
Now the area is a cultural hub with art galleries, breweries, trendy restaurants and more.
One stop we made was to Our Mutual Friend Brewing which shares a parking lot with Pit Friend BBQ. You can grab your beer, your BBQ and enjoy it outside on the patio.
Day 3
Colorado Springs
Only one hours drive away from Denver this is a perfect day trip.
Garden of the Gods
Another free park (you know I love them!) and registered National Natural Landmark it is known for its unique red sandstone rock formations. The park features 21 miles of trails for all levels of hiking. I spent about 2 hours here and stayed mostly on the Central Garden Trail.
Red Leg Brewing Company
After an early morning hike, you are going to want to reward yourself with a meal and a beer. Just outside the entrance to the park is Red Leg Brewing Co. Which is a food truck park and beer garden. There is loads of both indoor and outdoor seating, multiple food trucks for everyone’s needs and a large beer menu. Red Leg Brewing is also a veteran owned company.
Cog Railway
In the afternoon you can make the short drive over to Manitou Springs. About a 15-minute drive to this historic town. The town is filled with little tourist shops to browse and is really cute. What steals the show is Pikes Peak.
You will want to book a ticket a head of time for Cog Railway to head to the top of Pike’s Peak. The 9 mile ride up to reach the 14,115-foot summit. This railway has been operating since 1891. I was a little worried about the ride but in the end, it was a stunning experience. Highly recommend either wearing layers or bringing extra layers. Even if you go in the summer, it is quite cold at the top. I was regretful in shorts. If altitude affects you, please take precaution.
Once at the top you have about 45 minutes to explore.
Day 4
Rocky Mountain National Park
This is a full day trip from Denver. The drive is about an hour but the park is a full day exploration.
The park spans the Continental Divide and features protected mountains, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. The park has two sides, connected by Trail Ridge Road: the busier east side near Estes Park and the quieter west side near Grand Lake.
The summer is the most popular time to visit and now requires timed entries. From late May until Mid-October, you are now required between the hours of 9am to 2pm. If you are an earlier riser or don’t mind going later in the day, then you can skip worrying about the ticket.
Timed Entry Permits:
There are two types of permits:
- Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road: Required for the Bear Lake Road corridor between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. This option also gives you access to all other areas of the park.
- Timed Entry (without Bear Lake Road): Required for all other areas of the park between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
What is Bear Lake Road? It is a popular, scenic 9.2-mile paved road in Rocky Mountain National Park. It provides access to some of the most stunning and highly visited areas of the park, including lakes, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing areas. Due to its popularity, the road operates under a separate, and more restrictive, timed entry system during peak season than the rest of the park.
How to get a reservation?
There is a monthly batch release of permits on the first day of the preceding month at 8am.
A portion of reservations are held and then released the day before at 7pm. These go quick. You must have your account registered and ready to go.
A one day vehicle pass is 30 dollars plus a 2 dollar processing fee.
You can find all the information you need here.
Day 5
Downtown Denver
For your last day you might want to take it easy. You have spent a lot of days hiking, getting up early and exploring. Maybe its time to get up leisurely and spend time in the city. There are a lot of options.
Meow Wolf
I have always wanted to check out a Meow Wolf. Denver was my first one. It is hard to accurately explain what it is if you haven’t been to one. Part interactive art installation, part acid trip?
Four worlds have combined at this convergence station, and you get to explore them by walking thru them and touching everything. On a journey of sight, sound and touch you see these worlds come to life.
Each Meow Wolf (there are 5 with 2 more on the way) has a different theme and brings a different world to life.
Coors Light Stadium
Although I am not particularly a sports fan I have recently been going to games when I travel. When I was in Tempe in February they were having spring training. I figured why not. The stadium in Denver is beautiful and surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. Whether you like the game or not the tickets are cheap and checking out the stadium food is always worth it.
Brewery Hopping
If you went brewery hoping in RiNo you can change it up and check out the Downtown District. Denver has been known for its beer scene before craft brewer was a thing. There are many breweries located in a walkable distance making it an easy way to spend a day exploring by foot.
Start at Wynkoop Brewing. Denver’s Oldest Micro Brewery started in 1988. This place is huge, lots of space for large groups and is a full-service restaurant. Ending here is also a good option after a long day of drinking.
About an 8-minute walk down the block is Full Frame Beer & Coffee. That’s right coffee by day and beer by night (or day). I love the duality concept and being able to satisfy anyone’s needs. They also serve hot dogs!
Heading back towards Wynkoop is a food hall/market place called The Dairy Block. Originally built in 1916 as the Windsor Dairy Building it has been turned into a trendy pedestrian only alleyway that features stores, art installations, a food hall and even a hotel. Nestled into the alley way is West Bound and Down Brewing. Just a really cute little store front and nook to grab a drink in the afternoon and possibly do some window shopping.
There are about a dozen breweries in this area to check out. I barely scratched the surface.
Cuba Cuba
Ended the trip with a big Cuban meal that came recommended by several different guides and servers when asked “Where should I eat in Denver?” People kept saying Cuba, Cuba! Reservations are highly recommended and the location on Delaware street is the recommended location. There are 5 in the area and some are just store front that sell sandwiches not sit down restaurants with mojito bars.
The concept was started by Kristy Socarras in 2001, a Cuban transplant from Miami, who missed her culture and her cuisine. The Delaware Street location is one of two that are located in old historic homes adding to the feel of a home cooked Cuban meal. You might have to wait even if you have reservations but the meal will be worth it, I promise you that.
There is so much to see and do in Denver. This is just the beginning!
