self guided tours denver

Denver Story Trek

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Ever wonder about the stories of the places you pass? On Denver Story Trek you’ll explore the stories behind Denver’s historic landscapes and landmarks on an interactive, self-guided tour of the city. It’s simple to use and free!

• SELECT  from dozens of Story Sites or featured Treks
• BIKE ,  WALK  or  DRIVE  to the Story Sites on your Trek, which include museums, homes, parks and other landmarks
• LISTEN  to the audio files on this site to hear stories about the buildings we pass every day

Denver Story Trek is a program of  Historic Denver, Inc.  and  partners .

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Self guided tour of Denver

Most likely you will arrive at Union Station, so explore it first before you go further.

Union station

Civic Centre Park

Colorado State Capitol

Colorado Judicial Centre

Street art Denver

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Denver

George Schleier Mansion

Brown Palace Hotel

Whole Foods Market

Where to stay in Denver

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What did you think? Have you been to Denver, Colorado? Or perhaps you’re thinking of visiting there in the near future? Either way, I’d love to hear from you so please add your comments below.

• Published by Anita on October 11, 2019

Author: Anita Sane

About the author Anita is a part-time traveller, passionate photographer and a retired career woman from Latvia,  travelling mostly solo for more than 15 years.  She is a skilled travel planner who plans and executes her travels by herself. Anita wants to show you how to travel the world and open your mind to new  experiences. Follow her on Facebook ,  Instagram ,  Pinterest ,  Twitter  and Bloglovin .

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Free Denver Walking Tour

You can enjoy a free, self-guided walking tour of Denver’s historic Capitol Hill.

You can complete this tour in about 60 minutes, but you may want to take more time to snap some photos and explore the area a bit more.

Introduction

Denver is known as the Mile High City, as it’s 5,280 feet, or one mile, above sea level.

This city boasts over 150 years of history, so there are a number of notable landmarks worth visiting.

This tour will take you to nine of the most historic locations in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, Denver’s most historic and beautiful area.

Experience both the hustle and bustle of the Colorado State Capitol and quieter streets of the Capitol Hill neighborhood as you follow the route below.

Or, join in on one of these great guided tours or self-guided Audio Adventures that are available to visitors and locals year-round in Denver:

• Denver Free Walking Tour
• Best of Denver Private Tour
• One of five unique Audio Adventures - self-guided tours narrated by local guides of different areas and landmarks in Denver
• A quirky or more distinctive tour, like the Ghosts of Capitol Hill Tour that explore this same neighborhood’s legend and lore in the evening, or the RiNo Street Art Tour , complete with a tasting of local chocolates and a beer garden visit!

1. Civic Center Park (14th and Bannock St.)

With sweeping views of the city, the State Capitol and the mountains, Civic Center Park is, and always has been, truly the heart of Denver.

Once the end of the stage line and now the location where numerous Denver festivals and events are held. This area was really planned as part of the City Beautiful movement led by then-mayor Robert Speer.

This moved Denver out of a time of the Wild West to something worthy of the nation’s attention.  Some people claim it was designed to look like the city of Paris, France. What do you think?

In the beginning, Capitol Hill, where Civic Center Park is located, was known as Brown’s Bluff, after Henry C. Brown.

Brown’s Bluff was mostly barren land with a gorgeous view of the mountains, but after Brown donated the land to construct the Colorado State Capitol, the scenery changed.

Neighborhoods started to emerge and wealthy residents started to move into the city.

If you’re really enjoying this area and want to see more, the Mile High Highlights Tour is a great fit and only 60-75 minutes to fit into a tight schedule. 

2. Byers-Evans House Museum (13th and Bannock)

Enter one of Denver’s great historic homes, built in 1883 by Rocky Mountain News publisher Williams Byers and sold in 1889 to the family of William Gray Evans, an officer of the Denver Tramway Company.

Elizabeth Byers built the first charitable organization and was known for giving to the poor.

Today it is restored to reflect the period of 1912 – 1924 and reveals the personality and interests of the Evans family.

You can head inside to visit the museum and learn more about these families and their stories. 

3. Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art (1201 Bannock St)

In 1932, artist Vance Kirkland rented (and later bought) the art school building at 1311 Pearl Street (built 1910–1911).

Kirkland occupied the building for almost fifty years and created over 1,100 paintings during his tenure, using it exclusively as a studio after returning as head of the art school at the University of Denver in 1946.

