Colorado - Day 7: Breckenridge to Red Rocks to Denver
On Friday, August 28, 2026, I drove from Breckenridge to Red Rocks to hike the Trading Post Trail, then continued to the Denver International Airport to return my rental car and take public transit into downtown. After checking into my hotel, I had dinner in Larimer Square, saw the Celestia Experience at Saint John’s Cathedral, stopped for a drink at Wild Corgi Pub, and ended the night with a nightcap at the bar in my hotel.
Breckenridge to Red Rocks Trading Post Trail
I left River Mountain Lodge at 6:30am and started driving toward Red Rocks, making a quick stop at Carter Park before leaving Breckenridge. On my early-morning drives to Mount Sherman and Quandary Peak, the moon had looked stunning against the mountains. At the time, I hadn’t felt comfortable pulling over along the side of the road just to take a photo, although I definitely wished I had. I was hopeful I’d be able to capture one last photo of the moon in Breckenridge before making my way to Denver.
Moonset wasn’t until 6:53am, and I had read that Carter Park could provide an easy in-town view framed by the surrounding peaks. Unfortunately, even though I made it to Carter Park before moonset, I couldn’t find the moon. Oh well!
I had originally planned to hike Mount Bierstadt that morning before continuing on to Denver. However, after hiking Mount Sherman and Quandary Peak earlier in the week, I was simply too exhausted to tackle another 14er. Instead, I decided to stop at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre on my way into Denver and hike the Trading Post Trail.
Red Rocks Trading Post Trail
I had been to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre for a concert in 2024, but I hadn’t really gotten the chance to wander around and explore the park itself. I was excited to return and see more of the area during the day.
It’s free to visit and park at Red Rocks, and the park and trails are generally open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. On concert days, however, the amphitheatre often closes to the public around 2:00pm or earlier for sound checks and event preparation, so it’s a good idea to check the schedule before visiting.
Red Rocks has several hiking trails throughout the park. One of the most popular is the Trading Post Trail, a 1.4-mile loop that winds through dramatic rock formations, valleys, and a natural meadow, showcasing some of the scenery that makes Red Rocks so unique. Parts of the trail are rocky and uneven, so hiking shoes are recommended. There is also very little shade along much of the route, so even a relatively short hike can get hot quickly when the sun is out.
I arrived at the parking area near the Red Rocks Trading Post around 8:45am, and the lot was about half full. If you plan to visit the Trading Post building itself, it is open from 9:00am to 6:00pm from March through October and 9:00am to 5:00pm from November through February.
For the hike, I wore my hiking pants, a short-sleeved workout shirt, my Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long-Sleeve Hoody, Salomon Speedcross 5 hiking shoes, and Patagonia Nano Puff Insulated Jacket. I also carried my Gregory Jade 28 daypack, which held my 3-liter CamelBak and some snacks. While you could probably get away with regular gym clothes and sneakers for this trail, I figured I might as well wear my standard hiking gear and bring my daypack so I had water and snacks readily available if I needed them.
I spent about an hour and a half completing the 1.4-mile loop. The trail was clean, well maintained, and easy to follow, while still having enough rocky and uneven terrain to make it feel like an actual hike. It takes you right alongside and between some of Red Rocks' massive formations, providing plenty of great opportunities for photos. I even spotted some deer along the trail!
After finishing the hike, I wandered into the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. I had been there for the first time in 2024 to see O.A.R., and it was such an amazing experience. I hadn’t gotten many photos of the amphitheatre itself during that visit, though, because I was much more focused on watching the bands. I figured returning during the day would be a great way to cap off the hike.
To reach the seating area, I walked up the long ramp leading into the amphitheatre and then climbed a handful of steps to get to the rows closest to the stage. There were quite a few people using the amphitheatre for workouts, running the rows and climbing the stairs. It was really cool to see how active the space was outside of concert hours.
When I was done wandering around the amphitheatre and taking photos, I walked back down to the parking area near the Red Rocks Trading Post. I used the restroom to change out of my hiking clothes and into shorts, a T-shirt, and my other shoes. Afterward, I relaxed in the outdoor area near the Trading Post and ate some lunch before getting back on the road.
I left Red Rocks around 11:00am to mail back the hiking poles I had rented from LowerGear Outdoors at the USPS location at 18601 Green Valley Ranch Blvd in Denver, and then return my rental car to Avis at Denver International Airport.
