Red Rocks Exhibit

Entry Hall – Ancient History

 

WELCOME TO THE GEOLOGIC WONDERS OF RED ROCKS PARK

• Purchased by the City of Denver in 1928 for $54,133
• 728 acres
• 6435 feet above sea level
• Tallest rocks: Creation Rock and Ship Rock over 300 feet
• 45 major named sandstone rock formations, 300 million years old

 

3D RED ROCKS PARK MAP

You are welcome to touch the model but DO NOT climb on it. And remember, rock climbing in Red Rocks Park is very dangerous and strictly prohibited!

The current rock names in Red Rocks Park have been used for many years, but in the early days, often changed or shifted depending on the landowners at the time. The shape of Ship Rock, for example, suggests a ship going down and was renamed after the sensational sinking of the ocean liner Titanic in 1912; before that it was called Creation Rock. The names on this map are those recognized by the City of Denver at the time of the Visitor Center renovation in 2025.

 

NAMING THE ROCKS

Over the park’s history, its fourteen rocks have been imaginatively—and sometimes grandiosely—named and renamed. Red Rocks is full of “gateway” rocks and others that have been compared to ships or named for their different features. Cracks become crevices, then enlarge to grottos, caves and labyrinths, inspiring fanciful names like Fat Man’s Misery or Demon’s Grotto.

Early in the 1900s, J.B. Walker, the first major promoter and developer of the park, named this park Garden of the Titans, and named many features after ancient Greek gods, including Rock of Cronus, Rock of Mnemosyne, Cave of Saturn, Spring of Rhea, and Rock of Tethys.

1. Lizard Head Rock: Currently Tunnel Rock, the rock you may have driven through as you approached the Visitor Center and Amphitheatre.
2. Seat of Pluto, the Toadstool: The postcard suggests early photo fakery for this small, poised rock.
3. Ship Rock: On the south, once known as Rock of Coios (Coeus), with a Lover’s Leap on the north edge.
4. Creation Rock: North of the amphitheatre, may be the oldest name applied to this highest rock; by 1901 it was called Mammoth King Rock. Called Rock of Cronus during Titan era, its High Cave was renamed Cave of Saturn.
5. Stage Rock: has been the scene of concerts since 1908.
6. Rock of Tethys: Lies just east of Stage Rock; named for the Titan goddess of rivers, has no current name.
7. Ladder Cave Rock: Seven Ladders Rock, Rock of the Erinyes. Named for the climbs constructed inside the rock a century ago (no longer there); many names were applied to features inside as well, e.g. Jacob’s Ladder, Toboggan Slide.
8. Nine Parks Rock, Rock of Mnemosyne: This enormous rock is riddled with nine openings called parks. The rock was once named for Mnemosyne, mother of the nine muses.
9. Picnic Rock: Rock of Cronus, Promontory Rock, Forbidden Climb, Caves of the Melian Nymphs, Lover’s Leap.
10. Gog and Magog: The pillar rocks across the valley were likely given this biblical name in the late 1800s, when the park was known as Garden of the Angels. View from the main trail looking north. Gog, known as Sphinx from the east, is also a smokestack on the rock often known as the Sinking Titanic.
11. Frog Rock is the large rock at the south end of the park.
12. A smaller feature known as the Toad is just to the south.
13. Sinking Titanic and Iceberg: April 1912, when the “unsinkable” ship went down, left an impression in the park.
14. Park Cave Rock: Also known as Crown Rock, this is the easternmost rock in the park.

 

EARLIEST RESIDENTS

Apatosaurus – The Jurassic Giant
150 million years ago
Apatosaurus ajax, found by Arthur Lakes at Quarry 10 at Dinosaur Ridge in 1877, was the first specimen of the Brontosaurus clan ever discovered. At 90 feet long, it was the last and largest of the “thunder lizards.” Its long neck enabled it to browse on trees like a giraffe. Bones of this giant are on display at the Morrison Natural History Museum.

Footprints in the Sand
100 million years ago
You can see tracks of these two dinosaurs at Dinosaur Ridge, not far from Red Rocks Park. The smaller Ornithominus was 8 feet high, a quick-moving meat eater that walked on two legs. The larger lguanodon walked on four legs and ate only plants.

The Battle
70 million years ago
Tyrannosaurus rex (Left), awesome king of the carnivores, here tries to catch its prey, a herbivorous Triceratops. The giant meteorite seen falling from the sky was the catastrophic event ended the Age of the Dinosaurs.