Both an innovator and a visionary, Kirkland is recognized as one of the century's great modern painters. In 2016 his studio was moved from its original location to its current site at 1201 Bannock Street.

This move preserved the building, and maintained its centrality to the experience at Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, housed in a modern structure attached to the historic studio & art school building.

4. The Crawford Hill Mansion

Pass by the Crawford Hill Mansion, now a private business, to view the elegant exterior of the home of Louise Hill, Denver’s most prominent socialite from 1895 through the 1940s.

Louise was originally a southern bell and was known to have chosen 36 families in Denver she liked best and called them The Sacred 36.

Louise and the Unsinkable Molly Brown were known to have a feud and not get along, after Louise snubbed her.

You’ll see the Molly Brown House Museum as the last stop on this walking tour. 

5. Moffat Mansion

At Eight Avenue and Grant Street, there lie the remains of the former mansion resided by the family of David H. Moffat.

The building boasted over forty-two rooms, including a grand ballroom, a chandelier with 4,000 hand-cut crystals and the well-known Tiffany stained-glass window.

David Moffat acquired his fortune through the railroad business, by engineering the first tracks to cross over the continental divide.

His railroads frequently transported people and goods from Colorado to California. However, Moffat aspired to create more efficient routes by creating a way through the mountain, instead of around it.

After his death, this vision was realized through the Moffat Tunnel.

Unfortunately, the Moffat Mansion was demolished in 1972, to make way for a new office building. The onset of modernization in Denver during the sixties saw many historical buildings destroyed.

However, these tragedies brought awareness to historic preservation to the city of Denver.

Historic Denver Inc., which was created two years earlier to save the house of Molly Brown from a similar fate, received much support from citizens who vowed to preserve the city’s history..

6. Governor’s Residence (8th and Logan)

Check-out the Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion, built in 1908 as a private home.

Today the Governor’s family occupies the upper floors, but the public is welcome to tour the first floor on select dates.

Walter Cheesman hired architects to build this residence in 1907, but he died before the mansion was finished, but his wife and son were able to live here for a few years. 

Look for the Boaettcher couple’s initials embedded in the stained glass windows on the south side of the house, if you are able to go inside on the day that you visit. 

7. Colburn Hotel

Pull up a chair in Charlie Brown’s Bar and Grill in the Colburn Hotel, where Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady spent time in the summer of 1947, visiting Carolyn Cassady, who studied art and theater at the University of Denver and lived at the Colburn.

Youth in the 1950’s flooded the Capitol Hill neighborhood looking for excitement and late-night bars to visit, like Charlie Brown’s, which opened ot cater to this demographic, and this decade started to change the look and feel of the neighborhood, transforming the neighborhood from a very upscale neighborhood of the rich to an eclectic, diverse neighborhood.

8. Capitol Hill Bed and Breakfast

Also known as the Keating Mansion, this home was built in 1891 for Jeffrey and Mary Keating. Jeffrey Keating was a prominent businessman with ventures in real estate, insurance, and the McPhee and McGinnity Lumber Company.

The house was sold a number of times to different families, and then became a hotel in 1923.

In 1993 it was purchased by its current owner, Carl Schmidt, and became the Capitol Hill Bed and Breakfast.

Each room in the home is named after a different Colorado wildflower after it was turned back from offices into a bed and breakfast. 

9. The Molly Brown House Museum

Molly Brown’s life is a perfect example of the rags-to-riches stories that Denver and the Wild West were known for.

If you don’t know the name Molly Brown, be sure to watch the movie Titanic, as she famously survived the sinking of the big ship. 

The Molly Brown House stands as an enduring symbol of the Victorian era and Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood where the city’s most prominent families lived.

Restored to its 1910 grandeur, the story of the unsinkable Margaret “Molly” Brown is revealed during guided or self-guided tours that take you back in time that you can do inside. 

For a bit more excitement, you can also hear the darker tales and unexplained happenings that have led this home to be infamous with paranormal experts.

Just join the Ghosts of Capitol Hill Tour which ends here at the Molly Brown House.

We hope you enjoyed seeing the streets leading in and out of Capitol Hill.

Denver is now so much more than the temporary mining town it once was and a lot of that was due to an effort to create a notable city, with the city’s founders constructing grand homes along the streets west of Cheesman Park, in Capitol Hill, where you just explored.

