When we are seeking an easy yet beautiful outing, our favorite Denver kid hike is the Trading Post Trail at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. This kid-friendly hike is ideal for little legs as it is a short loop without too much incline. This is a hike that we like to take out of town guests because it is less than 30 minutes from Denver, shows off the quintessential red rocks against the blue Colorado sky, and can be knocked out quickly to pair with other Denver sightseeing. If your guests are willing to take the steps to the top of the amphitheater, they will be rewarded with an awesome view of Denver city. In addition to the stunning red rocks on this hike, it is also ideal for music lovers as you can picture yourself at the next outdoor concert, or even pop into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame on the route.
We used to be frequest concert goers pre-COVID. Concerts may be one of luxuries I am most excited to return when life “gets back to normal.” When we decided to move from Seattle to the Denver area, we quickly started researching concert venues and booking shows that we would want to attend once we arrived. It gave us a sense of excitement and something to look forward to in our new city. One of those concerts was Vampire Weekend at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. This was the first time we had visited Red Rocks. It was in October on a night with freezing rain, and the last night of their tour so they played for hours (35 songs!). It was amazing, but also needless to say it was a cold welcome to Denver! Since that night, we have returned many times to this area to hike with the kids. Below is our frequented route and tips for hiking one of our favorite Denver kid hikes.
TRADING POST TRAIL AT RED ROCKS AMPITHEATER – DENVER KID HIKE
- Miles: 1.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 320 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Type: Loop
- Time: 47 minutes of moving time, and 1 hour and 20 minutes including snack and tree climbing breaks
- Dog friendly: Yes
- Bathrooms at trailhead: Yes, there is a restroom at the Trading Post and portable restrooms at the parking lots.
- Picnic tables at trailhead: There are tables in front of the Trading Post and a nice lawn for a picnic
- Stroller Friendly: No
- Cost: Free
The Route for this Denver Kid Hike
You can start this trail from a lot of different access points. The most popular area to begin the hike is at the Trading Post itself. There is a small parking lot in front of the post, a large lower South Lot to the east, and an Upper South Lot to the west. If you need a bathroom at the start of the hike, you will want to park near that area. However, if you get there early enough to beat the crowds and don’t need to potty, I recommend parking at the very southern tip of the park in a small parking lot off of Red Rocks Park Road (here). We prefer this start to the hike because you begin with the incline, reach the “top” at the Trading Post and then loop around for the descent. For me and my kids, we do better with the elevation gain when we are fresh at the beginning of the hike and prefer to end with the easy downhill section.
Starting from the “bottom” of the loop, enter the trail on the West side of Red Rocks Road and start heading up the trail. The first portion of the trail climbs alongside a vast red wall backdrop. It’s dramatic right from the start. Since this is such a short hike and we usually divide our hikes into quarter segments, we take our first break already 0.35 miles in at a nice climbing rock.
At 0.4 miles you can take a little loop option on your right to swing down even closer to the rocks and meet back up with the main trail 0.1 miles later. Can you spy my little hiker for perspective on the size of these rocks?
This next section is often in the shade and can be icy if you are hiking in the winter. At 0.7 miles you will climb rocky steps that lead you close to another red rock wall.
At this point you have the option of remaining on the trail or crossing the road and trekking up the steep hill to the amphitheater if it’s open. If you are bringing guests to this hike, or if it is your first time, I highly recommend seeing the view from the top of the amphitheater. The scene on the amphitheater steps is a mixture of exercising locals, out of town tourists, and (if you’re lucky), band crew performing sound checks for that evening’s concert. If you take this side trip, it will add an additional 0.5 miles and some hefty elevation gain (although I don’t have it recorded…. there are 380 steps after the steep ramp so be prepared!).
After the amphitheater (or continuing on if you skip it), you will walk along the road for about 0.1 miles. This part is my least favorite part of the hike as you are reminded that you are not truly out in nature like we are in most hikes, but it also has some neat history. If you are interested in popping in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame or getting a souvenir from the Trading Post (same building), this halfway point makes for a nice break. The Trading Post was built in 1931 and is a Denver Landmark, originally known as the Indian Concession House.
After the Trading Post, head to the left of the building and down a steep set of stairs. This is where I can breathe again since we are back into the feeling of nature and a hiking trail, and away from any of the crowds forming near the gift shop.
This eastside of the trail is different than the westside as you walk on sandstone. Keep an eye on little kiddos in this section as there is a ledge on the right, and my kids always seem to get too close to the edge (for my comfort) trying to throw rocks to land on the boulders across the ditch. It is a fun tradition, but I usually end up yelling at someone in this spot.
Our last rest stop before the final stretch is a beautiful Juniper tree that Emerson likes to climb. It’s such a beautiful tree and signifies to the kids that we’ve almost made it (plus, it means snacks!).
Continue on another .4 miles down the trail, across a bridge, and back to your car. The final stretch can be a little boring, so we usually do races and this section goes by quickly. I like to stop for a final photo looking back into the red rocks.
