Each morning with the sun’s first bright rays, legion’s of the fit faithful march up and down the steps at the Red Rock Amphitheater. The heart-pounding, gut-wrenching routine can leave the toughest athlete gasping for air. I have tried this vigorous workout on several occasions. Up the steps, one, two, three, twenty, thirty, forty… The sun beats down and you can always smell stale beer near the amphitheater during the summer concert season. I can’t get addicted to the stair climbing. Why run up and down concrete steps when you can sprint through dramatic 300-foot sandstone monoliths instead? I must truly have the heart of a trail runner.
Nestled in the foothills just west of Denver, Red Rocks Park is only a 15-minute drive from the city and is the closest example of nature’s majestic beauty for travelers passing through Denver. The area offers a glimpse of new and old with panoramic views of the Denver skyline as well as dramatic rocks that date 250 million years. Geologists say gentle earth movement gradually raised the great sandstone ledges from the prehistoric ocean floor. Nearby, dinosaur tracks date to the Jurassic period 160 million years ago. Some of the rock formations in the park slope nearly 90 degrees and the two most famous monoliths, “Creation Rock” and “Ship Rock,” are taller than Niagara Falls.
Herds of deer are often seen throughout the park, especially in the winter. Small animals like fox, squirrel, and raccoon are also common. Potentially dangerous summertime visitors are rattlesnakes. Bird watchers can discover a variety of feathered residents including house finches, scrub jays, magpies, and mountain blue birds.
One of my favorite trail runs takes you through the park, but begins at the Matthews/Winters trailhead just outside of Red Rocks. It’s a good starting point because the parking area offers a bathroom and it is immediately off the interstate. Matthews/Winters Park sits on what was once know as Mount Vernon Town, a small town founded in 1859 with the hopes of becoming a supply town along the mining routes. By 1860, there were 44 registered voters in Mount Vernon. The town faded into obscurity when Colorado’s political and economic hub shifted to Denver.
You start the run by crossing the bridge onto the Village Walk Trail and heading straight. Along this trail you will pass the old Mount Vernon Town Site. Veer right onto the Red Rocks Trail, a wide double track trail that takes you over to Red Rocks Park. After 0.8 miles you will cross a small bridge and then start back up the other side. Be careful on this section in the winter as it may be covered in ice. After one switchback, you will come to a trail junction with the Morrison Slide Trail. Veer right and head up the switchbacks towards the top of the plateau. Again, be weary of the ice that may be present on this section during the winter. Once you reach the top of the plateau, you will be treated with panoramic views of Denver and the plains to the east.
Continue down the other side of the Morrison Slide Trail to another junction with the Red Rocks Trail. Here you have a choice to make. You can either turn left for a 4.5 mile trail run or turn right for a 7.5 mile trail run.
If you chose to go right, continue down the hill and cross the park road. Follow the trail as it winds it way around and up to the amphitheater (veer right on the trail after you cross the road). Turn around at the end of the trail and run back to the trail junction with the Morrison Slide Trial. At this junction, turn right and stay on the Red Rocks Trail. This trail parallels the Morrison Slide Trail, which is just above you. Follow this trail all the way back to the Village Walk Trail. Turn right on the Village Walk Trail and follow this around and back to the parking lot.
To get to the trailhead, take I-70 to the Morrison exit and travel south for 0.1 miles. The parking lot is on the west side of the road.