Sports & Recreation

Contrary to the stereotype, not all Denver residents are hippies in touch with the outdoors. But even if you aren’t champing at the bit to head to the mountains every weekend, you still need to complete at least one hike a year to claim your Denver card. And for that we recommend a trek to Ouzel Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park. Hikers can go as far as they like on the out-and-back trail, around 5.4 miles in total. You’ll get to see waterfalls at regular intervals for the entire hike, and all you have to purchase is an RMNP day pass beforehand. (Note: Cell service does not really exist on this trail.)

The four-acre Nature Play, which opened at the Museum of Nature & Science last September, is designed for immersive play and education, with a purposely unstructured design for creativity and problem-solving. Suitable for all ages, the grounds are designed around the museum’s third-floor dioramas of all eight of Colorado’s ecosystems, and also include water features like a mountain stream and beaver dam. The water makes it to the playground via the underground “big ditch,” which began operating in 1867 and is Denver’s oldest infrastructure. There are also tunnels, ropes, swings, slides and hiding places. And where else will you find a twenty-foot climbable bighorn sheep, or wooden benches carved by local artist “Chainsaw Mama”?

Nederland lost Frozen Dead Guy Days, but what goes around comes around. After all, it still has the Carousel of Happiness, brought to life by Vietnam vet Scott Harrison. Suffering from PTSD, he rescued an abandoned 1910 Looff carousel in Utah and spent 26 years hand-carving more than fifty one-of-a-kind animals to bring it back to life. Today it’s a happy addition to the small mountain town, and a major draw – even if there’s no frozen dead guy in sight.

When the days become longer and warmer and we start finding the will to live again after the seemingly never-ending winter, a lot of us also fill with a feral desire to see tulips and other springtime flowers. The best place to quench that desire is the annual spring tulip display at the Denver Botanic Gardens, where lines and lines of the glorious bulbous flowers sprout in a variety of colors. A stroll through the gardens on a sunny spring day is the perfect antidote to seasonal depression – but if the flowers don’t cure your winter misery, the baby bunnies that live on the grounds surely will.

When there are no mountain peaks in the way, Colorado’s night skies are tough to beat. And to get the best view of the cosmos with our measly eyes, you want to fade to black. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, certified as an International Dark Sky Park in September 2015, doesn’t close at night, and the north and south rims each have overlooks for stargazing. Both the park and the Black Canyon Astronomical Society put on stargazing programs during the summer and winter, when the Milky Way is most visible. You can also find meteor calendars, moon phases and programs for telescope viewings, evening constellation tours and information about the annual Astronomy Festival on the park’s website. Who doesn’t like leaving the planet every now and then?

What’s old (very old) is new again. The North London Mining Office was built in 1883 to accommodate wealthy East Coast investors and managers consigned to the lofty altitudes of the mines outside Alma. Thanks to a very determined nonprofit, what had been a wreck was restored to its original form – but now with hot and cold running water, a shower, a flush toilet, a full kitchen, solar electricity and wi-fi. Those amenities come in handy after a snowy trek by skis or snowshoes over Mosquito Pass Road in the winter (it’s accessible by car in summer); become a member for just $20 a year and you can book this backcountry hut.

Clear Creek Canyon Park is a popular place for tubing, hiking and climbing, but the flowing water and steep canyon walls also make it a great place to discover cool rocks. Just take a dip in the creek, feel around in the water and see what kinds of interesting metamorphic rocks of various shapes and colors you can come up with. With the opening of a segment of the Peaks to Plains Trail, biking is now allowed in the canyon as well. Anglers must carry a valid Colorado fishing license, but you don’t need one to look at the rocks. Note: This trail is closed through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory.

Many hike Maxwell Falls looking for the waterfall, which is beautiful, albeit quite small and easy to miss. But those who love moss will be delighted by the trail itself, which is lined with the green stuff. Maxwell Falls has plenty of trees for a nice, shady hike during warm weather, and it’s a great place to spot local birds, chipmunks, elk and other wildlife, inspect rocks and find different kinds of flowers. A small creek runs through much of the trail, with places to sit, rest or even have a picnic.

