Denver is the gateway to Colorado and one of the most livable, visitable cities in the American West. At 5,280 feet above sea level, the Mile High City sits at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with 300 days of sunshine, a world-class food and arts scene, and some of the best day trip access to mountain adventure of any major city in the country. Whether you are spending a few days in Denver before heading into the mountains or building a full Colorado itinerary around the city, here is your guide to the best things to do in Denver and the day trips worth building your trip around.
The single best day trip you can do from Denver is a whitewater rafting trip on the Arkansas River, 2.5 hours south via US-285. Wilderness Aware Rafting has been running trips on the Arkansas for nearly 50 years, and the drive from Denver through the South Platte Canyon and into the high mountain valley around Buena Vista is one of the great Colorado road trip routes. By the time you arrive, the city is a world away.
The Arkansas River offers more variety than almost any other rafting destination in the country, with options ranging from gentle family floats to Class IV-V canyon rapids. Here is a breakdown of what is available from Denver:
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is the most iconic Denver-area attraction and one of the most spectacular outdoor venues anywhere in the world. Located about 15 miles west of downtown, the natural amphitheatre is carved into 300-foot red sandstone formations with the Denver skyline and plains visible in the distance. Concerts here are genuinely unlike anything else, with world-class natural acoustics and a setting that makes even a mid-tier show feel memorable. Outside of concert days, the park is free to visit and the hiking trails through the rock formations offer some of the best views on the Front Range. The Trading Post Trail is a 1.4-mile loop that most visitors do not know about and is worth every minute.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States and sits just 1.5 hours northwest of Denver near Estes Park. The park encompasses over 415 square miles of alpine terrain, with Trail Ridge Road climbing above 12,000 feet and offering access to tundra ecosystems, elk herds, and sweeping views of the Continental Divide. Popular hikes include the Bear Lake loop, the Emerald Lake trail, and the climb to Flattop Mountain for more experienced hikers. In summer, timed entry permits are required, so book through Recreation.gov before you go.
The Denver Art Museum is one of the most architecturally striking museums in the American West, with a landmark building designed by Daniel Libeskind in the Golden Triangle Creative District. The collection spans Native American and Indigenous art, Western American art, contemporary work, and rotating international exhibitions. It is one of those museums that consistently exceeds expectations, and the surrounding Golden Triangle neighborhood has excellent restaurants and galleries worth exploring on the same visit. General admission tickets are available online.
The Denver Botanic Gardens is a 23-acre urban oasis in the Capitol Hill neighborhood that draws over 800,000 visitors per year. The gardens feature themed sections from around the world, a stunning Japanese garden, a tropical conservatory, a science pyramid with interactive exhibits, and a serious summer concert series on the lawn. It is one of the most underrated attractions in Denver for visitors who are not garden enthusiasts going in, and one of the most beloved by those who are. Timed entry tickets are recommended in summer.
The River North Art District, known as RiNo, is Denver’s most creative and evolving neighborhood. Warehouses that once housed light industrial businesses are now home to some of the best breweries, restaurants, coffee shops, and galleries in the city. The street murals alone are worth an afternoon of wandering. Denver has more breweries per capita than almost any other city in the country, and RiNo is the epicenter. Standout spots include Comrade Brewing, Black Project Spontaneous and Wild Ales, and the sprawling Denver Milk Market food hall for a quick lunch or dinner before or after brewery hopping.
Denver Union Station is one of the great urban revival stories in recent American history. The 1914 Beaux-Arts terminal was restored and reopened in 2014 as a mixed-use hub with a boutique hotel, restaurants, bars, and a grand main hall that buzzes with activity day and night. The surrounding Lower Downtown neighborhood, known as LoDo, is Denver’s historic core and home to Coors Field, Larimer Square, dozens of restaurants and bars, and easy access to the 16th Street Mall pedestrian corridor. It is the best single neighborhood to base yourself in for a Denver visit.
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science sits on the edge of City Park with sweeping mountain views from its front steps. Inside, the museum covers an impressive range: dinosaur fossils, Egyptian mummies, space science, Colorado wildlife, gems and minerals, and a rotating schedule of major traveling exhibitions. The IMAX theater and planetarium add to the experience, and the museum is genuinely excellent for both kids and adults. Budget two to three hours minimum. It consistently ranks as one of the top paid attractions in Denver.
One of Denver’s greatest assets is its position as a launching pad for Colorado’s best outdoor experiences. Here are the day trips most worth building into a Denver itinerary:
The best adventure day trip from Denver. Drive 2.5 hours south on US-285 to Buena Vista for a half-day or full-day Arkansas River rafting trip with Wilderness Aware, then drive back to Denver in the evening. The drive through the South Platte Canyon and Kenosha Pass is half the experience. See the rafting section above for full trip options.
1.5 hours northwest via US-36 through Boulder and Estes Park. Go early, book your timed entry permit at Recreation.gov, and plan on a full day to do it justice. Fall is the best time to visit for elk rut and foliage without summer crowds.
45 minutes northwest on US-36. The Chautauqua Park trailhead at the base of the Flatirons is one of the best accessible hiking areas in Colorado. Pearl Street Mall downtown has excellent restaurants, independent bookstores, and street performers. Easy and extremely rewarding half-day from Denver.
1.5 hours west on I-70. Breckenridge is a beautiful Victorian mining town turned world-class ski resort. In summer, the lifts run for hiking and mountain biking, the Breckenridge Distillery offers tours, and the high-altitude Main Street has excellent restaurants and shops.
30 to 45 minutes west on US-6. Combine a morning hike at Red Rocks with lunch in the historic mining town of Golden, home of the Coors Brewery (free tours) and Clear Creek Canyon for hiking and rock climbing.
Denver is known as the Mile High City for its elevation of exactly 5,280 feet, world-class skiing access, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a thriving craft brewery scene, and proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park. It is the most visited city in Colorado and the primary gateway for mountain travel throughout the state.
Yes. The Arkansas River near Buena Vista, about 2.5 hours south of Denver via US-285, offers some of the best whitewater rafting in Colorado. Wilderness Aware Rafting runs multiple trip options ranging from gentle family floats to Class IV rapids through Browns Canyon National Monument.
The top day trips from Denver include whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River (2.5 hours south), Rocky Mountain National Park (1.5 hours northwest), Boulder and the Flatirons (45 minutes northwest), Breckenridge (1.5 hours west), and Red Rocks and Golden (30 to 45 minutes west).
Buena Vista is approximately 2.5 hours from Denver via US-285 South. It is the home of Wilderness Aware Rafting and the departure point for most of our Arkansas River rafting trips.
Denver sits at the edge of the Rocky Mountain foothills and is about 45 minutes from the first ski resorts and mountain towns via I-70 West. Rocky Mountain National Park is 1.5 hours away, and Buena Vista on the Arkansas River is 2.5 hours south via US-285.
Denver is a great destination year-round. Summer (May through September) is peak season for rafting, hiking, and outdoor concerts at Red Rocks. Fall is excellent for foliage and Rocky Mountain National Park. Winter brings world-class skiing within easy driving distance. Spring is shoulder season with mild weather and fewer crowds.
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Choose from a variety of Colorado rivers, day trips, and multi-day trips to find just the right option for you and your crew. Better hustle, because they’re booking up quick!