1877 Dinosaur Discoverer
Arthur Lakes, a professor at the Colorado School of Mines, discovered dinosaur fossils in the Red Rocks area in 1877. Lakes painted watercolors like this “Digging Bones at Mt. Morrison Quarry No. 10” to document his excavations.

 

STELLA THE STEGOSAURUS

LENGTH: 30-33 feet

HEIGHT: 12-14 feet

WEIGHT: 3-4 tons (as much as a car)

AGE: 150 million years (the first Stegosaurus specimen was found in Morrison . . . less than a mile away!)

BRAIN SIZE: 1” diameter  (size of a walnut)

DIET: Plants

“BLUSHING” PLATES: Why did their iconic bony plates turn red? Popular theories include agitation, rival intimidation, or a very showy device for regulating body temperature.

 

300-MILLION-YEAR-OLD STAGE SET

Once listed as one of the 7 wonders of the geologic world

Unconformity
Here, 1,700 million-year-old rocks nestle up against the much younger red rocks of the Fountain Formation, representing the disappearance of 1.2 billion years’ worth of rock. What happened to it?

Red Rocks Park
Horizontal rock layers deposited over 230 million years were tilted upby colossal geologic forces during the first mountain-building phase of today’s Rocky Mountains, beginning about 70 million years ago.

Dinosaur Ridge
Here you can see tracks of the Ornithominus and lguanodon that date back to the Jurassic period 100 million years ago.

 

RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE MODEL

Designated as both a Denver and a National Historic Landmark, this world-renowned venue was once listed as one of the seven wonders of the geologic world.

North Gallery – Modern History

PEOPLE OF THE SHINING MOUNTAINS

UTES IN COLORADO: A RETROSPECTIVE
The land on which you stand was once part of the territory of the Ute Tribe, The “Nuu-ciu.” The Utes were a nomadic people who thrived for thousands of years by relying on their connection with nature. They followed animals and plant life according to the seasons to hunt, fish and harvest food, always respecting and lining in harmony with their environment.

The UTE CIRCLE OF LIFE represents the cycle of life from birth to death for all creatures.

 

A LEGACY OF NOMADISM AND HARMONY WITH MOTHER EARTH
Guided by the experience and wisdom of their chiefs and elders, nomadic bands on horseback followed trails that crisscrossed the mountain ranges of Colorado, linking traditional campsites to which they would return seasonally. With a deep respect for the environment’s need to replenish itself, they moved on to new sites before game and vegetation were depleted. Once their range extended from the plains to the Western Slope, and down into the Four Corners. As Ute bands moved through the landscape, they constructed shelters that suited the terrain and available resources. On the plains and in elevated flatlands, they lived in tipis–conical tent-like structures made of bison hide stretched over a skeleton of poles usually lodgepole pine, that could be moved to a new location. In mountainous woodlands, the Utes built huts called wikiups out of a skeleton of fallen tree branches interwoven with brush. A wikiup might last for a season or more, and then eventually fall apart and return to the landscape.

 

LOSING THEIR WAY OF LIFE
As the American West was settled by whites, the Utes, like other tribes, saw broken treaties shrink their lands to a point that could not support a nomadic in traditional culture provoked a series of ugly reprisals on both sides. Chief Colorow participated in the violence, while Chief Ouray attempted to mediate. In the end, the “Meeker Incident” (or “Meeker Massacre”) became a pretext to expel the Utes from their western Colorado treaty lands. The federal Dawes Act of 1887 further eroded Indigenous traditions by attempting to divide the reservations into individually owned homesteads. Some Utes, like Colorow and Chief Ignacio, resisted. Others, like Ouray and Sapiah (Buckskin Charley) accepted a farming life. In the end, 90 million acres were stripped from Indigenous tribes and sold off to settlers.

 

“WE ARE STILL HERE”
Today, the Utes, in addition to many other tribal members, live, work, and carry on traditions in their communities. Museums and exhibits share and preserve long and complex stories of the Indigenous peoples of America. Organizations like the Denver American Indian Commission and the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs represent their interests to the public and to the governmental bodies.

 

THE LAST CHIEFS

CHIEF COLOROW
Ute Mountain Ute
1810-1888

• Leader of the band that seasonally camped near Red Rocks in the 1860s–1870s.
• A vivid personality, skilled as both diplomat and warrior.
• Championed the nomadic way of life.

