Side Trips from Denver

Visitors to Denver, Colo., will find themselves perfectly positioned for a number of easy day or side trips. Whether you’re after a hike in the mountains or a trip to a small town, you’ll have a range of options using Denver as home base.

Eldorado Canyon, Colorado © Max & Dee Bernt | Flickr

Boulder makes for an easy daytrip, as it’s just around 45 minutes away from Denver. You can spend the day walking along the pedestrian-friendly Pearl Street, with its myriad shops and restaurants. Or go for a hike in the nearby Flatiron Mountains.

Rocky Mountain National Park is ideal for a scenic drive or for a day hike. The park’s closest entrance is about 65 miles from Denver.

Colorado Springs © Fotoeye75 | Dreamstime

Heading south, the town of Colorado Springs is home to Pikes Peak, a 14,000-foot mountain with a cog railway to the top. Nearby is also Garden of the Gods park, an impressive collection of red rock formations.

In the town of Golden, you can fill a day with shopping, restaurant hopping and tour the Coors brewery. Another charming small town is Estes Park, also home to a vibrant downtown of shopping and restaurants. The centerpiece here is the Stanley Hotel, which you may recognize from The Shining. The hotel is reputed to be haunted, so a ghost tour can be a fun way to experience this creepy building.