In addition to serving as a library card, the MY Denver Card provides kids ages five to eighteen with free access to the city’s recreation centers and swimming pools, as well as many cultural facilities. The rec centers offer drop-in and scheduled activities such as urban arts and culture and group recreation. Additionally, the card provides free admission to programs offered by the Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Center for Performing Arts, History Colorado Center and the Museum of Nature & Science. Apply at any rec center or online.

If you stroll through the 280 acres of Denver’s second-oldest cemetery, you’ll see the final resting places of many prominent Coloradans, including educator Emily Griffith, actress and newspaper legend Helen Bonfils and nineteen governors. Enjoy the shade provided by the state’s largest arboretum, with its champion trees and one of the nation’s largest collections of heritage roses. There are plenty of things to see along the way, too, like a wide variety of birds and wildlife, as well as a number of striking monuments. Fairmount’s Ivy Chapel is a miniature Notre Dame, and the mausoleum has one of the largest stained-glass collections in Colorado.

Looking to avoid the crowds at Cheesman or Wash Park? Huston Lake Park in southwest Denver is one of the city’s best spots to enjoy some alone time outdoors. The 34-acre park boasts numerous amenities – including pickleball courts, a softball field and a children’s playground – but the real draw is its lesser-known, locals-only status. Whether lying on the grass under a shady tree, sitting on a park bench overlooking the lake or taking a stroll on the paved trail, there is endless tranquility to be found at this neighborhood treasure.

You can access all of Colorado’s wonderful state parks for just $29 per year by opting into the Keep Colorado Wild Pass when registering your vehicle. And for an easy, satisfying trip to the outdoors from Denver, we recommend Golden Gate Canyon State Park for hiking, sightseeing and more. Located less than 45 minutes from the city, Golden Gate Canyon has more than 35 miles of trails, 125 picnic areas and over 150 campsites, and visitors often report seeing bighorn sheep, black bears, beavers, foxes, moose and golden eagles. The park is a hot spot for fall leaf-peeping, thanks to its old-growth aspen trees, which you can see from horseback on your own steed or by booking a ride with Bear Creek Stables. Golden Gate Canyon also has hunting grounds and five fishing ponds, and stays open during the winter for cross-country skiing. Head home for a cold beer after all the fun, or book a hotel for a different kind of game at a casino in Black Hawk, which is just fifteen minutes away.

Some people are creeped out by the fact that Cheesman Park was once a cemetery (remains are still unearthed every now and then), but we find it eerily endearing. With plenty of trees for shade, flower gardens, a fountain (that is rarely on, but still) and views of both the city and the mountains, Cheesman Park gives lovers of city life and the outdoors the best of both worlds. The park’s ample space serves a wide range of people and activities, from musicians, readers, picnickers, volleyball players and dog walkers to quinceañeras, raves, art club meet-ups and voguing in the pavilion.

A bike ride is one of the best ways to soak up a sunny Denver day, and few neighborhoods make it easier than the Golden Triangle, a quiet area sitting in downtown’s shadow. Although it’s bordered by Broadway, Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue, just a few blocks from those big streets you’ll find tranquil spots to stop and explore small shops and unique architecture and niches. Afterward, take a break at West 12th Avenue and Acoma Street, where you can relax in the cozy seating of the Civic Center Cultural Complex or the shade of the Denver Art Museum. The intersection is just a short ride to Leven Deli, Denver Public Library and Civic Center Park, and restaurants, bars and shops along Broadway are reachable without having to actually bike on Broadway. The peaceful sharrows and green protected bike lanes of the Golden Triangle take cyclists to some of the neatest corners of Denver without daring them to cross or share the city’s busier, more dangerous streets.