Red Rocks to Denver
I decided to return my rental car before flying home because I knew I wouldn’t need it while I was in Denver. Since I planned to rely on public transportation and walk around the city, I figured I might as well stop paying for the car as soon as I could.
After returning the rental car to Avis at Denver International Airport, I took the Avis shuttle back to the terminal and then caught the A Line train to Union Station. I purchased my train ticket from one of the vending machines outside the airport before boarding. The Airport Day Pass cost $10.
It took about an hour total to get from Denver International Airport to my hotel. Once I arrived at Union Station, I transferred to the 16th Street FreeRide, which doesn’t require a ticket, rode it to 16th Street and Welton Street, and walked to Sonesta Denver Downtown.
I chose to stay at Sonesta Denver Downtown because it was centrally located, easily accessible by public transportation, had a pool, and was relatively affordable at $350.73 for two nights.
I arrived at the hotel around 2:30pm. Check-in wasn’t officially until 4:00pm, but luckily, a room was already available for me. If one hadn’t been ready, I would have simply left my luggage with the front desk and gone back out to explore the city, but I was very happy to be able to get settled first!
Larimer Square
After getting to my room and freshening up, I headed back out and walked to Larimer Square. Dating back to 1858, Larimer Square is Denver’s oldest commercial block and later became the city’s first locally designated historic district. Today, the pedestrian-friendly area is lined with colorful 19th-century buildings, restaurants, patios, boutiques, and overhead art installations. I spent some time wandering around and taking photos before stopping for an early dinner.
I ate at Osteria Marco, a cozy Italian restaurant in Larimer Square known for its house-made cheeses, cured meats, pizzas, and pastas. I sat outside and ordered a Brown Butter Old Fashioned, burrata, and Luca’s Wild Mushroom Fusilli with chicken. Everything was delicious.
Celestia Experience at Saint John’s Cathedral
When I finished dinner, I took the 16th Street FreeRide toward Saint John’s Cathedral. Earlier that week, I had seen Facebook ads for the Celestia Experience, an immersive light and music show that transforms the interior of the cathedral with projected visuals and an original orchestral score. While I was at dinner, I checked to see if tickets were still available. Since I didn’t have much planned for the evening, I decided it would be a wonderful way to spend my first night in Denver!
I had read that it was best to sit somewhere in the middle or toward the back of the cathedral. The very back was reserved for the Reserved Seating section, which was already sold out by the time I purchased my ticket. So, I bought a Basic General Admission ticket and figured I would try to get in line early enough to grab a seat toward the back of the General Admission section. I arrived around 6:40pm for the 7:45pm show.
I found a seat near the center of the last row of the General Admission section in the cathedral nave. It proved to be a wonderful spot, allowing me to take in projections across almost the entire interior of the cathedral at once and making the experience feel especially immersive. Colorful projections covered the cathedral’s Gothic Revival architecture, stretching across the nave, ceilings, and chancel while an orchestral score played throughout the show. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the experience also includes an eight-member live professional vocal ensemble, which accompanied the light, projection, and music show that night.
It was wonderful way to spend my first night in Denver!
Wild Corgi Pub
After the show, I walked about 10 minutes to the Wild Corgi Pub for a drink. I grew up with a corgi and still miss her dearly, so a corgi-themed pub was an easy sell for me. Someday, I fully intend to have another corgi of my own. Until then, I’ll happily pet everyone else’s dogs and seek out as many dog-themed places as I can!
The pub was named in honor of co-owner Dusty Jones’s pet corgi, and the theme carries throughout the space with corgi artwork, posters, merchandise, and plenty of references to Queen Elizabeth II’s famously beloved corgis.
For my drink, I ordered the Corgi Float, made with Boylan Root Beer, vanilla ice cream, and a shot of Colorado Cream Butterscotch Hazelnut Cream Liqueur. It was delicious.
When I was done, I called an Uber from the pub and headed back to the Sonesta Denver Downtown.
The Lockwood Kitchen & Bar at Sonesta Denver Downtown
When I got back to the hotel, I saw that its bar, The Lockwood Kitchen & Bar, was still open. I had a glass of red wine as a nightcap and chatted with some of the other guests. It was a wonderful way to end the evening.
