Here are some easy day trips from the Mile High City

Red rocks and a white snowy mountain — Pikes Peak rises above the Garden of the Gods | **John Hoffman / Shutterstock**

There aren’t many American cities where you can swap skyscrapers for snowy summits in under an hour. But from Denver, Colorado, you can be on top of a 14,000-foot peak, skiing down world-class runs or exploring Jurassic red rocks in no time at all.

If you’ve got some spare time in the Mile-High City or are looking to explore the wilds of Colorado, here are eight of the best day trips from Denver to check out.

1. Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park

Lakes, trees and mountains at sunset — Longs Peak and the Crags | **Colin D. Young / Shutterstock**

Hop onto the US-36 and head north west for about 90 minutes and you’ll swap the Front Range for the Rocky Mountain National Park. You can imagine how popular the park gets thanks to some of the best mountain terrain in the US, so pre-booking is essential. The park runs a three-tier entry system between 9am and 2pm between May and October (check the official website for updates), so make sure you’ve secured your permit in advance.

Follow the Trail Ridge Road to see elk grazing on the tundra before making your way to the Emerald Lake Trail, a moderate hike offering spectacular views across this glacial lake high in the mountains.

End your journey at Estes Park, a mountain town where you can refuel before heading back to Denver. Enjoy a seasonal game dish at Bird & Jim complete with accompanying cocktail or mocktail, and don’t forget to grab a pie from the Colorado Cherry Company kiosk in the Stanley Hotel for the ride home.

2. Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak

Orange rocks against a blue sky — The red spires of the Garden of the Gods | **Oleg Kovtun Hydrobio / Shutterstock**

Colorado Springs is about an hour from Denver on the I-25, but the change in scenery makes you feel like you’ve arrived somewhere entirely different. Your day trip begins in the Garden of the Gods, a formation where 300-foot high fins of rust-red rock jab at the sky. Save yourself some time and extra driving (and congestion) by using the free shuttle which connects the parking lot, visitor centre and central garden.

Eight miles west of the Garden of the Gods likes another epic piece of rock poking into the heavens – Pikes Peak. This mountain is the highest summit of the Front Range and the American portion of the Rockies. You can park and hike, but again congestion means taking the new shuttle straight to the top is a more environmentally-friendly way of climbing America’s mountain.

Drop by the Garden of the Gods Market & Café back in Colorado Springs for snacks and souvenirs before you leave.

3. Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway and Idaho Springs

The winding trail takes in some epic scenery | **Sean Xu / Shutterstock**

Take the I-70 from Denver and exit at Echo Lake to begin your journey along North America’s highest paved road. Formerly Mount Evans, now officially Mount Blue Sky, has a scenic byway that tops 14,000 feet and offers some pretty epic views. You’ll need to make a reservation at recreation.gov, then you’re free to access this winding route through the Rockies.

After snapping photos of the mountain goats that often invade the parking lots, descend to Idaho Springs, famous for its historic main street. Reason one for visiting is a trip to Beau Jo’s, the birthplace of the famous ‘Colorado-style’ mountain pie, and reason two is a glass of anything from the Tommyknocker Brewery (the Blood Orange IPA is a treat).

If everything hurts from hiking the hills, then drop by the Indian Hot Springs just off Miner Street. Here, you can rent an outdoor tub for an hour to soak away the strains and pains.

4. Red Rocks Park, Amphitheatre and Morrison

Arguably the best event space in the whole US, Red Rocks Amphitheatre is certainly unique. Laid out between two gigantic rocks (Ship Rock and Creation Rock), this huge curved arena and stage hosts live music, comedy and theatre under the stars throughout the year.

Even on days where there isn’t a show, the grand scale and colourful geology make this a great spot to check out near Denver. The amphitheatre is also undergoing renovation works to make it more accessible and visitor-friendly.

If you don’t have a ticket or there aren’t any performances, you can still grab drinks at the Ship Rock Grille and check out the wildflower loop, a 1.4 mile stroll offering great views. Leave enough time to visit the one-street town of Morrison, a five minute drive away. The honey smothered chicken biscuit at The Cow is worth the trip alone.

