This is the Best Time of Day to Visit Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Colorado
Hi, travelers!
When we were planning our trip to Colorado, we knew that we wanted to go to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre at least once. We weren’t planning on seeing a show there, but we wanted to visit the iconic music venue at least once to walk around and experience its beauty. Since we were staying in Golden, we didn’t have to travel too far by car as it’s only about seven miles away, but take into account your driving time when visiting, as it will probably affect where you park and what spots are available.
We initially were thinking of visiting Red Rocks during our first full day there, but we were visiting in July, and the sun was going to be high at the initial time we were thinking of going. So then we thought: should we go in the morning to see the sunrise, or the evening to see the sunset? Both would afford cooler temperatures and a once in a lifetime experience, so which is better?
We eventually decided on sunrise, and we are so glad we did. Here’s why!
CROWDS
Red Rocks is a hot tourist attraction when visiting Colorado. Many people, like us, plan on visiting even if it isn’t for a concert just to take in the stunning views. The thing is, many people also love to sleep in and not wake up at five in the morning, or earlier! Due to this, the crowds at sunrise were substantial, but not overwhelming. We were able to find parking right away, and there were plenty of places to sit and watch the sun come up. If you go later for the sunset, there will probably be more tourists out and about. If you want to beat the crowds, sunrise is your best bet!
VIBE AND ACTIVITIES
Whether you go for sunrise or sunset, seeing the sky change colors is really the main goal. But, if you’re there for about an hour or more, you might want to have some other things to do. The only plus with sunset is you might be able to snag a drink or snack while you’re there because they aren’t open that early in the morning. But when we were there at five in the morning, people brought their dogs, some folks were exercising up and down the rows, and there was even a couple who brought their breakfast as a picnic! Sunrise affords a more laidback vibe where you can people-watch, stretch and move your body, and just be chill.
**Important note** Check to see the schedule if there are classes happening in the morning or a concert at night! These things will get in the way of you being able to enter freely.
https://www.redrocksonline.com/plan-your-visit/what-to-expect/
PHOTOS
Like we mentioned with crowds, when it’s golden hour at Red Rocks, everyone is wanting to snap the perfect sunset photo. But with sunrise, many people are there simply to just watch! There’s plenty of open space for you to take photos with the sunrise without the chance of getting passersby or photo bombs behind you. Also, the colors in the morning are going to be so special, with the sun being a fiery red ball of light and the sky turning pink.
WEATHER
Generally, sunrise and sunset are going to be nice weather wise due to the fact that the sun isn’t high while you walk around. But, the cool temps at sunrise are hard to beat! At sunset, lingering summer heat might still get you, and sunscreen will probably still be needed. Average temperatures at Red Rocks during summer at sunrise are upper 50s and low 60s, so you can throw on jeans or a crewneck and be completely comfortable.
VERDICT
We had no reservations about picking sunrise over sunset and thought that getting up that early in the morning was totally worth it. We’d recommend seeing Red Rocks on any trip to Colorado, but we’d especially recommend seeing when the sun starts to rise. We were joking that it felt like the beginning of the movie The Lion King where the sun comes up! It was truly magical, and one of our favorite moments on our entire trip.
We hope that this helps you when deciding what time to visit Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. As with all our posts, we hope that our blog can assist you in making travel decisions you’re confident about and suit you best. Want to read more posts on Colorado? Check out our posts under the West tab under U.S. Travel.
Happy travels,