• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Caves
      • Colorado Brands
      • Escape Rooms
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Lakes
      • Landmarks
      • Mine Tours
      • Mountains
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Performing Arts
      • Public Parks
      • Rivers
      • Scenic Drives
      • Sightseeing Tours
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Winery Tours
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Jeep Rentals
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowbiking
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Boutique Hotels
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos w/ Lodging
    • Hot Spring w/ Lodging
    • Wineries w/ Lodging
    • Best Hotels
    • Dude Ranches
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, CO
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. Photo: J Dimas

Best things to do in Morrison, Colorado

May 30, 2022 By //  by William Reavis

FacebookTwitter

The quaint foothills community of Morrison is primarily known for one thing around the country, and that’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It also boasts one of Colorado’s best dinosaur collections, with numerous prints and fossils found in the Morrison-Golden Fossil Area, aka Dinosaur Ridge.

So rest assured, you’ll find some fun, unique things to see and do in Morrison throughout the year. And being so close to downtown Denver, within 25 minutes, the entire metropolitan area is your oyster. This includes so close mountain retreats from Morrison, like Evergreen, Conifer, and Idaho Springs.

Year-round things to do

Whether it’s a simple morning workout to get the blood flowing on the iconic steps of Red Rocks, or strolling Morrison’s historic district, there are plenty of things to do all year. The Lariat Loop is a terrific scenic byway for exploring the front range mountains just west of Denver.

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, CO
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. Photo: Kent Kanouse

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, one of Colorado’s most popular attractions, is located right in Morrison’s backyard. Famous for its beautiful amphitheater surrounded by jaw-dropping giant red sandstones, as well as a number of great trails, this park is a must-see on any visit.

Red Rocks is home to concerts from top artists throughout the year, mostly from April through November when the weather is warmer and days longer. The park even offers drive-in-style movies during the summer months known as Film On the Rocks.

Besides catching a show, movie, or performance, be sure to visit the visitor center and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Located on-site, it’s full of exhibits showing off the best and most impactful artists from the Centennial State.

Another important stop for music and history fans is Spirit, an impressive statue depicting John Denver and an eagle. After seeing all there is to see near the visitor center, head out on a hike on one of the many trails in the park. One option is the Trading Post Trail, a 1.4-mile trail that winds through some of the park’s most impressive rock formations.

Dinosaur Ridge

Dinosaur Ridge, Morrison, CO
Dinosaur Ridge, Morrison. Photo: James St. John

A perfect place for kids and history enthusiasts alike, Dinosaur Ridge is one of the premier places to see and learn about dinosaur fossils and footprints. Home to the original sites of some of the most famous dinosaurs like Stegosaurus, Dinosaur Ridge is full of interactive exhibits and activities that make it a great stop for families.

All visitors should be sure to take a tour of the park. Guided bus tours, as well as guided walking tours, are available. As a bonus, all tour tickets include access to Trek Through Time, an indoor, hands-on museum at the visitor center.

The visitor center also hosts a digging area for children to dig up model dinosaur bones and fossils. Guests can also find the gift shop in the same area. Be sure to check out the trails at Dino Ridge as well.

Dinosaur Ridge Trail is two miles round-trip and includes countless opportunities to spot dino tracks. There are a number of interpretive signs along the way to point out tracks and describe the history of the area.

Bear Creek Lake Park

Bear Creek Lake Park, Morrison, CO
Bear Creek Lake Park, Morrison, CO. Photo: Virginia State Parks

Located just outside of downtown Morrison on the edge of Lakewood, Bear Creek Lake Park offers travelers a huge number of outdoor activities. It’s the place to go for those searching for an escape into nature without straying too far.

Boating is one of the most popular attractions, with kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals available during the summer months. Additionally, swimming at the Bear Creek Lake beach is another fun pastime, but visitors should keep in mind that there are no lifeguards on duty.

There are also fifteen miles of trails throughout the park that are open to pedestrians, bikes, and horses. One of the longest but most rewarding hikes is Mount Carbon Loop, a nearly seven-mile trail that leads to the park’s high point.

The park features a full-service campground with 47 campsites, two yurts, and three cabins. Reservations are available online. Learn more about the camping near Morrison and Red Rocks.

Morrison Natural History Museum

Morrison Natural History Museum, CO
Morrison Natural History Museum. Photo: Mark Ryan

A small but worthy stop, the Morrison Natural History Museum is dedicated to exhibiting the rich prehistoric history of the Denver area. One of the highlights is a life-size cast Tyrannosaurus skull that is able to be felt and touched. Another fun exhibit is called “Jurassic Morrison,” and it features a number of unique fossils that showcase life in Morrison during the Jurassic period.

The museum is best experienced with the help of a guide, so visitors should consider attending one of the three daily tours. Tours are included with admission. After exploring the grounds and exhibits, stop at the gift shop for some dinosaur-themed memorabilia.

Summer things to do

Summertime on the front range is a paradise for many. Morrison has the warmer climate of nearby Denver, thanks to its lower elevation, but it’s located much closer to the Rocky Mountains, at the start of them. This gives Morrison a world-class playground in its backyard, and quick access to higher elevation trails to beat the heat. And there’s no time better than summer for uncovering it all.

Tiny Town

Wandering around Tiny Town, CO
Wandering around Tiny Town. Photo: Ron McDonald

A truly unique attraction, Tiny Town is a collection of over one hundred homemade miniature buildings forming a small mountain town. The buildings are built at a 1/6 scale, so children and adults feel like giants while wandering through the town.

Besides the buildings, there is also a 15 in. gauge miniature railroad that visitors can ride throughout the park. The track is just over half a mile in length, and a trip on one of the steam-powered trains grants visitors exclusive access to parts of Tiny Town that can’t be seen from the sidewalk.

Bandimere Speedway

Bandimere Speedway, Colorado
Bandimere Speedway, Colorado. Photo: Ryan Pallas

Sometimes known as Thunder Mountain, Bandimere Speedway is a quarter-mile drag strip featuring races and events throughout the summer. While most people will be content with watching a competition, the speedway does offer visitors the opportunity to race on the track during one of the Test & Tune days offered throughout the summer.

Bandimere Speedway is home to the Mile-High NHRA Nationals each summer, which is one of the premier drag-racing events of the season. Tickets to the Mile-High Nationals as well as all other events are available online.

These are some of the most exciting things to do in the fun town of Morrison. Have a great visit to “The Nearest Faraway Place”!

William Reavis

About William Reavis

William is a student studying English at Boston University. When he's not writing, he's an avid backpacker and reader.

FacebookTwitter

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. โ€”and never miss out again.

Previous Post: «image of golden colorado Best things to do in Golden, Colorado
Next Post: Best things to do in Grand Junction, CO image of grand junction»

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. โ€”and never miss out again.

Things to do in Colorado

  • All Activities
  • Alamosa
  • Aurora
  • Beaver Creek and Avon
  • Black Hawk
  • Boulder
  • Breckenridge
  • Buena Vista
  • Caรฑon City
  • Carbondale
  • Castle Rock
  • Central City
  • Copper Mountain
  • Cortez
  • Creede
  • Crested Butte
  • Crestone
  • Cripple Creek
  • Delta
  • Denver
  • Dillon
  • Durango
  • Eagle
  • Estes Park
  • Evergreen
  • Fort Collins
  • Frisco
  • Fruita
  • Glenwood Springs
  • Golden
  • Granby
  • Grand Junction
  • Greeley
  • Gunnison
  • Hugo
  • Keystone
  • Lake City
  • Longmont
  • Lyons
  • Minturn
  • Montrose
  • Morrison
  • Nederland
  • Ouray
  • Pagosa Springs
  • Palisade
  • Paonia
  • Pueblo
  • Ridgway
  • Rifle
  • Salida
  • Silverthorne
  • Silverton
  • South Fork
  • Sterling
  • Telluride
  • Vail
  • Victor
  • Walden
  • Walsenburg
  • Westcliffe

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 ยท Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise