Top Colorado Day Trips

Explore the stunning Colorado Rockies on an intimate small-group half-day tour led by a local guide. Enjoy scenic drives, short walks at picturesque stops, and breathtaking mountain views. Relax in a comfortable vehicle and experience the tranquility of lesser-known areas. Perfect for connecting with nature and discovering hidden gems.

See for yourself why Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular parks in the United States on this small-group day trip from Denver. Let a guide handle the winding mountain roads while you soak up views of dozens of peaks surrounded by alpine forests, lakes, and meadows. Cross the Great Divide on soaring Trail Ridge Road, look for abundant Colorado wildlife, and get a glimpse of the legendary Stanley Hotel: the inspiration for Stephen King’s "The Shining."

Explore Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park on a full-day tour from Denver that includes scenic trails, wildlife viewing, and historic stops. Walk along a glacial lake, see elk in Moraine Park, and visit overlooks like Many Parks Curve and Horseshoe Park. Enjoy time in Estes Park for lunch, shopping, and an optional visit to the historic Stanley Hotel—without the stress of driving winding mountain roads.

We offer private, fully customizable hiking tours of Rocky Mountain National Park. Take a guided hike to see the best the area has to offer. You follow our guide to the trailhead (in your own vehicle) to begin your hike. All tours include a timed entry reservation, gear rentals, and 5 professional photos available for digital download. (Ask about our add-on package for more photos!) We offer fully inclusive and accessible options as well. Great for solo travelers or the whole family and all ability levels. We will text you to build your custom itinerary after we receive your booking request. 4 hour: Easy/Beginner 6 hour: Medium/Intermediate 8 hour: Hard/Advanced

Explore Colorado’s natural playgrounds, just a short drive from downtown Denver. Escape the city and head for the Rockies with a guide to handle the road, so you can focus on the stunning scenery of Mt. Evans, Bear Creek Canyon, and beyond. Get a taste of mountain culture in the charming town of Evergreen, check out the dramatic formations of Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and hike around serene Echo Lake on this half-day mountain sampler.

Combine a visit to the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak with a trip on the Cog Railway with this tour from Denver. Your driver will pick you up at Union Station and take you to the Garden of the Gods, where you'll explore for a bit before taking the railway up to Pikes Peak. You'll then have time to visit Manitou Springs before returning to Denver.

This full-day, small-group tour takes you out of the city and into the rugged Rocky Mountains. Visit Red Rocks Amphitheatre, an acoustic masterpiece crafted by Mother Nature; travel through rugged Clear Creek Canyon to the Continental Divide; and visit an old mining town. Enjoy free time for lunch and shopping in the iconic ski town of Breckenridge, then head back to Denver, passing through the Eisenhower Tunnel—the longest, highest, passenger car tunnel in the world.

Discover some of Colorado’s wildest Rocky Mountain Scenery on this full-day, small-group tour from Denver. In the morning, meet near Union Station, hop aboard your vehicle, and head first to the Garden of the Gods—a nature park known for its staggering sandstone rock formations. Next, drive all the way to the summit of Pikes Peak for extraordinary views over the landscape. Finally, pass through Manitou Springs en route back to Denver.

Head south from Denver on a small group tour to two of Colorado’s most majestic places. First, visit Garden of the Gods, a unique geological area with colossal red rock formations. Then take a drive up Pikes Peak, which inspired the song “America the Beautiful.” Have lunch and enjoy a bit of free time or shopping in the charming town of Manitou Springs, then take a scenic drive through the foothills back to Denver.

Visit one of the most beautiful parks in the American West on a full-day tour from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park. Picnic among a summer landscape of thick green trees and wildflower meadows, and drive above timberline on an alpine road with stunning mountain views. Stroll around and look for Colorado wildlife inside the park, with time for a dose of mountain culture in the charming resort town of Estes Park.

Enjoy the view from some of Colorado’s highest peaks with a full-day mountain tour from Denver. Escape the city without renting a car as a driver and guide takes you high into the Rocky Mountains, traveling above timberline on Trail Ridge Road and to the top of Mt. Evans for stunning photos. Stroll around an alpine lake, look for big horn sheep and other Colorado wildlife, and stop for lunch (own expense) in the mining town of Idaho Springs for a real taste of the Old West.

Climb from the streets of the "Mile High City" to Rocky Mountain National Park, on a day trip that showcases the rugged beauty of Colorado's mountains. Weave through small, historic towns and drive over alpine passes, as you scan the horizon for mountain wildlife such as elk, black bears, or moose.

Visit Mesa Verde National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site — on this full-day tour from Durango. With a guide, xplore the park's preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and other archaeological sites, learning about the history and culture of this ancient Native American community. Lunch is included.

Get chills down your spine on an evening walk through Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Learn about some of the most haunted dwellings in the city. Let your guide take you through the dark streets, pointing out the haunted mansions, telling tales of historic scandals, and discovering paranormal activity.

Discover Colorado’s most majestic landscapes within easy driving distance of Denver with this pair of self-guided driving tours of Rocky Mountain National Park and Garden of the Gods! In the Rockies, you’ll soar to astonishing heights, stop by the famous Bear Lake, and experience snow-capped vistas. In the Garden of the Gods, you’ll witness stunning red rock formations like the jaw-dropping Montezuma Tower and physics-defying Balanced Rock. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, & enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.

Explore Colorado’s famous protected playground on a small-group tour of Rocky Mountain National Park. Drive through the foothills into the unspoiled western wilderness, stopping in the resort town of Estes Park and the historic—and allegedly haunted—Stanley Hotel. Wintertime means stops at snow-ringed lakes, cozy mountain hideouts, and visitors’ centers, while summer allows access over the soaring Trail Ridge Road and other alpine vistas.

The Trails and Rails package showcases the San Juan's stunning scenery. Begin with a morning cruise up the San Juan Skyway, featuring dramatic views of 14,000 ft. peaks. In historic Silverton, switch to open-air 4x4s for rugged terrain exploration. Discover 150-year-old mining settlements, meadows, and panoramic mountain views. Your local guide provides stories, information, and answers questions. After alpine exploration, return to Silverton for lunch and shopping. The journey's final leg is a train ride through the breathtaking Animas River Canyon. The train views differ from the shuttle, offering a remote Weminuche Wilderness perspective. Arrive at the train station for dinner.

With its 5,000 archaeological sites situated in a striking desert environment, Mesa Verde National Park offers visitors a combination of natural and cultural attractions unfound anywhere else in the country. Explore the UNESCO-listed archaeological preserve and national park with a pro on this guided tour, which takes you to the park's must-see attractions, including the Cliff Palace. This tour includes all entrance fees, lunch, and round-trip transportation from Durango.

Experience the jaw-dropping cliffs and narrow canyons of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with this self-guided audio driving tour. A friendly narrator shares stories of daring explorers, canyon geology, and wildlife — all while you drive and listen. Along the North Rim Scenic Drive, you'll stop at iconic viewpoints like Gunnison Point, Painted Wall View, Chasm View, and Dragon Point, or stretch your legs on the Rim Rock Trail and Warner Point Nature Trail. For a different perspective, descend the dramatic East Portal Road to the river’s edge. With turn-by-turn directions and engaging stories you’ll enjoy the freedom to explore at your own pace—without missing a thing. Perfect for road trippers, families, or anyone seeking an immersive national park adventure. *Download the Shaka Guide app to access the purchased tours*

We got tickets! Discover Mesa Verde with an Archaeologist Trained Guide & explore Cliff Palace! Skip the hassle of trying to get tickets and dive straight into an unforgettable journey through one of Colorado’s most iconic landmarks. Our Mesa Verde Express Tour offers a 5-hour adventure door to door through the breathtaking landscapes and rich history of Mesa Verde National Park. This experience includes a rare opportunity to explore the legendary Cliff Palace on a ranger-led tour, where you’ll spend 45 minutes up close with the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Discover the incredible ingenuity of the Ancestral Puebloans, who built and thrived in these structures over 700 years ago. Throughout your journey, you’ll be accompanied by a highly trained guide, extensively educated by a professional archaeologist. Their in-depth knowledge of Mesa Verde’s history and culture.,

The first national park to “preserve the works of man,” Mesa Verde stands alone as a national park, archaeological site, and UNESCO World Heritage Site. On this half-day tour, you’ll skip the search for parking and go straight to exploring the ancient cliff dwellings with a guide, learning about the park’s flora and fauna, geology, and human mystery—these ruins were abandoned around the year 1300.

Discover the best of the Rocky Mountain National Park on a guided full-day tour. Park entrance, along with round-trip transportation from Denver or Boulder is conveniently included. Set at a moderate pace, the hike 4-mile (6.4-km) is perfect for people with some experience who also want to take time to appreciate the scenery.

Experience autumn in the beautiful Rocky Mountains without the hassle of renting a car. Relax as you head through rugged Boulder Canyon and visit Boulder Falls. Witness the colorful aspen trees, Indian Peaks Wilderness, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Stroll around Lily Lake, and get a chance to observe native wildlife including herds of elk. Your small-group tour driver takes care of transportation and navigation.