Denver outdoors attractions

Go hiking and explore the great outdoors in Vail. This is an all-season destination! For a simple, laid-back evening with your family, head over to the Denver Botanic Gardens. Stroll along the flower-lined walkways and enjoy the seasonal exhibits in full bloom. Sail your way into some fun family bonding on Smith Lake in Washington Park. This vast, serene lake is home to pedal boats, paddleboards, and kayaks that you can rent with your family.

As you watch the spectacular sunset on the lake, see if you can identify the calls of the local birds! Switch things up a bit and take your family to the Denver Zoo for roaring fun and excitement.

From penguins to the big cats, the different exhibits and feeding schedules here are bound to make your children fall in love with the natural world. Rack up some steps as you stroll the pleasant 3-mile long route! Built in the late nineteenth century, this charming park has a quaint story to share. Legend has it that the park is haunted by the ghosts of the cemetery it was once a part of.

Up for some spooky adventure? Head to Cheesman Park and go ghost hunting! It boasts ziplining, rafting, kayaking, and sky trek packages offering excitement for the entire family. Try your hand at summiting the highest paved road in the entire continent. This road offers the most stunning views of the vicinity.

Hike Mt. Evans to see colorful flowers, snow, thousand-year-old pines, elk, and sheep. The best part? The pristine Echo Lake near the top has crystal blue water! Winter is just around the corner, and so is fun! At Rocky Mountain National Park , you can go on an epic hike with your snowshoes on.

This park has hundreds of handy trails for you to embark on. Estes Park is a resort town on the edge of the park with restaurants and shops and the historic and possibly haunted! Stanley Hotel.

Mount Evans has the highest paved auto road in North America, snaking its way to the 14,foot 4, m summit. The road closes at Summit Lake after Labor Day, preventing you from reaching the top. The view from the top takes in the entire Front Range. The summit is 60 miles 97 km from Downtown Denver. On your way up the mountain, be sure to stop at M.

Walter Pesman Trail maintained by Denver Botanic Gardens for a wildflower hike; you won't see anything like the rare flowers and 1,year-old bristlecone pine trees anywhere else in the world. The trail winds through subalpine and alpine areas where wildflowers and animals of the fragile tundra live.

Volunteer guides from Denver Botanic Gardens offer interpretive hikes that follow the trail throughout the summer email info botanicgardens.

Lions and tigers and bears — oh my! Visit The Wild Animal Sanctuary , a acre rescue and educational facility located just 30 miles outside of Denver, where more than animals rescued from dire situations now roam free.

It's one of the only places in America where you can see lions, wolves and other large carnivores living in natural habitats, and you get to view it all from the "Mile Into the Wild" elevated walkway. Brave the rapids! Clear Creek Rafting Co. Colorado Adventure Center also offers whitewater rafting trips on Clear Creek and the Colorado River for all experience levels all summer long. Bus Tours. Car Tours. Limousine Tours.

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When are you traveling? Good for avoiding crowds. Search experiences that may have limited interaction with crowds. Taking safety measures. Search experiences with increased health and safety practices. Virtual experiences. Search tours and activities you can do from home. Kid friendly. Up to 1 hour. Time of Day. Rating Clear. Free Cancellation. Likely to Sell Out. Private Tour.

Day Trips. Only in Denver. Outdoor Tips. The Mile High City is filled with amazing animals, from native Colorado species to exotic creatures from afar. We've put together a list of our favorite Denver spots to get perfect shots. Seemingly endless bike lanes and trails connect for epic two-wheeled adventures. The Mile High City boasts more than 5, acres of traditional parks and parkways.