Biking on the narrow, crowded streets and disappearing bike lanes of Denver is tough enough, but to do it as a family is downright scary. Luckily, families can find the perfect place to hook up bike trailers and enjoy the outdoors along the 71-mile High Line Canal trail. The winding trail cuts through Aurora, Cherry Hills Village, Centennial and Denver, with access in the middle of neighborhoods and even some backyards. For those who live farther from the High Line, larger trails like the South Platte and Cherry Creek connect to it. Playgrounds and parks dot the entire trail, so stopping to let the kids play or refresh with a snack is possible every few miles. A journey on the trail can be educational, too, as it’s marked with signs describing the canal’s nearly 150-year-old history and the ecosystem living in it, which includes toads, salamanders, birds and dozens of types of trees and flora.

Confused about navigating a roundabout on your bicycle? Don’t know what to do at intersections with mysterious markings meant for bicyclists? Download the Colorado Department of Transportation’s free 53-page bicycling manual to get information about bike maintenance, co-existing with scooters, strollers and dog walkers, getting a DUI while riding (yep), what to do if you’re involved in a crash, and much more. The section on children explains how to teach them to ride, how to transport them with a bike, and how to size a bike to a child. As Denver’s streets get more crowded, smart bicycling has never been more important.

Since 2004, Wheel Fun Rentals has offered rentals of bicycles, tricycles and pedal car bikes in Washington Park. A few years later, Wheel Fun took over rentals at City Park, adding boating options to both Denver parks – and Wheel Fun’s most popular vessels are the signature swan boats, which are outfitted with LED lights for sunset and night rides. In 2024, some of the swans migrated from City Park to Wash Park, so now patrons of both can rent them for a great time on the pond during the spring and summer for just $12 for adults and $7 for children. The swan boats can command a line, however, so be prepared to enjoy the park while you wait on busy summer nights.

The “deals” on lift tickets at most Colorado mountains may be cheaper than full price, but they’re still pretty damn expensive if you’re not committed to hitting the slopes over a dozen times per year. Stay ready to pounce before winter starts, however, and a bodacious bargain can still be had for a handful of days in the Loveland 4pak. For $269, occasional skiers and snowboarders get four days at Loveland Ski Area, one of the closest ski areas to Denver, with no blackout dates or restrictions attached. And if you attend one of Loveland’s listed Front Range ski shows in the fall, you can buy the 4pak for $10 off. That’s a few extra dollars for gas, edibles or wings and beer afterward.

Denver is a self-admitted Broncos-first town, but we still want to hear about other teams, especially as the Avalanche, Nuggets and University of Colorado football continue winning big games and making post-season runs. The programming at Altitude Sports Radio has struck a fine balance of talking sports for those of us who know ball (and puck) while still sprinkling in enough off-season NFL content for casuals and commuters. Whether it’s Moser, Lombardi and Kane talking Avalanche roster transactions during the morning drive or Nuggets-filled afternoons with Polumbus, Hastings and DMac (who’ve been known to buy lunch for listeners), the radio shows and podcasts from Altitude showcase Denver as the proud all-sports city we like to think it is.

Denver isn’t light on studs in professional sports. The Broncos have the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Pat Surtain II, the Avs employ a stable of hotshots in Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews, and the city is loaded with UFC fighters who love training at elevation. But one pale superstar with arms covered in scratches stands above them all. It’s hard not to get used to Nikola Jokic’s steady greatness as he strolls his way to the NBA’s first-ever 30-20-20 game or earnestly describes a 41-point, nine-rebound performance as a bad game, but our big, dominant galoot is nothing if not himself. We expect ridiculous stat lines and championship contention from Jokic like we expect the lights to turn on and the toilets to flush at home, mostly because it’s what he expects, too, despite the cool and calm approach. As long as our MVP gets to visit his family and horses back home, the Nugs can always count on being in the mix with Jokic. Seeing a generational player recognize there’s more to life than basketball is refreshing, but we’re glad to know he’ll still grind your bones into dust to win. Never change, Nikola.

