23 Things to Do in Denver in Winter (By a Local)

Searching for things to do in Denver in winter? I’ve acquired relevant information for you!

I reside in the Denver area of Colorado. The cold climate here is a major part of my family`s and my life in Colorado. But we never allow it to stop us from getting outside and enjoying all the top things to do in Denver.

Over the years, I’ve narrowed down the absolute best winter pastimes in Denver both indoors and outdoors. Let’s dive in!

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23 Things to Do in Denver in Winter

Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado`s most renowned national park provides sledding, snowshoeing, and winter wildlife observing.

📍 The digital map | Phone: (970) 586-1206 | Website home page | Hours: Continually accessible, every day of the week, weather allowing | Entrance: $30 per vehicle for a one-day permit

Rocky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park near Denver. The park remains alive with winter activities even after the snow arrives. Try out winter hiking routes like Bear Lake or Alberta Falls, or add snowshoes to explore further!

Ranger programs are still scheduled this time of year, and you may even see elk or other winter-loving wildlife out and about during your visit!

Note that Trail Ridge Road, connecting the east and west sections of the park, is closed during winter. Enter on the east side via Estes Park for best access to winter activities.

Outdoor Ice Skating

Enjoy ice skating outside around Denver at different rinks.

📍 Google Maps | Hours: Vary | Entrance: $10-$20

Ice skating is one of the best ways to make the most of Colorado’s chilly weather. Luckily, there are a few different outdoor ice rinks to select from.

Skyline Park in downtown Denver offers delightful skating beneath the city skyline. The frozen surface at Evergreen Lake is unique as an actual ice-covered waterway! Belmar Park`s rink surrounded by seasonal lights provides additional outdoor fun

Union Station

Enjoy a cozy drink, browse a local bookstore, or catch a holiday light show at this historic building!

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 592-6712 | Website | Hours: Open 24 hours, restaurant hours vary

Union Station’s architectural style makes it a lovely place to relax, read, or observe people any time of year. Popular activities include visiting the Tattered Cover bookstore or getting a beverage at Terminal Bar.

However, visiting Union Station during the holidays allows you to enjoy its festive, colorful light demonstration. You can also admire the 40-foot Christmas tree outside of Union Station.

Snow Tubing and Sledding

Spending time with friends and relatives enjoying traditional winter activities like snow sports can be found at various locations around Denver receiving winter weather.

📍 Google Maps | Website

Tobogganing and sledding are some of the best wintertime activities in Denver. Is it even winter in Colorado if you haven`t at least once jumped on a sled? Thankfully, there are numerous places to go tubing and sledding around the Mile High City.

Ruby Hill Park is a popular place for sledding, and Meyer Ranch Park has a small hill for tubing and sledding in the foothills. Sledding Hill Park in the Ken Caryl area is another excellent location for sledding and snow tubing that was saved from becoming a housing development specifically for this purpose!

Ruby Hill Rail Yard

Hone skiing and snowboarding skills freely at this community park.

📍 Google Maps location | Hours: 5 am – 11 pm daily

Ruby Hill Park is the perfect place to practice your skiing and snowboarding skills for free. It has sledding areas and a terrain park for skiers and snowboarders.

The terrain park has rails and was designed by Winter Park Resort so local people could practice without having to head up to the mountains. There are no lifts or tow ropes there, though, so be prepared to carry your gear back up the hill each time you want to go down.

Skiing at Loveland Ski Area

Spend a day skiing at one of Denver’s most popular winter sports resorts, just an hour away.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 736-3754 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Mon-Fri, 8:30 am – 4 pm Sat & Sun | Lift Tickets: $119, adults, $40, children, no charge under 5

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Colorado is notably known for its many remarkable ski resorts.Arapahoe Basin is another ski destination in proximity to Denver. Here, you may partake in a few quick hours of skiing or an entire day’s worth of the sport.

Red Rocks

Visit this iconic Denver landmark in winter when it’s covered in sparkling snow.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 865-2494 | Website | Hours: 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset, potential closures to public for concerts | Entrance: free; concert ticket prices vary

There is something unique about Red Rocks in the winter. While summer brings concerts, movies, and events alongside abundant crowds, the stillness of winter means fewer people and a distinct scene seldom seen.

Visit Red Rocks all through the winter for a calmer experience. Check out the snow-covered amphitheater and then retreat to the Visitor Center or the Colorado Music Hall of Fame to warm up. Or, grab a bite to eat at the Ship Rock Grille.

West Side Books

Spend a cozy afternoon browsing the shelves at this renowned Denver book retailer.

location icon> Google Maps | Phone: (303) 480-0220 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 6:30 pm daily

📍 Google Maps | Website | Cost: Included with park admission

Denver Art Museum

Spend an afternoon experiencing Western art, Indigenous art, and more, by local and international artists.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 865-5000 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily, 10 am – 9 pm Tue, closed holidays | Entrance: $18, adult CO residents, 22 non-residents, $15 CO teachers, seniors, students, & military $19 non-resident teachers, seniors, students & military, free under 19

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Indian Hot Springs

Enjoy seeing flakes descend from outdoors a pool of warm water located not too distant from Denver city.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 989-6666 | Website | Hours: 8:30 am – 9 pm daily | Entrance: $20, Mon-Thu, $25, Fri-Sun & holidays

Indian Hot Springs in Idaho Springs, Colorado is among the best hot springs in the state. It`s conveniently located near Denver and perfect for warming up during a winter visit to Colorado.

The massive outdoor hot springs pool has a glass ceiling and windows allowing visitors to see the wintry weather outside whilst relaxing indoors in a warm pool surrounded by tropical plants.

Denver Zoo

Check on arctic animals and enjoy festive light displays at the Denver Zoo this winter!

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 337-1400 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily, Zoo Lights Hours: 5 pm – 9 pm Dec. 2 – Jan. 7 | Entrance: Nov. 1 – March 10 $15.75, adults, $10.50 under 16, free under 3 | Zoo Lights Entrance: $20 adults, $13 kids

Spending time at the Denver Zoo is one of my favorite activities to partake in in Denver in the winter. This is because you can watch all the cold-loving animals like Arctic foxes and polar bears play happily in their wintry habitats. Animals that prefer warmer temps are still on display as well, in their heated enclosures.

Don’t forget Denver Zoo Lights! This holiday event runs at night from early December to early January. You can stroll the zoo and see festive, colorful light shows.

👉 Love Festive Light Displays? The Denver Botanic Gardens,Hudson Gardens, and the Chatfield Botanic Gardens all feature seasonal light exhibits.

Ball Arena

Enjoy performances and ice hockey and basketball games at this downtown Denver arena.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 405-1100 | Website | Hours: Vary, relying on game/concert times | Entrance: Varies

Ball Arena in downtown Denver is home to the champion Denver Nuggets basketball team as well as the Colorado Avalanche hockey team which also won a title!

Ball Arena is one of Denver’s premier venues. You can enjoy concerts, comedy shows, and sporting events throughout the year. The winter is a good time to see Disney on Ice performances among other events.

Ice Fishing at Evergreen Lake

Catch a sizable fish in the dead of winter on a nearby frozen lake outside of Denver.

📍 Map Services | Communication: (720) 880-1391 | Website Connection | Business Time: 1 hour before daylight – 1 hour after dark | Entrance: Free

Ice fishing is popular on several Colorado lakes, including Evergreen Lake outside of Denver. Grab your Home Depot container to sit on, your rod and reel, some warm clothes, and spend a day on the frozen lake.

And if you get chilly, there are plenty of activities to engage in in Evergreen (like visiting a local brewery!) that are indoors.

Snowshoeing

Marvel at Colorado’s beautifully scenic winter panoramas on a snowshoe hiking experience!

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 295-6600 | Website | Hours: Sunrise – Sunset | Entrance: Free

When you are unable to hike, snowshoeing is an alternative! There are places near Denver where you can snowshoe once enough powder has accumulated.

Brainard Lake near Boulder has multiple routes that are excellent for snowshoeing. Long Lake is a trail for beginners that isn’t too lengthy. There are also several tour organizations that will plan a snowshoe hike if you’re unsure where to start.

Downtown Golden

Admire lights along a scenic waterfront path and enjoy this town’s festive displays.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 279-2282 | Website

The community of Golden is situated less than thirty minutes from Denver. Visiting Golden is a fantastic wintertime activity because the town installs an attractive holiday light show along a hiking path! The Clear Creek trail and downtown Golden are embellished each seasonal occasion with forty-five thousand twinkling lights.

Park at the Golden Visitor Center (which is also decorated!), then head west down the Clear Creek trail. Cross the bridge at the end and head back on the other side. When you return to where you started, wander into downtown Golden and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate at Red Silo Coffee Roasters.

Remaining in Hormigueros is also great for day trips to nearby cities such as Mayaguez, Cabo Rojo, and San German.

Craft Beer Tour

Enjoy a chilled alcoholic beverage at one of Denver’s numerous cozy breweries.

🥾 Challenging | 7.8 miles | Google Maps | Park Website | 75-minute drive from Denver | Cost: free

Craft beer is a Colorado specialty that can be enjoyed throughout the complete year. The beer itself may not be warm, but it can be drunk in a snug, warm brewery.

As locals, we are especially proud of our numerous Colorado breweries, so be sure to sample a few. Some highly recommended local breweries include Denver Beer Company, Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company, and Great Divide Brewing Company.

If unsure where to start, Viator provides craft beer tours in trendy LoDo.

Brown Palace Tea

Treat yourself to a warm cup of tea in this historic hotel that’s decorated for the holidays.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 297-3111 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 4 pm Monday-Friday, 11 am – 4 pm Saturday & Sunday | Entrance: From $75, adults, from $35 under 7

The Brown Palace Hotel is home to one of Denver’s most renowned tea houses.

Get warmed up with a beverage in the center of this historic Denver hotel, with live piano music in the background. You’re sure to forget about the frigid conditions outside. Additionally, the holiday decorations add to the cozy, festive experience.

Afternoon tea at the Brown Palace Hotel is pricy but worth it – just be sure to make reservations beforehand.

Empower Field

Brave cold temperatures and snow for an opportunity to cheer on the Broncos!

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Empower Field is home to the Broncos football team and is among the top stadiums in Colorado. Even local news reports that every time the Broncos play a game in the snow at Empower Field, it aids winter tourism in the mountains ( Source).

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16th Street Mall

Window shop and grab some coffee along this downtown shopping street.

📍 Google Maps | Website

The 16th Street Mall presents an engaging place to observe people, browse storefronts, and grab a bite to eat! It’s also beautifully decorated in winter.

You can wander along 16th as far as you`d like, browsing the shops or stopping at a coffeehouse. If you get cold or tired, you can hop on the free MallRide shuttle to return up the street.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Learn about gems, dinosaurs, and more at one of Colorado’s premier museums!

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 370-6000 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily, 9 am – 9 pm most Fri, closed Christmas | Entrance: $24.95, adults, $19.95 under 19, free under 3, $21.95 over 64

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is conveniently one of the best museums in Denver and even Colorado! It’s a great place to visit any time of the year, but it’s ideal for escaping the cold in the wintertime.

Roam through a replica mine to see the gem displays, such as a 13.5-pound gold nugget. Explore Colorado’s ancient past along the Prehistoric Journey, and see scientists at work! Additionally, there are rooms devoted to space, mummies, and a Discovery Zone for children.

👉 Local Advice: You can save money during high-volume entry periods if tickets are purchased online ahead of time. There are also several no-cost days each year.

Denver Central Market

Escape the cold temperatures and sample tasty desserts and coffee in this historic RiNo building.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 8 am – 9 pm Sun – Thurs, 8 am – 11 pm Fri & Sat

Denver Central Market is the perfect place to escape the cold outdoors and enjoy a meal at any of the delicious Denver area restaurants found inside. Denver Central Market is home to several eateries, along with an ice cream shop, a confectionery, and a fish market. Overall, it provides a nice atmosphere to stay warm, people watch, and treat yourself!

Archery Games Denver

Beat back cabin fever with an adrenaline-pumping competition that all friends and family can take part in and enjoy.

📍 Google Maps Location | Phone: (303) 305-4531 | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: from $24

Feeling cooped up? Channel your inner Katniss Everdeen at Archery Games Denver. Visiting this indoor archery range offers fun winter activity for all ages.

Competitors use foam-tipped arrows against the opposing team. You’ll spend a few minutes receiving instructions and practicing. Then, employees will lead participants through several games in the arena.

It passes lovely mountain views and the Lookout Mountain Nature Center, which is one of the best activities to partake in Golden.

👉 Pro Tip: Archery Games Denver also hosts Nerf Games if that seems more fun for you!

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride

Hear those jingling bells over a hushed Colorado winter landscape!

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 453-1520 | Website | Entrance: $109, adults, $79 under 13, free under 4

A horse-drawn sleigh expedition is a quintessential winter undertaking in Denver. You’ll glide past snow-covered mountain scenery while being snugly tucked into a sleigh on this 20-minute trip to a dinner tent. Enjoy a three-course meal inside a heated tent, with musical entertainment. At the end, you’ll bundle back up for the sleigh ride back.

FAQs About What to Do in Denver in Winter