Get to know the real Red Rocks on this tour through the venue’s mysterious past—and surprising present.
The Ultimate Guide to Hidden Red Rocks: 10 Secret Passageways, Artifacts, and Ghost Stories

Guitars signed by James Taylor, Carlos Santana, and the members of Widespread Panic are just a few of the artifacts lining the curved walls of the Red Rocks Hall of Fame, a permanent installation in the venue’s visitor center. It’s one part museum, one part meticulous record: the gallery is filled with chronologically ordered plaques listing every artist that’s ever played the venue, from 1908 to the present. Amid the band posters and historic photographs, you’ll also find whimsical art pieces and instruments donated by some of America’s greatest musicians.

Red Rocks may be famous for its nighttime revelry, but the night also brings out the area’s undead: back in the 1800s, homesteads surrounded the area, and some residents appear never to have left. Modern visitors say they can still hear the music of long-dead Native Ute drummers on the wind. Others claim to have seen the spirit of a miner with a long white beard lurking backstage. But the most famous of Red Rocks’ ghosts is a phantom in a blood-soaked dress: the Hatchet Lady of Red Rocks. Allegedly a 19th-century widow who spent years living in local caves after she lost her husband and home, the Hatchet Lady is said to skulk through the rocky alcoves and sagebrush, swinging a ghostly axe at young lovers’ hideaways.

Red Rocks owes its world-famous acoustics to the sandstone monoliths that cradle the amphitheater. Ship Rock and Creation Rock, which stand to either side of the stage, are perhaps the best-known. But the biggest of the behemoths is Picnic Rock, a 300-million-year-old chunk of sandstone that’s as tall as a house and twice as wide. While its name might inspire you to bring a picnic blanket, a beach towel might be more apt: the stone is actually the fossilized bed of an ancient sea that tectonic movement punched through the surface of the earth. Pack a beach read and climb atop the rock to sunbathe, or admire it from afar: the serpentine Trading Post Trail offers the best views of this prehistoric marvel and the park’s other rock formations.

Most hikers have heard about the short, paved walkways that weave in and around the Red Rocks amphitheater. But fewer folks know about the far more adventurous trek located just south of the park. The 3.6-mile round-trip Mount Morrison Trail tackles steep climbs and short scrambles through high-desert scrub to gain the peak’s southern ridgeline. The first mile is a challenging one, but those who conquer it are rewarded with a long stretch of scenic singletrack that goes straight to the summit. Don’t be afraid to linger here: the overlook unspools a breathtaking panorama of Red Rocks, the snow-crowned Rockies, and the distant Denver skyline.

Mornings in Red Rocks Park have an energy all their own. Every day of the week, local joggers and fitness junkies take to the steps, running laps, doing step-ups, and sprinting up and down the amphitheater. Joining them is one of the best ways to experience the park’s natural beauty during its quiet off-hours—and get an incredible workout at the same time. One of the most popular challenges: run the cumulative length of the Red Rocks benches (2.5 miles in total) in a single morning. Bring water, and friends. 

Sunrise yoga at Red Rocks is the very definition of a glow-up. As you progress through your poses to greet the new day, the amphitheater shifts through its own morning color wheel alongside you. By the time you hit savasana, both you and the rock will have reached peak radiance. Wear sunscreen (the sandstone might turn pink and red in the early rays, but that doesn’t mean you have to), and reserve your spot ahead of time. The amphitheater partners with local yoga studios to host dawn sessions, and most of them book up fast. Yoga on the Rocks is typically available from early June through mid-August. Come fall, it gives way to Snowshape, a four-week ski conditioning class held each weekend on the steps.

Concerts aren’t the only kind of show you can catch at Red Rocks. June through August, nonprofit organization Denver Film holds regular movie nights on the main stage. Join 7,500 other movie buffs on amphitheater steps for screenings of cult classics and family-friendly flicks  (think: The Big Lebowski or The Wizard of Oz.) Don’t be afraid to dress up, either: a recent screening of Shrek drew an enthusiastic crowd decked out in costumes and green body paint. Now in its 26th year, Film on the Rocks is one of the venue’s most popular summer events. Tickets are available online, and include live music and comedy opening acts. 

Each winter solstice, the amphitheater fills with local drummers, musicians, and other merry-makers who gather to celebrate the lengthening days. The grassroots event—traditionally called “Drumming Up the Sun” and organized via unofficial Facebook groups—is open to anyone, no RSVP required. Pack warm layers and an instrument of your choice. Then, file in with the locals as they gather in the predawn hours. The mood is generally quiet as folks assemble on the steps in the dark. But as soon as the sun crests the horizon, music erupts from all corners of the amphitheater. (The dawn of the summer solstice is also a popular time for parties, so keep an eye out for grassroots organizing starting in early June.) 

The Red Rocks Amphitheater may never have existed if it weren’t for the Great Depression. The park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the same government organization that put thousands of young Americans to work building trails and lodges in the national parks. On a list that includes projects in the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Shenandoah National Parks, the Red Rocks Amphitheater remains one of the CCC’s biggest and most improbable undertakings. Over five years, crews moved more than 30,000 pounds of stone and steel, much of it by hand. During the summer construction season, they lived in a barracks south of the work site. Today, those same buildings house a nonprofit restoration organization called Historicorps, which maintains the historic structures and offers tours to visitors.

These days, the Red Rocks experience is as much about the scene as it is about the music. To do it right, arrive at the amphitheater up to three hours in advance of your show for a legendary pregame. The North Lot is currently the main party spot, particularly for smaller vehicles (vans and buses have to park elsewhere). Stoner shows tend to come with the most distinct vibe: tie-dye abounds, Bluetooth tunes are everywhere, and the attendees’ snack game is on point. Bring your own vehicle (and food and alcohol), or book a Party at Red Rocks shuttle for door-to-door service and a more curated experience.