Owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, the amphitheater is located in Red Rocks Park, part of the Denver Mountain Parks. The crowd is looking east-northeast, towards southern Denver, with the downtown skyline visible to the left.
Red Rocks Amphitheater in the western United States, near Morrison, Colorado, ten miles (16 km) west of Denver, is an open-air amphitheater built into a rock formation. Behind the stage, there is a big, inclined, disc-shaped rock, a massive vertical rock angled outward from the right side, several large outcrops angled outward from the left side of the stage, and a seating area of up to 9,5255.
It may be followed by the popularity of Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, but there is no substitute for experiencing this acoustically impeccable, naturally spectacular ochre sandstone wonder. Designated by the National Park Service and Department of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark, the amphitheater is a top attraction for residents of Colorado and visitors from around the world.
It’s a quick 15-mile drive from Denver, or get on board the Red Rocks Shuttle, which provides round-trip options at Union Station and Illegal Pete’s on Colfax Avenue from Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill. So, plan on attending a concert, watching a movie, hiking, dining or geeking out on history. We dare you not to fall for the unique beauty of the Red Rocks!
GETS YOUR HEART PUMPING?
Managed by the City of Denver, Red Rocks is also a park. It is open to visitors from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Just being here will quicken your heart, but consider hiking the Trading Post Trail or hiking, mountain biking, or Red Rocks Trail horseback riding if that’s not enough. The dramatic geology of the park, trees, wildflowers, wildlife, and views are explored by both trails.
Another choice is to join the adventurous locals who come for a genuine thigh-burner to run up and down the stone steps of the amphitheater. Or for the most inspiring downward dog view ever, attend Yoga on the Rocks.
DELVE INTO RED ROCKS’ HISTORY:
The giant outcroppings of sandstone that make up the walls of the Red Rocks Amphitheater are higher than Niagara Falls and are part of the geological Fountain Formation that was deposited around 280 million years ago.
Believe it or not, the Rolling Stones were not around yet, and, in truth, until the early 1900s, when Renaissance man John Brisben Walker set up a makeshift stage among the rocks, Red Rocks did not get its start as a music venue. A well-known opera singer came to perform and called it “acoustically perfect,” and musicians have revered it ever since.
The Red Rocks Amphitheater is situated in the heart of Morrison, Colorado, and is a perfect place to see some of the greatest and brightest in the music industry. It is absolutely stunning with a beautifully positioned stage surrounded by amazing red rocks that tower over the seating areas and views of the sky and surrounding areas!
