10 Micro-Adventure Ideas Near Denver
Let’s be honest, sometimes the last thing you want to do is wake up super early, drive hours into the mountains, and deal with traffic just for a few hours of adventure.
I feel that.
Here are 10 mini adventures that are super fun and are close to Denver (most of these avoid I-70).
These destinations will make you feel like you’re far from the city, without actually being that far away.
What’s a micro-adventure?
A micro-adventure is defined as an adventure that is small and achievable for normal people with real lives.
Instead of waiting a year to go on a fancy, expensive vacation, seek out local getaways and create your own adventure without travelling that far.
It could be as simple as spending time at a local park, going for a bike ride, or taking a short drive to a new place.
The goal of micro-adventuring is to break up routine and bring excitement into daily life.
Why you should do them more
Taking time out of your day to spend time outside and connecting with nature is vital for our health and well-being.
I know it can be easy to talk yourself out of doing outdoor activities, especially if they’re hours away.
But with identifying a few fun outdoor activities near Denver, it can make it easier to get outside.
Afterwards, you’ll feel so much better and will be grateful you went on a little adventure.
A few small adventures here and there add up to fulfilling lifestyle where you regularly face challenges, push yourself, and ultimately grow.
This short list is designed to help you get started.
1. Bike, walk, or trail run Waterton Canyon
Location: Littleton, CO
Driving time from Denver: 35 min
Waterton Canyon is a local gem.
The trail starts in a suburb, not to far from Chatfield State Park, and takes you deep into a canyon with towering rock walls, evergreens, and a crystal clear creek.
This 12 mile out and back trail makes you feel like you’re deep in the mountains, without actually being deep in the mountains.
It’s relatively flat which makes it great for trail runners, bikers, and families since it’s not that challenging of a hike.
Another bonus is that you’ll also probably see bighorn sheep, I’ve seen them every time I’ve gone!
AllTrails Link: Waterton Canyon Trail
2. Rock climb North Table Mountain
Location: Golden, CO
Driving time from Denver: 25 min
You can’t be in Colorado without doing something a little risky, right?
If you’re looking for a thrilling adventure near Denver, Golden, Colorado is a haven for outdoor rock climbing.
North Table Mountain is the closest, but you can also climb in Clear Creek Canyon as well if you’re wanting to drive a little further.
Visit one of the closest mountains near Denver and experience Colorado from new heights!
If you’re not an experienced climber, you should book a guide using one of the links below.
Relevant links:
Front Range Climbing Company (I’ve climbed with them before and they were awesome)
3. Hike to St. Mary’s Glacier
Location: Idaho Springs, CO
Driving time from Denver: 1 hr
There’s a reason why this is one of the most popular hikes near Denver.
It’s a quick, 1.7 mile hike to a beautiful alpine lake.
Once you’ve reached the lake you can continue to hike up to the glacier, swim, cliff jump, or just hang out and enjoy the beauty all around.
This is a perfect spot for locals and visitors to hike to and hang out in the mountains for the day.
AllTrails link: Saint Mary’s Glacier
4. Paddle on Evergreen Lake
Location: Evergreen, CO
Driving time from Denver: 35 min
Beat the heat in the summertime and go paddle boarding or kayaking on Evergreen Lake!
It’s only a half hour away from Denver and is the perfect day trip — the lake and surrounding area is gorgeous.
You can bring your own paddle board or rent one on site.
If you bring your own watercraft, make sure you rinse it off and purchase a day pass before you launch.
You can find out all the details you need to know before you visit Evergreen Lake below:
5. Watch a mountain sunset from the highway
Location: Boulder, CO
Driving time from Denver: 35 min
Not every adventure has to be super intense.
Watching the sunset behind the mountains from your car is utter magic.
And I know just the spot.
This pull off is located on highway 93 between Golden and Boulder, just past the Flatiron Vista Trailhead.
On Google Maps it’s titled “Lookout Near Highway”.
Copy and paste this address into your GPS before you go: 2666 CO-93, Boulder, CO 80303
6. Mountain bike South Table Mountain
Location: Golden, CO
Driving time from Denver: 20 min
Get your wheels off the road and take yourself for a wild ride!
There are tons of trails just outside of Denver for some awesome bike riding adventures.
If you’re new to mountain biking, like me, I’d recommend South Table Mountain (take the Cretaceous trail up).
The incline is relatively easy and short on the way up and down.
Once you’ve reached the top it’s pretty flat and makes exploring the mesa really fun.
I’d suggest riding to Castle Rock for epic views of Golden.
Don’t have a mountain bike? No problem!
You can rent mountain bikes from the Golden Bike Shop.
7. River tube on Clear Creek
Location: Golden, CO
Driving time from Denver: 23 min
Floating down Clear Creek is probably one of the most exhilarating things you will do this summer.
It’s swift, it’s exciting, and really cold — but totally worth it!
It you’re looking for a whitewater river tubing experience, this float in Golden is exactly what you’re looking for.
Keep in mind this is not a lazy river, the current can be pretty strong and you will likely get very wet.
If you’re looking for a more chill float, I’d suggest the Platte River in Littleton.
A complete guide: Everything You Need to Know About Tubing Clear Creek
8. Ski at Eldora
Location: Nederland, CO
Driving time from Denver: 1 hr (without ski traffic)
I can’t talk about micro-adventures without mentioning skiing.
Colorado is one of the most popular ski destinations in the country and attracts visitors from across the U.S. and around the world.
If you’re an Ikon pass holder, you’re in luck because you’ll have access to one of the closest ski resorts to Denver.
Traffic during ski season gets pretty brutal, so if you want to avoid heavy traffic, I’d recommend going to Eldora Ski Resort.
9. Hike at Eldorado Canyon State Park
Location: Eldorado Springs, CO
Driving time from Denver: 40 min
Avoid the crowds at Rocky Mountain National Park and visit Eldorado Canyon State Park instead!
It’s so much closer and has miles of breathtaking trails to explore.
We did the Eldorado Canyon Trail — a 6.6 mile out-and-back trail which took about 4 hours to complete.
Get a workout in, see some nature, and get back home by noon.
That’s the best thing about micro-adventuring is that it doesn’t take up your entire day.
Find the complete guide to hiking at Eldorado Canyon State Park here.
10. Have a mountain picnic at Lookout Mountain
Location: Golden, CO
Driving time from Denver: 25
Another chill mountain adventure is just to have a picnic with an excellent view.
Lookout Mountain in Golden is the perfect place for that.
No hike necessary, just drive to Lookout Mountain Park where you’ll find a small parking lot off the side of the road.
It’s adjacent to the Buffalo Bill Museum if you’d like to turn it into a little day trip.
Have fun on your Colorado micro-adventures this year!