5. Golden, Lookout Mountain and the Coors Brewery

Welcome sign above a street in Golden, Colorado — Golden, Colorado | **Framalicious / Shutterstock**

This super-easy day trip from Denver takes barely half an hour from downtown and is jam-packed with Old West and American brewing heritage.

The town of Golden, named not after the gold rush that took place here, but the aptly named Thomas Golden, who was himself a gold prospector, is home to two major American icons; Buffalo Bill, and the Coors Brewing Company.

The great Wild West showman wasn’t from Golden, but his final resting place sits at the top of Lookout Mountain, high above the town. Alongside the gravesite there’s an informative museum that tells the story of the infamous frontiersman turned showman, which is an entire day trip in itself.

Back down in Golden, you can visit the original Coors brewery. There are limited-release slots available up to 25 days before your visit, but get in quick as tours often sell out. Just bear in mind that the facility closes on Tuesday and Wednesday, so pick another day if the Coors Brewery is part of this day trip from Denver.

6. Fort Collins and the Craft Beer Corridor

Small stores, including cheese shop and cholocatier — Independent cafes, breweries and stores are plentiful in Fort Collins | **Page Light Studios / Shutterstock**

Beer fans don’t just need to stick to the big names in Colorado. If a crisp cold one is high on your agenda, then take the I-25 north for around an hour and a half to the city of Fort Collins. Just remember to bring a designated driver.

This otherwise quiet city is packed with more than twenty craft and independent breweries. Start at the New Belgium Brewing Company, the nation’s fourth largest craft brewery, offering more personal and less restrictive tours compared to Coors.

Work your way back towards downtown, sampling ales at Hello Brew Co, Salt Road Brewing, Coopersmith’s Pub, the Gilded Goat Brewing Company and Equinox Brewing – if you make it that far.

We’d suggest making this a day and night trip if you plan on sampling as many beers as you see fit, so check into the Elizabeth Hotel or the Armstrong Hotel, both within stumbling distance of the city’s main breweries.

If you don’t drink alcohol, then Fort Collins still has plenty in the way of cool cafes, restaurants and shopping, so it’s still worth a visit!

7. Georgetown, Silver Plume and the Loop Railroad

A steam train crosses a trestle bridge — The steam railroad is reason enough to visit Georgetown | **Page Light Studios / Shutterstock**

Following the I-70 again, this day trip takes you to the twin mountain towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume. The towns are great to wander and browse, but the main reason for visiting is the famous narrow-gauge Georgetown Loop Railroad, featuring original and restored 19th-century steam locomotives.

From mid-April to late October, trains run daily, including open-topped gondola cars offering superb views of the mountains. In Georgetown, stroll along Sixth Street and its false Old West style storefronts, home to cute boutiques and some great cafes and restaurants. The Happy Cooker offers particularly appealing blueberry-cornmeal waffles and an outstanding Colorado-raised bison burger.

8. Boulder, Chautauqua and the Flatirons

The Flatirons offer a challenging hiking landscape | **Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock**

This 30-mile trip up US-36 will land you on Pearl Street, the heart of Boulder. Although many say Boulder is just a suburb of Denver, things feel a little slower and slightly more folky, plus it’s easy to get out into nature.

The town is famous for its seemingly endless choice of hiking trails, including the famous Flatirons, access from Chautauqua Park. Park downtown and take the park-to-park free shuttle to help ease congestion during busier times.

Another option for adrenaline seekers is to go tubing down Boulder Creek, but this isn’t for the faint hearted!

If you’re visiting in summer, then leave time to visit the Boulder Farmer’s Market, including both local produce and crafts from a huge selection of vendors, so support local and skip the big chains.

The Wrap Up

Denver skyline viewed from Red Rocks on a red dawn morning — Denver can be seen from Red Rocks if the conditions are right | **Sean Pavone / Shutterstock**

Denver’s unique geography makes it tempting to tick off a handful of these excursions on a weekend, but the real joy is to be had by slowing down and trying to give each one enough time. Whether it’s chatting with a brewer about dry-hopping, watching thunderstorms roll across the Front Range from Emerald Lake or catching a show at Red Rocks, you’ll never be short of Denver day trips packed with adventure, history and culture.

Just remember to pack layers (everything on this list sits above five thousand feet) and check the weather before you head out – some places like Georgetown and Pikes Peak can be impassible if there’s heavy snow or ice.