This is the best half day mountain tour to get out of Denver and to see the mountains without spending an entire day touring. These small group tours are designed to get you out to See, Learn and Explore not just drive past. This tour really highlights the best of our Denver Mountain Park system. Visit Red Rocks Park and amphitheater, then travel up into the mountains via Bear Creek Canyon to the quaint mountain town of Evergreen. Browse the local shops or enjoy a quick drink in the Saloon, winery, or local coffee shop. Witness beautiful Rocky Mountain vistas while climbing over a beautiful mountain pass to Echo Lake at 10,600 ft. Stroll around this beautiful glacial lake sitting at the base of 14,256 foot Mt. Blue Sky and enjoy the mountain scenery. Travel by historic Genesee Mountain Park while viewing herds of Buffalo and Elk on your way back into Denver.
*Wildlife viewing not guaranteed.
Other Highlights
A drive into the mountains via Bear Creek Canyon, views of Denver Mountain Parks, shopping, winery, a western saloon, the idyllic scenery along the mountain pass up to Echo Lake, Genesee Mountain Park, and herds of buffalo and elk
Availability
Daily (morning & afternoon) Year-round (weather permitting)
Duration
8:15 am to 1:30 pm and 12:15 pm to 5:30 pm
Half day – approximately 5 hours – Return in time to enjoy your evening
Departing From
Union Station in Downtown Denver at 8:15am & 12:15pm
Meet at the flagpole out front: 17th and Wynkoop St.
See Location
Wildlife
You’re likely to see wildlife on this tour, but sometimes they’re being wild somewhere else.
Tour Itinerary
Denver Union Station
1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202
Begin your tour at Historic Union Station located in lower downtown Denver where your local driver guide for the day will pick you up.
5 minutes, Admission is freeRed Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465
See, learn and explore the inspiring geological rock formations and walk through the historic Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. Learn about the geology, history and Music of this beautiful Denver Mountain Park and amazing natural outdoor music venue.
40 minutes, Admission is freeBear Creek Road
Bear Creek Rd, Evergreen, CO
Enjoy rugged rock and scenic views in the beautiful canyon between Evergreen and Red Rocks Park lined with many Denver Mountain Parks along the way.
Pass by without stoppingEvergreen
Evergreen, Colorado
Historic Downtown Evergreen. This fun mountain town is full of local artisan shops, a wild west saloon, winery and the cutest coffee shops. Stop for a quick drink, ice-cream and to look around this quaint town with a colorful past.
35 minutes, Admission is freeEcho Lake Park
CO-103 & Mt Evans Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439
Travel up Squaw Pass where you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountains along this Scenic Byway. You will reach beautiful Echo Lake, a glacial lake sitting at 10,600 ft at the base of Mt. Evans. Enjoy a stroll around the lake and take in the fresh mountain air and scenery.
40 minutes, Admission is freeMt. Evans Scenic Byway
Idaho Springs, CO 80452
Drive up the beautiful Scenic Byway mountain pass for breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains on your way up and down from Echo Lake. Enjoy photo stops to capture the beauty of the mountain views.
1 hour, Admission is free
Know Before You Go
Hiking
This is not a hiking tour but does include multiple stops and short walks. If you are looking for a hiking tour please see our Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking Tour or Hike the Rockies half-day hiking tour.
Dress in Layers
Weather in the Rockies is much colder than Denver please dress for temperatures in the mountains. We recommend layers, comfortable walking shoes, and a jacket year-round.
High Elevation Access
We are able to get up to Echo Lake year round on this tour but there are times in the winter when snow, wind or avalanche conditions may prohibit travel up to this high elevation.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre Access
Access into Red Rocks Amphitheatre on days when a show or concert is scheduled is dependent on the concert schedule and sound checks. We cannot guarantee access on these days. May through October is Red Rocks busiest concert season, we suggest taking the morning tour for the best chance to be able to walk into the amphitheater bowl before it closes for sound checks on concert days.
What to Bring
Jacket, (hat, and gloves for winter)
Camera
Refillable Water Bottle
Comfortable walking shoes (in the winter shoes to keep feet warm and dry)
Gratuity for your Guide
FAQs
What are the walking trails like? Do I have to go on the walks?
All walks are on trail surfaces, relatively level, and less than 1 mile each. Guests are encouraged but not required to take them. We provide micro-spikes for your shoes to give you traction on snowy surfaces when necessary
Tours are limited to 12 guests.
Pro tip: Book early. Our tours sell out fast!
Our Guests Say it Best
“We took the 1/2 day trip to Rockies and Echo Lake. The scenery was nice. But Will made the trip so much more enjoyable with factoids throughout the trip. 5 hours was just perfect. I loved experiencing the different temperature changes at the different elevations. We got to 11000+ ft in altitude. Learned a bit about the history of some of the gold mining and Colorado in general. Nothing strenuous during this trip.”
-Leesa. (Google Reviews)
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