For the first time since 1997, the Denver Broncos released a new set of uniforms for the 2024-25 season, including a throwback to the team’s 1977 jerseys. That year, the Broncos made a run all the way to the Super Bowl behind the famous Orange Crush defense. Although the team didn’t win the title that year, Broncos fans won big with these throwback jerseys. They’re crisp and original yet classic, with orange tops and stunning blue helmets that provide fresh takes on the team colors. The throwbacks are so popular that fans have clamored for them to be the team’s main jerseys – and while that doesn’t seem likely, we’ll still celebrate every time they show up on the field.

As the saying goes, “Everyone watches women’s sports.” Now Denver has a place to do just that. Named as an homage to the country’s 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning team, the 99ers Sports Bar on Colfax is Denver’s first watering hole dedicated to women’s sports. Owned by a pair of fans who met playing flag football, the bar publishes a weekly schedule of which games will be on, and when. Combining the excellence on the bar’s many TVs with great vibes, beer and community makes the 99ers one of our favorite spots to grab a drink while watching a game.

Any place with a liquor license becomes a Broncos bar on Sundays (or Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and any other day the NFL decides to take over). But these watering holes merely adopt the Broncos, while DNVR Bar was born in a local sports fervor and molded by it. Part of the DNVR media operation, DNVR Bar regularly holds special tailgating events at Mile High Stadium, but the main headquarters, on East Colfax, hosts popular sports podcast recordings, Broncos watch parties and plenty of Elway-loving, Chiefs-hating Broncos fanatics. You’ll find more than angry members of Broncos Country who never shut up about the good ol’ days here, too. This is a bar for knowledgeable fans, fantasy football addicts and the occasional degenerate (but mostly wholesome) sports gambler. Grab a seat and soak it in.

Chopper’s Sports Grill has all the required amenities for a great sports bar: four dozen TVs, plenty of regulars, quick service and a solid bar menu. But Choppers, named after the bar’s founder and former Denver Nuggets trainer, Robert “Chopper” Travaglini, has a special basketball legacy Nugs fans can appreciate. And with a 165-inch HD projection screen, you can see every single one of Nikola Jokic’s dimes to Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray and company.

The Denver Broncos may own the town and the Nuggets have the most recent championship, but Colorado Avalanche fans are the most fun to drink with. Don’t believe us? Go to Sobo 151 and see for yourself. This proudly Czech bar is Denver’s go-to spot for watching hockey games, whether it’s an Avs playoff series or an international not-so-friendly match. The crowd is fun and lively (and stays that way in the off-season, thanks to karaoke on Thursdays and Sundays), the menu is stacked with European favorites like schnitzel, goulash, kielbasa and Bohemian roast duck, and the beers are dark and cold – all the ingredients for one great puck night.

New snowboards and skis cost a pretty penny, and gone are the days of epic clearance-sale events like Powder Daze and Sniagrab. Denver Ski Company seems to be the only place left in town with a large inventory of discounted brand-new skis, snowboards and gear. The store, open since December 2024, sells everything that manufacturing warehouses couldn’t sell before newer models came in, giving snowboarders and skiers a more affordable alternative to big-name outlets like REI, Evo or Epic Mountain Gear. And shoppers can get fitted for gear right in the store, which also does repairs. With all that and an open parking lot off South Broadway, Denver Ski is one easy run.

After a five-year dispute between Comcast, Denver’s most popular cable TV provider, and Altitude TV, a television channel owned by the Kroenke family – owners of the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Mammoth, Colorado Rapids and Los Angeles Rams – the majority of Denver sports fans can finally watch their teams on TV again. By putting egos aside and bringing in fresh perspectives in executive leadership, the two sides reached a deal to put Nuggets and Avs games back on TV. Let’s hope they did it in time for another championship run or two.

This place is on a roll! Aaron Burris-DeBoskey has the only skate shop in Colorado selling both roller and inline skates, and caters to both beginning and advanced skaters. If you’re ready to get aggressive, he’s got plenty of suggestions (and equipment), but if you’d just like to glide along one of Denver’s many dedicated bike paths, he’s got what you need, too.