CHIEF HOSA(Little Raven)
Southern Arapaho
1810-1889

• Diplomat respected for making peace among the plains tribes.
• Kept seeking peace with white settlers even as treaties were broken.
• Hoped the white settlers might leave once they had mined all the gold.

CHIEF IGNACIO
Weeminuche band
1828-1913

• Testified before Congress about the Meeker Incident
• Led the Weeminuche Utes to their reservation lands in the Four Corners area.
• Separated from other Southern Ute bands in 1896 to preserve their communal lands.

CHIEF OURAY
Uncompaghre band
1833-1880

• He and his wife Chipeta were the primary negotiators recognized by the federal government.
• Some, now as in his own time, think he gave away too much too easily.
• Renowned for her diplomatic skills, Chipeta remained a respected elder after Ouray’s death.

CHIEF BUCKSKIN CHARLEY (Sapiah)
Southern Ute
1880-1936

• The last traditional chief, he replaced Ouray as primary treaty negotiator.
• Helped resolve the Meeker incident.
• Separated geographically from the Weeminuche bandled by Ignacio by accepting a farmstead lifestyle.

CHIEF SEVERO
Capote band
1840-1936

• Severo had been captain of the Southern Ute tribal police. He also appears in the large group photo above. It shows him in 1906 standing next to Antonio Buck, Sr., Sapiah’s son and the last hereditary chief of the Southern Utes.

(Photographs courtesy of Denver Public Library/Western History Collection)

 

EARLY DAYS IN THE PARK

THE EARLY VISIONARIES
The City Beautiful movement, popularized by the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, united businessmen, political leaders, and urban reformers with its ideal of creating beauty and harmony in American cities that had been despoiled by the rampant growth of the 19th century. Increasing tourism and encouraging more organized growth were other key motivations.

Entrepreneur, developer, and Cosmopolitan magazine founder John Brisben Walker purchased Red Rocks Park and surrounding lands in 1906 and soon built a funicular railway to the top of Mt. Morrison and began staging concerts on a rough stage in the then-undeveloped amphitheatre. Sixty cents bought a round-trip fare to Morrison on the Colorado & Southern Railroad, as well as admission to the park, the funicular, and concerts.

One of the earliest supporters of the Denver Mountain Parks system, Walker hoped eventually to sell Red Rocks Park, along with several other parcels, to Denver for $100,000. After four years of study and negotiation, the city arranged to buy the property in 1927 for $54,133.

 

NATURAL WONDER
The naturally occurring theatre set on a mountain stage is not duplicated anywhere in the world. The theatre provides perfect acoustics and was once listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Red Rocks. originally known as the Garden of Angels, and later as Garden of the Titans, has attracted the attention of musical performers since before the turn of the century.

This photo probably dates from the early 1900s, by which time entrepreneur John Brisben Walker had purchased the land that makes up today’s park and developed it as a tourist attraction. Here, burros carried curious tourists, and even early performers into the park.

The Trading Post, once called the Indian Concession House, was designed in southwest style by architect W.R. Rosche in 1932 to serve as a concession, information center, and exhibit area.

 

THE FIRST MUSICIANS
Local musicians, like the ones shown in the photo to the left from around 1910, came to Stage Rock to enjoy the marvelous natural acoustics even before the amphitheatre was built. Operatic singer Dame Nellie Melba, who gave melba toast its name, visited in 1906 and proclaimed that “this is the greatest open-air theatre I have ever seen.”

Opera star Mary Garden (above and right) and her violin accompanist, Signor Tibaldi, arrived here by burro to test the amphitheatre’s acoustics in 1911. Later, she wrote that “never in any opera house the world over have I found more perfect acoustic properties . . . “I predict that someday twenty thousand people will assemble there to listen to the world’s greatest masterpieces.”

 

THE AMPHITHEATRE: ANCIENT INSPIRATION FOR ANCIENT ROCKS

ANCIENT INSPIRATION
The ancient Greek amphitheatre at Taormina, on the southern Italian island of Sicily, was Denver parks manager George Cranmer’s inspiration for the theatre at Red Rocks. It was built by Greek colonists in the third century BC and reconstructed by the Romans five centuries later. Comparable to Red Rocks, its natural acoustic qualities allow 20,000 people to hear natural voices.

GEORGE CRANMER AMPHITHEATRE VISIONARY
Under Mayor Benjamin Stapleton, Denver’s manager of parks and improvement George Cranmer was responsible for purchasing Red Rocks Park for the City of Denver in 1927. The following year he toured the Greek amphitheatre in Taormina, Sicily and immediately recognized the potential of such a structure for the park. It took another six years to raise the federal and municipal funding to begin the project.

