Red Rocks Amphitheatre is an outdoor concert venue and park in Morrison, Colorado, known for its sandstone formations and open-air setting. From Denver, you can visit the park and trails year-round, but event schedules affect access to the amphitheatre, so plan your timing around the day’s events.
- Location: 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO 80465
- Park hours: every day, from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset
- Park admission and parking: free
How do you get from Denver to Red Rocks Amphitheatre?
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is at 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, Colorado. From Budget Inn, the drive is about 35 minutes; a room at this two-star hotel is in Denver. The venue phone number is 720-865-2494.
Red Rocks is an outdoor venue, so your visit can be shaped by both the park schedule and event access.
If you are planning other stops in the city, this guide to getting around Denver from downtown covers local transport options.
What can you see at Red Rocks outside event nights?
Outside scheduled events, Red Rocks Park and its trails are open every day of the year from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset, with free admission and parking. The amphitheatre, Visitor Center and Trading Post are also free to visit when open.
The venue sits between two 300-foot sandstone monoliths, Ship Rock and Creation Rock. Red Rocks says the formations preserve evidence of plant and animal life from the past 250 million years.
The Visitor Center’s seasonal hours are 7 a.m.–7 p.m. March–October and 8 a.m.–4 p.m. November–February. The Trading Post is open 9 a.m.–6 p.m. March–October and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. November–February, and closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Event days can change the plan: a concert or private function may close the amphitheatre, and a ticket may be required for entry. During the concert season, from March through November, the amphitheatre and Visitor Center may close early for that night’s event, often by 2 p.m. or sooner.
What do you need to know about concert tickets and entry?
AXS is Red Rocks’ ticketing provider, and AXS Mobile Delivery is the venue’s only admission method. For tickets in Rows 1–4, the original purchaser must arrive with the full ticketed party and present the Red Rocks or AXS app, or a registered ID; those tickets cannot be transferred.
Once a ticket has been scanned, re-entry is not allowed except in weather-related or medical emergencies. Pack carefully: belongings must fit beneath your designated seat, which measures 18 by 12 inches. Bags must be open for inspection at the gates, and venue management makes the final call on permitted items.
The Red Rocks Box Office and Will Call are on Red Rocks Park Road shortly after Entrance 2. On show days, the box office typically opens about four hours before show time; call 720-865-2494 to verify its hours.
Where to park at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and when to arrive
For most shows, parking is included in the ticket price, with no additional venue parking fee on the day of the performance. Event lots open two hours before doors open, and the venue recommends arriving early.
Some routes between parking lots and gates are uphill or partly dirt. If the usual lots fill, staff may direct drivers to the Jurassic Lot, one mile from the South Gate.
Complimentary shuttles run through the park during event ingress to help patrons reach the amphitheatre gates. After shows, limited complimentary service runs from the Top Circle Lot and Trading Post to the Jurassic Lot, and delays may occur.
If you are meeting a passenger after an event, pickup is in the Jurassic Lot near Entrance 2. The venue recommends taking the Will Call Trail across from the Trading Post, then following Red Rocks Park Road to the lot.
Trails, weather and access at Red Rocks
The Trading Post Trail is 1.4 miles long and passes through rock formations, valleys and a natural meadow. Red Rocks sits at 6,450 feet, so drink water and take your time on the stairs.
Weather can shift at this exposed outdoor venue, with sun, strong winds, heavy rain and snow all possible. Follow staff directions during severe weather; you may be told to seek shelter.
Accessible wheelchair seating is in Rows 1 and 70 and must be selected when you buy tickets. Venue-provided folding chairs are available, but wheelchairs are not available to rent. During non-event hours, accessible parking is in the Top Circle Lot for the Visitor Center and Top Plaza, with three permanent accessible spaces at the Trading Post.
During ticketed events, an accessible shuttle runs from the Upper South Lot to a drop-off point about 275 feet from Row 1; this service is not available during regular park hours.
Accessible restrooms are at the bottom and top of the amphitheatre, in the Visitor Center and near Rows 1 and 70. Service animals are permitted if restrained and kept with their owners; emotional-support, comfort and therapy animals are not treated as service animals under the venue’s policy.
Before you go: Event access and operating details can change. Check the official site before you go.
FAQs
Is Red Rocks Park free to visit?
Yes. Admission and parking are free for the park, amphitheatre, Visitor Center and Trading Post when accessible.
Can you visit the amphitheatre on a concert day without a ticket?
Not always. A concert or private function can close the amphitheatre to visitors, and entry may require a ticket.
How long is the Trading Post Trail?
The trail is 1.4 miles long and travels through rock formations, valleys and a natural meadow.
What should you know about Red Rocks weather?
The venue is exposed to sun, wind, heavy rain and snow. During severe weather, follow staff instructions, including any direction to seek shelter.