Looking for a place to skate that isn’t a scary hill going into oncoming traffic (ahem, Washington Park) or a nightclub where people are spilling and slipping in their drinks? Try Roller City, a large indoor roller-skating rink complete with signature nostalgic colorful carpets, fun music and vibrant lights. The rink is available for birthday parties and private events, but if you don’t want to worry about accidentally running over a child, come on Wednesdays and Sundays for adult night. You can rent skates or bring your own, and the snack bar is equipped with good ol’ pizza, pretzels, popcorn, hot dogs and nachos.

A steam shouldn’t be hard for the average person to afford, but a good shvitz often requires an expensive gym membership or spa day in Denver. At the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, you can choose between a traditional dry sauna and a modern steam room for less than $10, and you don’t even have to be a resident. For $9.50, anyone can spend a day at the 70,000-square-foot rec center (Wheat Ridge and Jefferson County residents get in for even less), with ten-day passes available, too. After taking advantage of the facility’s multiple basketball courts, full weight and cardio gym and indoor pool, it’s time to top it off with a session inside either all-gender shvitzing area – or maybe you just want to sweat out the night before. Whatever the reason, Wheat Ridge allows for one cheap executive workout.

Most water parks have variations of the same attractions: a lazy river, a race-style open slide, a toilet basin. Water World has all of those, but you have to give it extra credit for creativity. In the Lost River of the Pharaohs, thrill-seekers can ride a river with a few hills through a dark and mysterious pyramid filled with treasure, tombs and animatronics. Meanwhile, Voyage to the Center of the Earth takes riders through dark tunnels back in time to the dinosaur era. Water World is Colorado’s first and largest water park, with slides, pools and places to eat, drink and relax spanning seventy acres. This year, the park will be open May 24 through September 1.

Colorado has no shortage of hot springs in which to relax, with hiking (and clothing) often optional. But if you want to go from car to hot water with minimal steps and without skimping on the views, Iron Mountain Hot Springs is calling. Nestled along the Colorado River at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Iron Mountain Hot Springs has sixteen geothermal pools of varying sizes, temperatures and minerals to mimic hot springs across the world, from Colorado to Japan, with a 100,000-gallon family pool and jetted spa, as well. Dip into different pools: Our favorites are on the edge of the river and have pebbles on the bottom for a way-too-satisfying retreat.

Swim laps in suave style at the Arvada Aquatics Center, which opened at the end of 2024 as a 50,000-square-foot state-of-the-art aquatics facility for Jefferson County and the surrounding area. The natatorium includes a stainless-steel competition pool shipped from Italy and various springboards and diving platforms. The facility is owned by the City of Arvada, co-funded by Jeffco Public Schools and maintained by the Apex Park and Recreation District. The AAC replaces its predecessor, the Meyers Pool, and is open to the public for swimming when classes, events and swim meets are not taking place.

If you’ve ever wished someone could invent a way to go clubbing without making you feel terrible the next day, look no further than a Zumba class at one of Denver’s recreation centers. The Latin-flavored dance fitness program is offered daily, and classes are free with a rec center membership. Instructors welcome dancers of every skill level, from those with two left feet to smooth-moving pros. No matter what your mental state is when you walk into a Zumba class, you’ll leave feeling sexy, happy and free – without the ensuing hangover.

As the rest of the country goes on a shopping spree after Thanksgiving, Mile High gym-goers and weekend warriors may have already taken advantage of the year’s best deal. Offered every November by Denver Parks & Recreation, this price cut on annual recreation center visits saves serious coin on an already affordable membership. In 2024, Denver adults could sign up for a year-long membership to all of the city’s rec centers and pools for $221.40, nearly $150 less than the normal $369 per year. That’s less than $20 a month on average, and local passes with access to fewer rec centers cost even less. The promotion, a 40 percent price cut, offered slightly lower savings than 2023’s version, and there’s no guarantee that the annual deal will return in 2025 as the city faces budgetary cuts. For the sake of our love handles, we sure hope it does.