A BOULDER STREWN FIELD filled the area between Creation Rock and Ship Rock before Civilian Conservation Corps crews moved over 10,000 cubic yards of earth and rock debris to construct the amphitheatre’s structure.

Cranmer was afraid that dynamiting the boulders would arouse fears of early preservationists. Instead of proceeding gradually, he instructed his foremen to dynamite all the boulders at once; then he disappeared from his office the day of the explosions

BURNHAM HOYT AMPHITHEATRE ARCHITECT
The naturally occurring theatre set on a mountain stage is not duplicated anywhere in the world. The amphitheatre was designed by Burnham Hoyt (1887-1960), one of Denver’s most influential architects. Although among the first to embrace Modernism, he turned to ancient models like the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens when he planned the amphitheatre. Later he wrote: “The design policy established and adhered to throughout was to do a minimum of architecture; to preserve in full where possible the great assets of the site.” The design was done in 1936, and the amphitheatre was dedicated on June 15, 1941, although the total time to complete the project covered 12 years.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre was Hoyt’s best-known work. Architects today still admire the way Hoyt incorporated the topography and rock formations into the design of the theatre. The project brought him immediate national recognition. It was later selected by New York’s Museum of Modern Art as one of the 50 outstanding examples of American architecture of the decade and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

 

THE CCC’S DEPRESSION-ERA ACHIEVEMENT

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was one of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs designed to tackle the problem of unemployment during the Great Depression. Thousands of young men across America were put to work, most notably constructing the trails, bridges, and other amenities in our national parks. Supervised by army officers and local craftsmen, they earned food, clothing, shelter, and $30 a month–$25 of which was sent home to their families.

ARTISANS OF THE AMPHITHEATRE: THE MEN OF CCC CAMP SP 13-C. Company No. 1848
Red Rocks Amphitheatre was the Civilian Conservation Corps’ largest and most ambitious project. A crew of about 200 young men at any one time lived in barracks near Morrison (visible from the Visitor Center deck) and worked on the theatre from 1936 to 1941, with help from the National Park Serice and Works Progress Administration. They laid 10 boxcar loads of cement and put down 90,000 square feet of flagstone quarried in Lyons, Colorado.

The physical structure of the facility, as well as all the finished terracing and stonework, was built by hand, without the help of any machines.

THE SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION- CIRCA 1940
The amphitheatre surface drainage design was planned and executed by the CCC with the forms and techniques captured in this photo.

The amphitheatre stage is cast-in- place concrete, clad in a unique style of stone masonry veneer.

Dirt fill and debris from the interior portion of the amphitheatre were pushed to the south side, while the north side had to be cut by blasting.

The CCC contributed to the final design of the walkway known as “The Bridge” on the amphitheatre’s south side.

For best access, the construction staging area was located at the top of the amphitheatre. Concrete was mixed and poured from here.

The Historic Landmark Registry cites its “strong horizontal lines” as one of the amphitheatre’s most distinctive features. The CCC developed a concrete distribution trough–an ingenious system for pouring the material in such uniform and visually pleasing lines.

The stage wings were originally designed in an Art Deco style, adapted to the site with a unique curvature in the design and stone cladding. Higher stage wings were built in 1960.

Music Alley – Chronology of Performances

 

“THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE TO SEE THE STARS”

 

“THIS THEATRE SINGS FOR YOU.” –HELEN JEPSON, METROPOLITAN OPERA STAR PERFORMING AT 1941 GRAND OPENING

 

HISTORICAL NOTES

Red Rocks Park was known as “Garden of the Titans” from 1906 to 1928.

Pre-1941 listings took place in a boulder-strewn natural setting, (or in an unfinished amphitheatre in the late 1930s).

Red Rocks Amphitheatre was mostly not in use during World War II.

Red Rocks Performers Hall of Fame

 

RED ROCKS HALL OF FAME

“It’s like no other place on earth to perform … Red Rocks is in a class by itself.”  – Hall-of-Famer Dan Fogelberg

The Red Rocks Hall of Fame was dedicated when the Visitor Center was built in 2003 and has honored a new inductee each year since. Some, like The Beatles, are exceptionally noteworthy. Some have achieved unique accomplishments, like U2, who made the Rocks famous around the world by shooting the first DVD video of a performance here. Many earned their place here simply as audience favorites, drawing crowds show after show, year after year.

