7 Family Friendly Adventures Near Denver
Pack the kids, and let's go.
Denver is full of family-friendly activities, both on the streets of its welcoming downtown and out in the mountains that made this city famous. Whether you're in Denver for a weekend or live here year-round, there's no shortage of outdoor fun to be had with your little ones in tow.
Here are a few of our favorite family-friendly adventures near the Mile High city.
This 4.5-mile loop in Golden has excellent views, plentiful wildflowers, and is a moderately challenging but definitely doable hike for young hikers. Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic by the creek after your adventure.
Red Rocks Park is beautiful any time of year, but in winter, you can enjoy relative solitude at this usually-packed spot. Wander through the red sandstone formations, hike the Trading Post Trail, and snag lunch at the Ship Rock Grille.
A short and easy hike in Alderfer/Three Sisters Park opens up a world of fun for families. There are concentrations of smaller boulders that are great for kids to scramble and play hide-and-seek, while a bit further along the trail are "the Eggs," an area of intermediate-level rocks for climbing.
Pack up the kids and dogs and head to Cherry Creek for a three-mile loop inside the 107-acre fenced-in off-leash dog area. Cherry Creek runs right through the park, so get ready for some doggy swim time, extended games of fetch, and tuckered out kids and pets.
Located inside Boulder's famous Chautauqua Park, the hike to Royal Arch is full of panoramic views, scrambling over red rocks and through the forest, and a cool destination: the 30-foot archway itself.
Get a front-row seat to a red rock sunrise from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. Perched on the top of a hill, the property boasts a panoramic view that is hard to beat. Once the sun is up, head inside NCAR for cool exhibits that are perfect for the little ones.
Are your kids into dinosaurs? Heck, are you into dinosaurs? The easy two-mile hike along Dinosaur Ridge features 15 stopping points to learn about the dinosaurs that once roamed this very spot. The views of the Hogbacks aren't so bad, either!
Cover photo by Liam McNally
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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