Red Rocks Amphitheatre- Morrison, CO

Breathtaking. Literally and figuratively. Without a doubt, Red Rocks is one of the world’s greatest music venues. Consisting of two 300 foot sandstone monoliths, the acoustic perfection of the amphitheatre is only rivaled by the view of the surrounding valley.

The amphitheatre is the bowl that exists between Creation Rock to the North, and Ship Rock to the South; a third rock, aptly named Stage Rock, is located behind the stage, to the East. While there were a number of productions on temporary stages in the early 1900s, it was not until the land was acquired by the City of Denver the current amphitheatre was constructed.

Designed by Denver architect Burnham Hoyt, the theater was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Projects Administration between 1936-1941.  While the amphitheatre was dedicated on June 15, 1941, actual construction continued until 1947. Because that is the way construction works.

As you can imagine, the venue has seen its fair share of huge acts over the years. Who wouldn’t want to play here? The Beatles played here in 1964, Jimi Hendrix in 1968. A Jethro Tull performance of all things led to a riot in 1971, which led to a 5 year ban on rock concerts. U2 performed here in 1983, even shooting a concert film. It was also a favored venue of the Grateful Dead, as you can imagine. Honestly, if you can think of them, they probably played here. There is even a secret signature wall in a tunnel leading to the stage, which you will never see, but has been signed by thousands of past performers.

Venue aside, the area’s geology is amazing. The rocks are over 300 million years old, and are part of the Fountain Formation. This formation is also responsible for Balanced Rock in Colorado Springs and Boulder’s Flatirons. Ancient sediments that were deposited, buried, compacted, and then thrust upward by tectonic forces led to the exposure of this beautiful seam. Over millions of years, a constant freeze thaw cycle left only two major monoliths behind- Creation Rock and Ship Rock.

This area is also a park, so there are several hiking trails, and plenty of rock outcroppings to explore. If that doesn’t tire you out, you can always run up and down the amphitheatre stairs, which is also a popular activity among those who like to run up stairs at 6450 feet above sea level. I passed. Nevertheless, Red Rocks will be one of the coolest places you ever go, even if you don’t see a show.