Lily Pons
The French-born soprano (1898–1976) established a solid American career at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and also became a popular celebrity for her stage personality and light-music performances in concert, film and television, and on tour for troops abroad. She typified the kind of popular classical entertainment prevalent at Red Rocks (and on TV) during the 1950s.

The Beatles
In 1964, the “Fab Four” embarked on their first North American tour, performing 32 shows for screaming, enthusiastic audiences in 25 cities over 31 days. That tour was the first step in The Beatles becoming, arguably, the most popular and influential rock band in history, so it seems funny that their August 26th Red Rocks appearance purportedly didn’t sell out, despite eyewitness accounts of fans packing the house.

Willie Nelson
Singer, songwriter, actor, guitarist, character—all these words describe the “Redheaded Stranger.” From his early days penning country hits like “Crazy” for other performers to having a stellar performing career, originating the Farm Aid concerts, and empowering the songwriting profession, Willie Nelson has proven to be an American original.

Allman Brothers Band
The embodiment of 1970s southern rock, the Allman Brothers Band made its Red Rocks debut on August 4, 1979, eight years after losing founding member Dwayne Allman in a motorcycle accident. The band’s tradition of virtuosity, showmanship, and blending the new and the old draw some of the most diverse and enthusiastic audiences in music today.

Carlos Santana
His breakthrough performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival introduced the world to Santana’s fusion of rock guitar virtuosity and Afro-Latin rhythms. One of the most influential musicians in rock history, he was born in Mexico and taught by his dad to be a mariachi violinist before he came to California and was exposed to rock guitar.

Dan Fogelberg
Dan Fogelberg was one of pop music’s most successful singer-songwriters coming out of the 1970s. He captivated local audiences not only with his angelic voice and soulful songs but as a Colorado resident with a special love for playing the Rocks. “It’s like looking at this huge, animated poster,” he said. “It’s like no other place on earth to perform…Red Rocks is in a class by itself.”

U2
With their potent lyrics and huge rock sound, U2 have captivated audiences with their passionate music since the early 1980s. Issued as Under a Blood Red Sky, their powerful, rain-soaked 1983 performance was the first concert video recorded at the Rocks. It solidified the Amphitheatre’s reputation as one of the premier concert venues in the world.

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Five-time Grammy winner Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Red Rocks debut was oddly featured between two New Wave acts. The Dallas-born guitar wizard returned to Red Rocks five more times before his untimely death in August 1990. His style bridged the gap between blues and rock like that of no other artist since the late 1960s.

 Sting
When the ska-influenced English rock band The Police disbanded in 1986, their singer, bassist, and primary songwriter Sting (Gordon Sumner) went on to have a tremendously successful solo career. Having first played the Rocks with The Police, he chose to return several times as a solo act instead of playing larger venues.

Bonnie Raitt
Red Rocks favorite Bonnie Raitt was born into a musical family. But while her dad was a Broadway show singer, she brought a blues influence to her vocals and guitar work as she drew for her hits on material chosen from great songwriters of her time. She actively campaigned for the critical and financial recognition of earlier blues artists.

Widespread Panic
It’s no wonder the Red Rocks mainstay Widepread Panic has such a huge history of selling out the Amphitheatre. Their never-the-same-way-twice improvisational vibe and powerful southern rock sound kept audiences coming back to hear new takes on favorite songs. By 2016, they set the Red Rocks record for the most sold-out shows—51. By 2024, that number reached 72, with no signs of stopping.

Grateful Dead
Coming out of the San Francisco hippie scene of the 1960s, the Dead pioneered what is now known as the “jam band” genre. Drawing on a variety of styles and varying their improvised performances nightly, they acquired a devoted fan base that followed their shows to see what would happen next. Red Rocks audiences witnessed many of their marathon jams during their twenty performances from 1978 to 1987.

Tom Petty
Tom Petty first performed at Red Rocks in 1980, remaining a fan favorite ever since. With a characteristic brand of Americana-inspired roots rock songwriting, a distinctive voice, and a hard driving band notable for its musicianship, he established a definitive place in rock iconography. Starting in the 1970s he sold over 80 million records, ranking him among the highest in record sales.

John Denver
John Denver was an American singer-songwriter, actor, environmental activist, and poet. He was born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., but adopted the surname “Denver” after his affection for Colorado. He celebrated the mountains that he loved in “Rocky Mountain High,” one of Colorado’s official state songs, and was named Poet Laureate of Colorado in 1977.