Enjoy the rest of your time in the Mile High City. and if you want to see and experience more sights and landmarks and hear the stories behind them, be sure to join one of these top walking tours , led by local guides, to pack more fun, insight and recommendations into a few hours than you thought possible!

And much, much more

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Colorado Community Media

Self-guided audio tours: Unveiling treasures in Denver and beyond

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The self-guided audio tour has been common in the art world since the 1950s, but like many other virtual tools, there has been a rise in the popularity of audio tours in other industries because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Audio tours can add extra elements that visitors do not get when walking the areas alone, according to Luna Hernandez, who works in the Dinosaur Ridge welcome center.

“The audio tour definitely gives you more information than if you were to just walk the trail on your own,” Hernandez said.  “We do have those outdoor plaques and stuff like that on the trail. So you still get some information when you’re walking it. But with the audio tour, there is a resident geologist who guides you up the ridge and gives you a lot of information.”

Today, it’s not uncommon to plan a full-day trip complete with a tour of any place around the globe. This includes communities in the Denver metro region.

Self-guided tours in the region cover art, like the 40 West ArtLine; local landmarks, like Dinosaur Ridge; and whole natural regions, like the I-70 Audio Tour. The key to finding these tours is deciding what to see, the level of planned involvement and time allotment. 

What to see

Art was the original self-guided audio tour and is a popular self-guided tour focus. In Lakewood, the 40 West ArtLine audio tours take participants through the growing arts district. There are three tour options, all narrated by “art advocate and tour guide” Corrine Anderson. 

The Grit and Glitter tour is a primer on the importance and legacy of West Colfax. The tour takes listeners through the neighborhoods going toward Aviation Park in Lakewood. The tour gives history and a sort of mini art lecture on the outdoor art, murals and more along the busiest part of the 40 West Art District. 

The Art and Leisure Tour begins at Lamar Street Light Rail Station and follows the track through some of Lakewood’s outdoor art, architecture and more. The Art and Leisure Tour also touches on Lakewood’s agricultural heritage before ending at Mountain Air Park. 

The Transportation and Art Tour also begins at the Lamar Street Rail Station. It runs along Lamar Street to the 40 West Art District headquarters. The tour takes a historic slant and guides listeners through the history of the area in addition to highlighting the murals and outdoor art along the way. 

However, art is not the only focus of guided tours in the area. Take an urban stroll through the history of the Five Points neighborhood with the Five Points Business District Walking Tour . It takes listeners on a reverent tour of Denver’s historic Black neighborhood. 

The kids will love the blast to prehistoric Colorado in the Dinosaur Ridge Audio Tour . The tour is packed with dinosaur facts that will almost make the listener forget about the steepness of the 2.5-mile ridge climb. 

The Wild I-70 Audio Tour is more of a natural Front Range focus that takes listeners from Golden to Glenwood. This tour is best done by car, bike or motorized vehicle. It’s 144 miles long and talks about wildlife, including historic animal migration facts, in addition to other natural history and environmental facts.  

There are other tours like the State Capitol Audio Tours which concentrates on the Capitol building in Denver, The Story Line Audio Tour touches on 15 sites integral to the history of the city of Aurora and Arapahoe County and the Highlands Ranch Mansion , is a self-guided tour. 

What to consider

Choosing a tour can be a chore. There are a few things to consider before deciding, so a little research is required. 

Pricing is one issue to consider. Some apps that offer a slew of guided tours also charge up to $50 per person. However, many of the self-guided tours are free to the public. The 40 West ArtsLine Tours are free, but the Dinosaurs Ridge Tours cost $7 per streaming device. 

Also, consider the activity level and time commitment. It can take about 3 hours to complete the Dinosaur Ridge Audio Tour, but there are actual fossils and tracks along the hike. Parts of the ridge itself is a drag mark from beasts that roamed the area millions of years ago, according to the tour. 

Only bikes and feet are allowed on the tour, so taking the Dinosaur Ridge tour is much more intense than the Highlands Ranch Mansion tour. There is also the weather and seasons to consider for any outdoor tour. The Wild I70 Tour is a brilliant idea for fall foliage. Also consider the drive in May or June, when the wildflowers are in bloom and the baby animals are about. 

Some of the tours, like the ArtLine tours, have chapters so that listeners can schedule accordingly. Be sure to factor in the time of day. Sitting in traffic after an intense hiking tour is tougher than it seems at the beginning of the trip.

Where to go

The research before you go is key. To find the tours, look at the sites for places you wish to visit. Chances are, there is an audio tour that you can preview before embarking. 

And don’t feel like you are alone in using the audio tours. According to Barbara Farley Dinosaur Ridge’s director of Volunteers and Program Growth, the audio tours have 936 downloads between January and October of 2023. The most popular tour is the main Dinosaur Ridge audio tour. 

Several apps exist that compile the audio tours in the area in one place. However, sometimes the information on the apps is inaccurate and the price higher than the original site requires, so always go to direct websites.

Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to note that the Highlands Ranch Mansion is a self-guided tour. It does not have an audio option.

Hey, friend! Before you go… If you’re like us, you must enjoy good local journalism. So, if you’ve read this article and found it useful, would you consider supporting the work of our mighty local newsroom with either a one-time or recurring monthly gift ? Every voluntary reader contribution is a direct investment in maintaining a strong, vibrant press in your community , an essential pillar of our democratic society. Local news. It’s a public good.

Related articles, jo davis reporter/ newsletter writer.

Jonita Davis is a film and culture critic, author, and freelance writer. Her published books include Questioning Cultural Appropriation (2018 Enslow Publishing), Carrying On (2022 Saga Fiction), and the... More by Jo Davis

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MEET YOUR GUIDES | FAQs

Discovery tours, denver tour experiences  designed for guests who are looking for shorter denver tour  experiences.

Our crew of talented local guides offers up three unique, affordable, private Discovery Tours 7 days/week, year-round.

A perfect way to tour Denver after your meeting, conference, or convention wraps-up for the day.

Arriving into town later in the day and still want to make the most of your visit plus get a great introduction to the city? Join us on a fun Denver walk!

Not an early bird or have a bit of jet-lag? No worries, we've got you covered with plenty of start time options.

We've got something for everyone - book one tour or all three if you're in town for a few days - each is a unique Mile High City walking tour experience showcasing the top sights and landmarks in different parts of Denver.

These Denver discovery tours last just 1 hour and 15 minutes and our local guides give great recommendations on our favorite nearby places to grab a bite to eat or drink after your Denver walking tour experience wraps up. 

Discover Downtown Denver Tour

Tour overview:, get the inside scoop on the sights and landmarks that make up the heart of our downtown denver and lodo area, with the perfect blend of great views, denver history and some of our can't-miss public art. the must-see stops of larimer square and seeing the city from a different perspective: the cherry creek trail are sure to be highlights of your tour, mile high highlights tour.

Denver's beautiful European-inspired architecture and public art shines on this Denver sightseeing tour. Together, we explore our Mile High City's Civic Center Park and surrounding area, including the beautiful State Capitol building. This Denver tour highlights our city's rich and colorful history, including heists, Denver's controversial early leaders, and more.

Denver Hot Spots + History Tour

This tour has something for everyone! You'll see the hustle and bustle of Denver's LoDo area and 16th Street Mall, while making your way to the infamous Brown Palace, with one bonus stop along the way that even most locals don't know about. This is one of our most popular Denver walking tours!

Tour Itinerary:

Start. The Convention Center's Blue Bear

The Performing Arts Complex's history & beauty

Cherry Creek Trail + Street Art

Larimer Square, the heart of LoDo 

The bustling 16th Street Pedestrian Mall

Rockmount Ranchwear, cowboy central

The iconic Oxford Hotel, it's ghost and speakeasy

End. The stunning Union Station

Start. The Colorado State Capitol & the Mile High Steps

The one-of-a-kind Clyfford Still Museum

Denver Art Museum & Denver public art

The infamous Byers-Evans House

Civic Center Park

The McNichols Building/Carnegie Library

The striking City & County Building

End. The heists of the U.S. Mint

Start. Flagpole in front of Union Station

The (Secret) Underground Tunnels

Market Street, Denver's old Red Light District in LoDo

The iconic D&F Clock Tower

The quirky Money Museum

The little-known Musical Grates and Activated Alleyways

Equitable Building, a Historical Landmark

The striking Paramount Theater

End. The Brown Palace's charm      

Tour Details :

Departure Time Choices:

Above times are bookable online.

Looking for a different time? Just email us!

Year-Round  : 7 days/week

No tours: Jan. 1, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 24-25.

Meeting Place:

  Discover Downtown Denver Tour:

Big Blue Bear; Convention Center

Mile High Highlights Tour:

Colorado State Capitol

Hot Spots + History Tour:

Union Station  

1 hour 15 minutes

Difficulty:

Easy, flat, plenty of stops

0.9-1.2 miles through LoDo

Ending Location:

Discover Downtown Denver Tour:

Union Station

The Brown Palace

Pricing is per group, not per guest: $165

6-12 Guests

Pricing is per group, not per guest:

13-20 Guests

21-30 Guests

Pricing is per group, not per guest: $505

More than 30 guests? Just add $16/additi onal guest

Cancellation/Refund Policy: No refunds are available for our discovery tours, and tickets are not transferable to other dates.

Mary c. "we loved this tour our guide was informative and showed us many points of interest in denver i highly recommend to anyone visiting denver.

Private Tours

Self-Guided Tours

Self-Guided Tours

Hayagriva Mandala , 1996. Created by monk-artists of Seraje Monastic University, India: Geshe Thubten Sonam (b. 1965, Tibet), Sonam Woser (b. 1964, Tibet), Lobsang Lungrig (b. 1974, Tibet). Sand mixed with mineral pigments. Denver Art Museum purchase with funds from the Asian Art Association, Mr. and Mrs. Yale H. Lewis, NBT Foundation, Fay Shwayder, and the Asian Art Department Acquisition Fund. 1996.54

Look out for these artworks on view at the museum, then continue the fun at home with resources on our website:

• From the monks of the Seraje Monastery in Tibet, the Hayagriva Mandala .
• Theodore Waddell’s Montanan landscape, Motherwell’s Angus .
• Berthe Morisot’s impressionist piece, The Lesson in the Garden .

Explore and interact with the buildings, outdoor sculptures, and spaces at the museum by participating in the gallery games and activities we have available. Physical activity cards can also be picked up at the visitor services desk.

Related Creativity Resources

Artmaking Workshops

Art and Social Consciousness: Environmental Lens

Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France

Perception Games

Imagination Games

Explore our gardens and galleries with a knowledgeable guide. Our tours are highly interactive, engaging experiences to learn more about the plants, science, art and people that make Denver Botanic Gardens so special.

York Street Location

Prescheduled tours are offered regularly throughout the year. Select a tour theme below to view available dates and times. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate private tour requests at this time.

Denver Botanic Gardens strives to be inclusive and accessible for all. Contact us at [email protected] if an accommodation will improve your experience and we will do our best to assist. Here is more information about accessibility at the Gardens. 

Here is our cancellation and refund policy .

To schedule a field trip or learn more about school programs, please visit the Schools & Teachers page.  

Immerse yourself in the Gardens with a staff expert as your guide. 

Stroll through the Gardens at any time of the year with this tour that highlights seasonal beauty and ever-changing landscapes.

Travel to the tropics through this tour of the Gardens’ Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory.

Experience the wonder and awe of Spirit Guides in the gardens on this tour that explores the outdoor sculpture exhibition as well as related plant themes.

Enjoy the current exhibitions of the Freyer – Newman Center with a docent as your guide.

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THE 10 BEST Colorado Self-Guided Tours

Self-guided tours & rentals in colorado.

• Walking Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Up to 1 hour
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• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

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Guided Tours

14th Street and Denver Performing Arts Complex Public Art Tour

City Park Public Art Tour

Civic Center Park and Golden Triangle Public Art Tour

Colorado Convention Center Public Art Tour

Denver Public Art Cherry Creek Trail Bicycle Tour

Denver Public Art Maintenance and Conservation Bike Tour

Downtown Denver Public Art Bicycle Tour

Downtown Denver Public Art Walking Tour

Hey Hey, Pre-K!

Self guided and virtual tours.

2023: New Artworks!

Asian & Pacific Islander Public Art Tour 

Black History Month Public Art Tour

Bring the Noise!

Burns Park Tour

Cherry Creek Trail Tour

Clique Studios Public Art Tour

Confluence Park Tour

Denver Botanic Gardens

Downtown Denver Public Art Tour

Earth Day Virtual Tour

Evening Twilight Tour

Family Friendly

Go Ahead, Take a Seat

Golden Triangle Public Art Tour

High Line Canal Public Art Tour

Memorial Day Public Art Tour

National Hispanic Heritage Month Virtual Tour

Public Art Run: “Que Viva Paco” to “Sun Spot”

Women's History Month Public Art Tour

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• Register for Transfer Business Information Session: Thursday, May 30, 2024

Group Visits (In-Person)

We offer special visit sessions for groups of up to 40 people. These are excellent opportunities for high schools, community colleges and educational organizations to teach their students about college access and planning while supported by our admission and counseling staff.

