3 Days in Colorado
First & Second Location
Red Rocks Amphitheatre & Park
17598 W Alameda Pkwy. Morrison, CO
Access: Open one hour before sunrise and close one hour after sunset.
Admission: Free
Folsom Field
2400 Colorado Ave. Boulder, CO
Access: See online schedule for events
Admission: See online schedule for pricing
This was my first time going to Colorado this summer and I couldn’t think of a better place to be during July. Colorado has such amazing diverse landscapes and you can experience all four seasons in a day if you’re lucky. This was a last minute trip that I was invited on to go to a concert in Boulder, so I only stayed a few days. Me being me, I quickly started planning to squeeze in some (many) places to see during those three days and it worked out perfectly! Of course, Colorado has so much to offer and I couldn’t make time for everything. We stayed in Denver, which was a doable central location to see the things on my list. Continue reading for a day-by-day guide in Colorado along with details of each location!
Day 1
We flew into Denver’s airport and arrived close to noon after picking up the rental car. The concert started at 6:30pm, so we had to account for time to get dressed and drive to Folsom Field in Boulder. I estimated four hours to go sight-seeing in Denver, which was a little stressful given how much tourism traffic there can be during the day. We drove straight to our first destination: Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Leaving the airport, it takes 42 minutes to get there which isn’t that bad at all. It was so fascinating seeing the natural beauty of red rock formations that surround the Amphitheatre and the park. The Red Rocks is full of history and home to a notable Amphitheatre that can seat about 9,500 people! I was really bummed that we couldn’t go into the Amphitheatre because of a concert being held that day. Go figure, right? Instead we went for a short hike around the park, and took some cool shots. If you plan to go to the Red Rocks, look up their concert schedule in advance and plan to get there early to beat the crowds because parking can get a little crazy.
We left in perfect timing to grab some food, drive to our AirBnb stay in Denver to get dressed, and head back out to Boulder for the concert. Folsom Field was a 36 minute drive leaving our AirBnb in Denver. If you find yourself with extra time, definitely check out the city of Boulder. Folsom Field is a gigantic outdoor stadium that’s home to the University of Colorado Buffaloes! The stadium has a spectacular Rocky Mountain View. You can also see the famous Flatirons on Green Mountain from your seat. I could not stop admiring the views!
Third Location:
Rocky Mountain National Park
1000 Hwy 36 Estes Park, CO
Access: Open 24 hours a day, weather permitting
Admission: $25 per vehicle for a one day pass
Day 2
We chose to not stay out late after the concert because the weekend crowds wake up early too! I love to catch sunrise, but waking up that early feels like I’m moving mountains. The plan was originally 3am but we woke up around 4am to head back out on the road to our next destination: Rocky Mountain National Park. It took us an hour and a half to make it from Denver and there was a growing crowd in the parking lot. Luckily when we started our hike, the crowds disappeared and it felt like we were the only people in the mountains for the most part. What was supposed to be a few hours spent there to take photos along a short hike, turned into a full work day. We hiked for eight and a half hours! #ISURVIVED. We followed a few hikers that took us on a 5 mile trail, and we came unprepared with zero food and one water bag for each of us. I did bring hiking sticks that saved our lives because of the rough terrain and unexpected thick snow covering the trails. Luckily, the hikers shared extra snacks with us when they saw how deathly we looked! Lol. Along the path, we did get lost because there was still snow covering the grounds and signs. It felt like we were guessing where to go for two hours but we stuck it out, put our minds together, and stayed with the group. It was definitely a crazy but rewarding experience that I’ll never forget. The mountain views were breathtaking once you reach the overlook. I was in complete awe and shock that all of this is in our backyard! When we completed the hike, we were so drained and depleted. We left the park around 4pm, ate sushi in Denver, and tapped out once we got back to our stay. Do not sleep on Rocky Mountain National Park! It’s totally worth seeing, especially if you enjoy hiking.
Fourth Location
The Great Sand Dunes
11999 CO-150 Mosca, CO
Access: Open 24 hours a day, weather permitting
Admission: $20 per vehicle
Day 3
Waking up early hasn’t always been my strongest suit. But if you crave to catch sunrise, and love to feel like you’re on a secluded island, you must wake up early!! It’s not fun, especially when you have to drive anything longer than 30 minutes. When you get there, of course, you will be thanking yourself! There’s nothing but adrenaline running through your body because you’re pumped that you’ve made it to see some dope views. This feeling describes day 3. We woke up at 3am to prepare for a 4 hour drive to our next destination: The Great Sand Dunes. It was so surreal to actually see how much the dunes covered the area next to the mountains. The Great Sand Dunes are actually the tallest dunes in North America, reaching up to 750 feet. You can also go sand boarding and sand sledding at your own risk. The National Park Service doesn’t do rentals but there are a few retailers in the San Luis Valley nearby. Once you get past the mosquitoes and walk through Medano Creek, you will be in sand heaven! It gets very hot after sunrise, so bring your sunscreen, a handkerchief, and mosquito spray!
We stayed at The Great Sand Dunes a little over 2 hours and headed to our next destination: Garden of the Gods. It took us 2 hours and 50 minutes to arrive and by mid-day it was very crowded! I honestly think Garden of the Gods is a little overrated and touristy but the admission is free! We had to get creative when taking photos because of how crowded it was. The rock formations were very cool to see and you can go rock climbing if you have a permit. We didn’t stay too long because of how hot it was and the increasing traffic, otherwise we would’ve kept exploring. I would suggest coming to Garden of the Gods in the morning right when it opens. Not only will you fight the crowds, there will also be much cooler temperatures to avoid overheating. We got back on the road and tried to plan for one more stop to see some waterfalls, but it started pouring down rain. We headed back to Denver, and grabbed food at Chipotle before turning in. I packed my bag and had to prepare for an early A.M. flight back home. Although we were so exhausted, we had such an adventurous time on our last day in Colorado!
Last Location
Garden of the Gods
Access: Open 9AM- 5PM
Admission: Free
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This concludes my 3 day itinerary in Colorado! I hope I inspired you to get out and explore what’s in our backyard. If you have any suggestions on what to see in Colorado for the next time I visit, please comment below!