Blues Traveler
The improvisational rock band Blues Traveler was formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987 and made famous by frequent appearances on the Tonight Show. Equally frequent were their Red Rocks performances on or around Independence Day for many years. John Popper’s high-energy harmonica playing is the centerpiece of the band’s sound.

String Cheese Incident
String Cheese Incident formed in Boulder in 1993, and quickly joined the roster of jam band favorites at Red Rocks. They couple a high level of musicianship with a wide variety of sources in bluegrass, blues, country, funk, and jazz. Taking new approaches in each performance, they are notable for attracting audiences to multi-night runs.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Big Head Todd and The Monsters began in the mid-1980s when three long-time friends from southwest Denver came together at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The blues-funk band began to gain a following within the college town almost immediately and within a few short years they were touring across the U.S., appearing yearly at Red Rocks over several decades.

Colorado Symphony Orchestra/Denver Symphony Orchestra
Orchestral music has a long history of outdoor performance. At Red Rocks, the tradition began in 1941, and since then the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (and its predecessor, the Denver Symphony Orchestra) have presented numerous concerts featuring classical favorites, as well as accompanying rock and pop artists.

Jackson Browne
Beginning his career in the 1970s, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne climbed the charts with hit albums like The Pretender and Running On Empty, and co-wrote the breakthrough hit “Take It Easy” with the Eagles’ frontman Glenn Frey. He is widely respected for the care he takes with the sound and musicianship of his bands.

Steve Miller Band
One of the more polished and powerful artists to emerge from San Francisco in the 1960s, Steve Miller grew up listening to blues and jazz and never cast off his original blues-rock style even as he moved into a more pop sound with 1970s hits like “Fly Like An Eagle.” Red Rocks audiences witnessed his entire range of material in a series of sell-out performances from the 1970s through the 2020s.

Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett’s considerable talents as a singer-songwriter, applied to his affection for the “Margaritaville” beach lifestyle, earned him a devoted fan base of like-minded (and wannabee) followers who made him one of the world’s most successful musicians. After a 26-year absence, he noted the Amphitheatre was still his favorite place to perform. All in all, he appeared here 18 times from 1977 to 2021.

Reggae on the Rocks
Reggae on the Rocks was created in 1988 by Bill Bass Concerts to bring the loving, exciting genre of reggae to the Rocky Mountains. Audiences have had the pleasure of enjoying classic reggae artists including Jimmy Cliff, Inner Circle, Burning Spear, The Wailers, Ziggy Marley and more.

STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)
The Georgia-based electro-jazz group formerly known as Sector 9 began in the late 1990s with their funky instrumental album Interplanetary Escape Vehicle. Modifying their name to Sound Tribe Sector 9, they established a reputation in the jam band community, made their Red Rocks debut as an opener in 2004, and soon became a favorite on their own.

Lyle Lovett
Lyle Lovett began to sing and write while studying German and journalism at Texas A&M in the late 1970s. Working his way to stardom through the Texas singer-songwriter scene of the 1980s, he developed a witty, intelligent musical and lyrical style that drew fans from both country and pop audiences.

Michael Franti
In the early 1990s Michael Franti emerged from the worlds of hip-hop and reggae with his band Spearhead to combine those traditions with elements of funk, folk, and rock for positive celebrations of a more socially just world. He once remarked, “When I first saw Red Rocks, I thought, ‘It’s so beautiful, how could they build a concert venue here,’ and after playing here, I thought, ‘Thank God they built a concert venue here.’”

Stevie Nicks
Nicks’s first Red Rocks show in 1986 was among the first concert videos filmed here. As video sales went gold around the world, it showcased Red Rocks to millions of new fans. Nicks gained fame in the band Fleetwood Mac and then as a solo act. She is the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as both a member of a group and solo artist.

James Taylor
Six-time Grammy Award Winner and Red Rocks Hall of Fame inductee James Taylor shot to stardom in 1971 with his timeless recording of “You’ve Got a Friend,” and other Top 10 hits like “Fire and Rain,” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You).” His first appearance at Red Rocks was July 27, 1975, and he went on to play here for six more decades.

South Gallery – When Nature Takes the Stage

 

GET TO KNOW DENVER MOUNTAIN PARKS

 From the spectacular 300-million-year-old rock formations here at Red Rocks to a glacial lake at 12,800’ elevation in Summit Lake Park, the city of Denver stewards a diverse range of special places. The Denver Mountain Park system consists of 47 foothill and mountain parks interconnected by scenic drives, once described by an early supporter J.B. Walker as “the most extensive and magnificent system of parks possessed by any city in the world.”