• Register for a Group Visit

Counselor Visit

If you're a high school counselor or higher education consultant, you're welcome to sign up for a visit to DU! Campus visits last for 2.5 hours total, including a 60-minute information session with an admission representative followed by a 90-minute campus tour with a current DU student. You'll learn about everything from application timelines to our fantastic study abroad program. 

• Register for a Counselor Visit

Self-Guided Campus Tour (In-Person)

If you're visiting the Denver area, you're welcome to explore DU's stunning grounds and surrounding neighborhoods with our Self-Guided Tour. This comprehensive audio tour of campus is narrated by a current DU student.

• Register for a Self-Guided Campus Tour (in-Person)

Virtual Campus Tour

Get to know the campus from the comfort of your own home! Explore a 360-degree virtual tour at your leisure. Tour guides will show you around DU via live webinar and will provide exclusive access into buildings (including the new residence hall and the Community Commons with central dining) while sharing stories about their student experience.

• 360-degree Virtual Tour

Chat with your Admission Counselor (Virtual)

Are you a prospective First-Year, International or Transfer student with questions about applying to DU? We look forward to speaking with you one-on-one!

• Find your Admission Counselor & Schedule a Call

Helpful Webinars

There are a lot of things to learn about and consider as you continue to explore the possibility of becoming a student at the University of Denver. Below, we've linked to a few video playlists filled with some of our most popular and most-requested webinar recordings so you can get a head-start on learning about DU! In addition, watch Direct from DU, our livestream campus tour!

• Virtual Information Session
• DU Virtual Open House 2024
• Direct from DU Virtual Tour (Winter 2023)
• Direct from DU Virtual Tour (Summer 2021)

If you're interested in gaining a deep dive perspective on all-things DU, the Friday@DU program is an opportunity to get the inside scoop. Friday@DU is a half-day program which includes an information session, current student panel, campus tour, lunch (on us!), resource fair, and an optional small group appointment.

Stay tuned for future event annoucements.

Twilight Tours (offered in English & Spanish)

DU's Twilight Tour will last from 5:30 - 7:30 PM and will consist of a half-hour information session with an admissions counselor followed by a 1.5 hour student-led campus tour. Highlights of the tour include academic buildings, a dining hall and athletic facilities.  El Tour Crepúsculo en español de DU durará de 5:30 a 7:30 PM y consistirá en una sesión informativa de 30 minutos con un consejero de admisiones y un recorrido por el campus de 90 minutos dirigido por estudiantes. Los aspectos más destacados del recorrido incluyen edificios académicos, un comedor e instalaciones deportivas.

Stay tuned for future event announcements (Estén atentos a futuros anuncios de eventos.).

Additional Details

Find your way to campus, arrange a hotel, and learn about transportation options. We'll tell you what to expect for your visit, what to bring, and suggest what to do while you're in Denver. 

Find Your Way

If you're considering joining us as a graduate student or you've already been admitted, we hope you'll take the time to visit our campus. Because our campus tours are geared toward undergraduate students, most of the information may not be directly relevant to you. But it's still a great chance to explore campus and get to know the neighborhood.

Register for a Tour

Meet DU closer to home.

Our counselors enjoy meeting prospective students from all over the country and the world. Find out what in-person and virtual events we'll be participating in next.

DU on the Road

Undergraduate Admission

Follow undergraduate admission.

• [email protected]
• 303-871-2036
• 303-871-3301
• www.du.edu/admission-aid/undergraduate/
• University Hall 2197 S. University Blvd. Denver, Colorado 80208
• M - F 8am - 4:30pm

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Public Art Walking Tour

Great art isn’t just in museums in Denver. All over the city, you’ll find gorgeous murals, whimsical sculptures and other kinds of public art that will delight and inspire.

Denver’s Public Art Program directs that 1 percent of any capital improvement project of more than $1 million be set aside for the inclusion of art in the design and construction of these projects. Over the past two decades, Denver has installed more than 150 works of art under this program. A large amount of the city’s public art can be found downtown and in the  Golden Triangle Creative District  – here’s a walking tour of the area that will take you to some of the best and most beloved pieces.