HOW THIS DENVER KID HIKE RANKS
Pros
- Short distance for little hikers
- Less than 30 minutes from Denver
- Quick hike with beautiful payoff
- Lots of additional trails in the area to explore
- You can add the amphitheater stairs if you are looking for a strenuous workout
- Boulders and rocks for climbing
- Varied terrain to keep it interesting for kids
- Can be hiked year-round and good option for a winter hike (with spikes if there was a recent storm or ice), as it’s easily accessible
- Beautiful views
- Loop hike
- No bikes on the hiking trail
- Cute downtown in Morrison if you want to pair it with a lunch outing
Cons
- Crowded, so be sure to go early
- Not remote in nature as you are close to roads throughout the hike
- No water destination (lake or waterfall)
WAS THIS DENVER KID HIKE WORTH IT?
Yes! As you can see the “pros” list far outweighs the “cons.” This hike has features that both kids and adults will enjoy. The red rock backdrop is stunning and while it is very close to civilization, it has a way of feeling remote while on the trail.
WOULD I GO BACK TO THIS DENVER KID HIKE?
Yes! In fact, I have gone back to this short hike at least five times in the year that we have lived in the Denver area.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO TRADING POST TRAIL AT RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATER
From Denver, head west of US 6-W for about 2 miles. Take exit 259 for I-70 West for 12 miles, then exit County Road 93. Continue on County Rd 93 (turning into Hogback Rd) for about 2 miles, then turn right on Red Rocks Park Rd. If you are headed to the Upper South lot, in 0.7 miles turn right on Trading Post Rd, then left on Ship Rock Rd and the parking lot will be on your right. Our favorite spot to park, as mentioned above, is right off of the Red Rocks Park Rd on the south end of the park here.
If you are looking for a longer day hike, there are a few other hikes around this Red Rocks area. I will be sure to report back with our trail guide and trip reports when we do those hikes! I especially want to try the Red Rocks Trail from Matthew Winters Park. Other options include Morrison Slide Trails and Dakota Ridge Trail. If you do this Denver kid hike, please let me know how you liked it! If you are looking for more of our reviews on hikes near Denver, check out some of these options:
- Eagle’s View Trail at Reynold’s Park
- Maxwell Falls
- Waterton Canyon
- Paint Mine Interpretive Park (near Colorado Springs)
- More Denver Hikes
Lastly, sure to check out The First 5 Things to Teach Your Kids About Hiking before hitting the trail! Happy hiking!
What a fun hike! I’ve visited Denver several times but I’ve never had free time to explore and hike.
Hope you get a chance next time! It’s a quick trip from the city and an awesome perspective.
So cool! Looks like the kids had a blast!
Yes, they love this hike! Easy for them and fun for all.
Wow! Great pics & fun hiking.
Thank you! We sure do have fun on this hike!
Looks like a great little hike! And that Juniper ❤️
I know! It’s my favorite part of the hike.
Oh my goodness. This looks amazing! I think I could actually take my 4-year old to this one. haha Thanks for sharing!
Yes, absolutely! It’s perfect for that age! This is one of the few that my 4 year old will hike the whole thing.
Great tips for families that enjoy hiking!
Thank you!
Red Rocks Amphitheater is so amazing. Glad you enjoyed it.
We sure did! In every season, it doesn’t disappoint!
That looks like so much fun! What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!
It’s a prefect mini hike and we always have fun!
What a great hike for kids! I love that you give such great tips so everyone can enjoy the hike!
It’s a perfect family hike for young and old!
So cool. We were here a few years ago and I didn’t even realize that there was a hiking trail. I guess we’ll be going back for another visit ☺️
Yes, I hope you do! I didn’t realize there were hiking trails the first time I visited either! Definitely worth a stop!
Looks amazing! Will definitely add to our list of hikes when we eventually make it to Denver! Hubby wants to go in the winter to ski… but I would much rather visit when we can hike and see these amazing vistas!
The good thing about Denver is you can do both! This hike is great in the winter too!
I would love to see the view!
It’s a good one!
Sounds like a perfect hiking trail for this hiking novice. I traveled to Denver once on business I would love to go back one day. It is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Hopefully you make it back to Denver and have the chance to squeeze this in. It’s perfect for all hiking levels!
I love short hikes for the kids that are beautiful all at the same time!
Yes, it’s a bonus when they can hike the whole thing but it’s still beautiful scenery! This one is a winner!
I would love to see a concert there. I’ve never been to an amphitheater. The hike looks amazing too.
It’s a unique experience! I would recommend going earlier in the season when it’s not as cold as we had it. But even then it was spectacular! I look forward to returning in the summer.
I love the idea of taking our kids on a hike once the two year olds are a bit older and can walk more reliably. I am afraid going so early would not end well for any of us lol.
Yes, I hope you do! You can read my post about trail tantrums and meltdowns as it’s bound to happen at any age. 🙂
What a great hike for visitors. Not everyone is going to be up to those bigger hikes, especially if they aren’t used to the altitude. I agree with you on getting the elevation done while you are fresh.
Yes, absolutely! That’s such a great point.
Red Rocks is so beautiful! I’ve seen a few concerts there and it’s pretty much the most amazing venue ever!
Yay, that’s awesome! We loved our experience there too and can’t wait to see more!
Looks like a perfect hike with kids!
Yes, it’s a nice little stroll with lots to see!
This is great! My kids are still little, but saving this info for the future when we can do this as a family. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful! This is great for all ages!
My husband has been suggesting we drive to red rocks amphitheater a lot. I now know why. Were definitely going to go soon.
Yay! I’m glad I helped be the tipping point. 🙂 I think you’ll enjoy it!
Sounds like a fun hike!