 MOUNTAIN PARKS AT-A-GLANCE (as of 2024)

• 22 accessible parks
• 25 conservation areas
• 14,500 acres
• 6,000 to 12,800 feet in elevation
• 2 bison herds
• 5,000,000+ annual visitors

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Experience nature as never before at 12,800-foot-high Summit Lake Park with alpine plants and wildlife.
• Ski Winter Park, “Colorado’s Playground”
• Hike, fish and picnic in Bear Creek Canyon’s many beautiful and historic parks.
• Camp under ponderosa pines at historic Chief Hosa Campground in Genessee Park.
• View bison herds grazing in Genessee and Daniels Park.
• Explore Western history at Lookout Mountain Park, the gateway to the mountain parks system and home of Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave.
• Hike Red Rocks Park or attend a world-class concert, brought to you by Denver Arts & Venues.

 

WHEN HIKING IN RED ROCKS PARK…

RESPECT THE ROCKS
Stay on the trail while exploring the park. Respect and care of the rocks to ensure they are here for generations to enjoy. Stay safe and do your part to protect our park by staying off the rocks and on the trail.

HYDRATE
Colorado is the high desert, and the altitude and dry air can make people sick, especially when they first arrive. When enjoying a hike in the park, drink more water than you think you need.

RATTLESNAKES
This park is a natural rattlesnake habitat. Stay on designated trails, and if you encounter a snake, back away. Keep dogs leashed at all times.

TRAIL MAP
The trail map shows three suggested hikes around the park and their mileage. All three are easy-to-moderate in difficulty, so choose a loop that suits your skill level. Remember to take plenty of water along and keep your four-legged friends on a leash!

 

WILDLIFE IN THE PARK

The park is full of wildlife, most of which stay out of sight from park visitors. Consider yourself lucky if you spot any of these on the beautiful trails around the park. Respect them by staying at a safe distance.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird
I am a medium-sized migrating species that spends summers at Red Rocks. You’ll see me around red flowers like scarlet gilia.

Peregrine Falcon
You know me as one of the fastest birds, diving at over 200 mph. My physical makeup helped influence the blueprints of jet engines! I am at home at the many cliffs sides you can view at Red Rocks.

Mule Deer
My name comes from my big ears that resemble a mule. I am a large herbivore that searches for high quality vegetation like bluebells and globemallow at Red Rocks.

Bobcat
I am easy to distinguish from other medium sized predators from my shortened or “bobbed” tail. My role in the ecosystem at Red Rocks is keeping the small prey populations in balance.

Mountain Lion
Depending on wliere you are from, I am known by many different names like cougar, panther, or puma. I have the widest range of habitats of the !arge cat species from rainforest ecosystems to desert landscapes.

Western Tanager
My Iconic red head comes from my Insectivorous diet. I also dine on fruits and berries which helps spread seeds throughout Red Rocks.

Prairie Rattlesnake
I am a common, venomous, pit viper you might see at Red Rocks. If you hear me, STEP BACK! My rattle is a warning noise, so you don’t step on me in my home.

American Black Bear
Despite my name, you can find me in a range of colors from sandy blonde to the richest of reds and browns. Because of the valuable habitat that Red Rocks provide, I can thrive in this ecosystem year­round. Be sure your rubbish finds a trash can to keep me wild!

Prairie Racerunner
Blink and you’ll miss me! I am a speedy insectivore that helps control Insect populations around Red Rocks.

Red Fox
If you see me at Red Rocks, I might be hunting for small prey like mice and squirrels. I use my superior hearing to locate my food which may be well hidden under brush or snow.

 

WHERE NATURE TAKES THE STAGE

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre are part of Denver’s spectacular mountain parks system.

 

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“We at Red Rocks honor and acknowledge that Red Rocks Park & Amphotheatre is located on land that is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples.  We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the State of Colorado.”

 

QUOTE

“We participate with the earth, the animals, and the plants. We are not separate from them; they take care of us and we take care of them.” – Linda Black Elk, Ethnobotanist, Catawba Tribe

 

PUT YOUR NAME ON THE MAP

*PLEASE NOTE: Touchscreens for this feature are coming soon.

Sign our Digital Guestbook • Leave a Legacy Gift

Preserve the Rocks
Preserve the Rocks is a City and County of Denver fund dedicated to education, restoration and the preservation of Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre.

We invite you to keep the memories and history of the venue alive by making a legacy donation along with your digital guestbook entry. redrocksonline.com/our-story/donate

 

Other ways to support Red Rocks:

Friends of Red Rocks
Mission: To preserve Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre by hosting trail cleanups and activities to keep Red Rocks a beautiful place for all the amazing visitors each year.

To donate, volunteer or learn more: friendsofredrocks.org

Denver Mountain Parks Foundation
Mission: To restore the historical integrity, relevance, quality and appreciation for Denver’s Mountain Parks System; to advocate for it and ensure its future as a recreational, educational and open space resource for the City of Denver: its citizens, neighbors and visitors. The Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that partners with Denver Mountain Parks to identify and support projects and programs centered on conservation, preservation, and education.

To donate, volunteer or learn more: mountainparksfoundation.org

 

DENVER MOUNTAIN PARKS FOUNDATION

MISSION: To restore the historical integrity, relevance, quality and appreciation for Denver’s Mountain Parks System; to advocate for it and ensure its future as a recreational, educational and open space resource for the City of Denver: its citizens, neighbors and visitors. The Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that partners with Denver Mountain Parks to identify and support projects and programs centered on conservation, preservation, and education.

CONSERVATION
Conservation of air, water, animals, views, plants and open space are vital to ensure the health of the Denver Mountain Parks and their visitors.

We support Denver Mountain Parks’ stewardship of:

• Two conservation bison herds
• Bear Creek and Clear Creek watersheds
• Forest health
• Biodiversity of wildlife and vegetation
• Mitigation of climate change impacts

PRESERVATION
The Denver Mountain Parks reflect a rich history of visionary individuals who, over 100 years ago, believed in the power of open space to enhance the lives of the Denver residents and visitors.  We work to preserve this history, reflecting the local and park history as well as the original inhabitants of the land.

EDUCATION
The Denver Mountain Parks offer rich and meaningful opportunities for education.

We support their educational initiatives such as:

• Providing interpretive signs in each park quick lessons on the history of the Mountain Parks and their founders.
• Funding conservation internships to learn about grazing habits and genetics of bison, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats.
• Partnering with the Denver Zoo and Denver Botanic Gardens for special projects.

Help us keep Red Rocks Park and all our Denver Mountain Parks amazing places to visit!

Scan here to DONATE, VOLUNTEER, and LEARN MORE

South Patio – Points of Interest

 

MT. MORRISON FUNICULAR SCAR

Early Tourist Thrills at the Park
Through this scope you can see scars of the Mt. Morrison Incline Railway, built at Red Rocks by park owner J.B. Walker in 1909. From the top of its 1500-foot elevation tourists could see Red Rocks, Morrison, the Hogback, Denver, and out onto the plains. It was dismantled by 1920, when automobiles became the more popular way to travel.

What’s a funicular? A funicular consists of two cars, attached to a cable, which counterbalance each other so that one goes up while the other goes down. The Mt. Morrison funicular was run by a steam engine at the peak. Funiculars became a tourist craze in Europe starting in the 1860s and spread to America by 1890. This one was the first in Colorado, soon followed by others at Lookout Mountain, Golden, and Manitou Springs.

 

HISTORIC RED ROCKS CCC CAMP

The Jobless Boys Who Built the Amphitheatre
To your left is the Bear Creek valley and the town of Morrison. The scope focuses on the green roofs of the historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, built as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal rescue plan to enroll thousands of jobless young men and veterans to help build projects in parks all over America.

Between 1936 and 1942, this Depression-era camp housed more than 200 workers. The young men of CCC Company 1848 cleared over 25,000 cubic feet of rocks and debris before handing over the construction duties to the skilled workers of Veterans Company 1860. The work was done largely by hand.

 

BIRDLIFE AT RED ROCKS

Feathered Friends Living in the Rocks
Red Rocks is a favorite park for birding enthusiasts, because it sits in a transition zone where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. There are over 200 migrant or resident bird species that move through Red Rocks each year.

Watch for Peregrine Falcons nesting high in the rocks and raptors riding thermals, both thrilling to see.  Signs of Cliff Swallows are white staining on the red rock cliffs from poop, mud nests, and bird chatter around crevices and holes in the rocks. Listen for the Canyon Wren’s song echoing among the rocks. “To me, Red Rocks offers the chance to get away from the crowds and admire the scenery….I am enchanted by a tiny bird with a voice that rivals the greatest singers on the amphitheatre stage.”  – Doris Cruze, past president of the Audubon Society of Greater Denver