Denver Art Museum

There's plenty of amazing visual art inside the  Denver Art Museum , but as you walk around this Mile High City landmark, you'll find several amazing artworks. There's the painted steel of Mark di Suvero's  Lao Tzu , Coosje Van Brugen and Claes Oldenberg's aptly-named giant-sized broom and dustpan,  The Big Sweep , and Dan Ostermiller's lifelike (but also giant-sized)  Scottish Angus Cow and Calf , just to name a few. Take a half hour or so to explore the grounds, take some pictures and enjoy these amazing creations.

Denver Public Library

Just a few steps from the Denver Art Museum is the  Denver Public Library , one of the greatest public libraries in the country, and home to several stunning public artworks. Inside, check out Edward Ruscha's amazing murals. Outside, you'll gape at Donald Lipski's The Yearling, featuring a life-size horse perched atop an enormous red chair. Also don't miss Barry Rose's fun At The Library piece, featuring hundreds of ceramic books.

Civic Center Park

Continue walking past the library and you'll find yourself in  Civic Center Park , a lovely oasis in the midst of downtown Denver's urban setting. All over the park there are wonderful pieces of vintage public art, from Frederick MacMonnies' inspiring Pioneer Fountain (installed in 1911) to Robert Garrison's Sea Lions Fountain (1922) to the iconic Bronco Buster, created by Alexander Phimister Proctor in 1920.

16th Street Mall

Across Colfax Street from Civic Center Park, you'll find yourself at the tip of the  16th Street Mall , one of Denver's most popular attractions for dining, shopping, people watching - and public art almost everywhere you look. There are too many wonderful pieces to list here, but just keep your eyes open for such artworks as the chess tables between Arapahoe and Lawrence Streets, the King & Queen (giant-sized chess pieces) outside Market Street Station and the herd of brightly colored cows that populate the sidewalks between Larimer and Market Streets. The mall itself, designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, is a work of art in and of itself, with a pattern of granite blocks that make up the transit lanes and sidewalks mimicking the skin of a Western Diamondback rattlesnake.

Colorado Convention Center

While you're making your way down the 16th Street Mall (either by foot or on the free shuttle buses that go up and down the mall), make a side trip down California Street over to the  Colorado Convention Center . The CCC is home to "I See What You Mean," AKA the  Blue Bear   that peers into the Center's interior. Created by Colorado-based artist Lawrence Argent, the curious bear stands 40 feet tall - you can walk under it and get a great photo.

Denver Performing Arts Complex

Around the corner from the Convention Center, at the  Denver Performing Arts Complex , you'll encounter Jonathan Borofsky's immense fiberglass Dancers, two 50-foot-high humanoid beings cavorting on the lawn in front of the complex. There's even music piped in 24 hours a day, so you can join in with their perpetual dance.

LoDo (Lower Downtown)

Make your way to the end of the 16th Street Mall to  Lower Downtown  (LoDo) to locals. Check out the towering Union Spire at 14th and Wazee, the charming Pinhorn Statue and Drinking Fountain, designed by Clara Soanson Dieman in 1924 and the whimsical, colorful Petros on the Cherry Creek Path between Larimer and Speer, created by Bill Gian. This itinerary only covers tiny fraction of the public art in Denver.

Denver Graffiti Tour

See a different side of the city as you explore street art, murals and graffiti.  Denver Graffiti Tour   provides leisurely two-hour strolls through the vibrant River North Art District (RiNo) . Not only will you learn about the artists and their work, but get insider tips on go-to bars and hip restaurants.

Fall & Winter

Spring & summer, plan your getaway, basecamp denver, attractions, arts & culture, family friendly, day trips & around colorado, sports & recreation, health & wellness, itineraries, booking widget added to footer panel.

2014-2015 First Regular Session | 70th General Assembly

Second Regular Session | 74th General Assembly

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Visit and Learn

Tour information.

Capitol Tours  

The Colorado State Capitol field trip program is fully booked for the remainder of the 23/24 school year. You are able to book field trips up to one year in advance and doing so is strongly recommended. Self guided field trips are allowed, but will not include a trip to the dome observation area. Please email [email protected] for self guiding materials or with questions. 

The Capitol is open Monday-Friday, 7:30-5:00.  Free guided tours are available Monday-Friday on the hour between 10:00am-2:00pm.   The Visitor Information Desk is open Monday-Friday, 9:00-3:00.

Capitol tours are limited to 30 people on a first come, first served basis.  All tours begin at the Visitor Information Desk, north side, first floor. 

SCHEDULED TOURS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR CANCELATION IN CONSIDERATION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS.

Capitol tours take about an hour and include a trip to the dome observation area. The dome is a 99 step climb above the 3rd floor and is accessible by stairs only.  A closed-captioned video tour (near the third floor elevators) is available for visitors who are unable or do not wish to make the climb.  Self-guided tours of the dome are not permitted .

Two entrances are available for Capitol visitors.  You may enter the building on the north side (Colfax and Sherman Avenues), up the stairs, or use the ADA accessible ground level entrance (14th and Sherman Avenues), under the stairs.

Demand for Capitol tours is high – group tour reservations can be made up to one calendar year in advance. Student group tours during the legislative session (January through May) are extremely popular and space is limited. Tour availability is not guaranteed as time slots do fill up quickly.

We are unable to schedule tours the following dates

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - No Tours ( Capitol open for self-guided tours only.  Mr. Brown's Attic museum and the dome observation area will be closed .)

Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2024 - Capitol Closed

Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - Capitol Closed

Independence Day, Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Capitol Closed

Friday, July 5, 2024 - No Tours ( Capitol open for self-guided tours only.  Mr. Brown's Attic museum and the dome observation area will be closed .)

Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024 - Capitol Closed

Mother Cabrini Day, Monday, October 7, 2024 - Capitol Closed

Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2024 - Capitol Closed

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2024 - Capitol Closed

Friday, November 29, 2024 - No Tours ( Capitol open for self-guided tours only.  Mr. Brown's Attic museum and the dome observation area will be closed .)

Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2024 - Capitol Closed

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Capitol Visitor Services Colorado Legislative Council Room #029, State Capitol Denver, CO 80203-1716

Visitor Information: [email protected] (Ph) 303-866-2604

Colorado General Assembly

[email protected]

Colorado legislature email addresses ending in @state.co.us  are no longer active. Please replace @state.co.us with @coleg.gov for Colorado legislature email addresses.  Details

The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 7, 2024, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 8, 2024, unless otherwise specified. Details

Self-Guided Field Trips

Denver Zoo is thrilled to offer self-guided field trips for eligible schools and groups! To provide the best experience for all, reservations (and associated bus parking spots) are limited. Reservations are first-come, first-served and book up quickly.

DATES + TIMES  

Spring 2024

Mondays through Fridays

January 16-March 8

April 8-May 17

*Please note that March 11-April 5 are blackout dates due to Spring Break crowds at the zoo.*

FREE  for all attendees!

ELIGIBILITY

To qualify for free or discounted entry, you must be (1) an accredited institution (2) following an academic curriculum ; and  (3)  be  accompanied by a te acher or institutional staff.  

HOW TO RESERVE:

• Click the “Register Now” button below to be taken to our reservation page.
• Select the date you’d like to visit. All available dates are shown—no exceptions .
• Select the number of guests, including students, school staff members and chaperones.
• Provide your school’s information and your contact information, so we can get in touch with you about your visit. We also ask that you include the number of buses you're bringing, so we can plan accordingly.  Please note that parking is available on a first come, first served basis in the East Lot and is not guaranteed.
• Once your reservation is processed, you will receive an order confirmation email. You’ll also receive more information on your day at the Zoo one week and one day before your visit, so keep an eye out for useful planning tips!

Charter bus rentals for school field trips are available through a variety of providers, including CharterUP ,  Shofur , and  GOGO Charters .

• Chaperones must be 21 years of age or older.
• Chaperones must stay with their assigned group at all times.
• One adult per 10 students is REQUIRED for all groups (ECE through Grade 12).
• Adults bringing younger siblings are welcome, but may NOT be counted as chaperones.

Members Welcome!  

Members wishing to chaperone a school trip can also make a separate reservation using their membership if they'd like to.  

To cancel or reschedule, please contact [email protected] at least three weeks prior to your scheduled visit.  

10 Epic Mesa Verde Tours on a National Park Road Trip in Colorado

Have you ever considered taking a national park road trip from Denver to Mesa Verde in Colorado?

Hey, even if you don't live in Colorado, plan to fly into Denver International Airport for your national park road trip and some epic Mesa Verde tours. