Hundreds of exciting adventures lie within a 250-mile radius of Denver. The area contains alpine forests and lakes, world-famous ski slopes, historic towns, awe-inspiring national landmarks, and award-winning breweries. Here’s a taste of what you can experience at five popular day trip destinations from the Mile-High City.
Boulder
Just over a half hour’s drive from Denver, Boulder offers an almost endless array of day trip activities. The city’s 31,000 acres of parkland are rich with hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as picnic spots. If you feel more like shopping or brewery hopping, spend the day in downtown Boulder instead. Dozens of independent boutiques and world-class restaurants line the Pearl Street Mall and its surroundings.
Fort Collins
On a day trip to Fort Collins, you could find yourself river rafting, stand-up paddle boarding, or exploring exhibits at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. In spite of its trove of cultural and recreational offerings, the number one reason people day trip to FoCo is for the beer. New Belgium Brewing and Odell Brewing Company operate lively tours and taprooms where brew heads can get to know their beers better.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
This natural wonder is more than three hours by car from Denver. But if you leave your apartment before the sun comes up, you can put in some good time on the country’s highest sand dunes before making the return journey. If you’d prefer to not make the long drive twice in one day, camp out in the dunes and enjoy some epic stargazing. In addition to hiking and running up and down the dunes, you can ride a sand sled down the dunes’ 750-foot peaks.
Mount Evans Scenic Byway
Drive to the top of Mount Evans for views you could once get only following a long and grueling hike. The highest paved road in the country that can support car traffic runs 14 miles up the Chicago Peaks’ highest mountain. The road ends just a quarter-mile below the peak. From there, it’s an easy hike to the top. In addition to awe-inspiring views, you may encounter big horn sheep, marmots, and mountain goats. Mount Evans Scenic Byway is a 100-minute drive from AMLI Riverfront Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park
This ecologically diverse preserve spans three ecosystems. Trek across montane, subalpine, and alpine tundra, passing pristine lakes and small glaciers along the way. Rocky Mountain National Park is great for bird and wildlife watching. Elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, bears, foxes, and marmots all call the park home. This park is an easy day trip from Denver, but it’s also a great place to camp.
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Feature photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
View All Posts by Jason Ernst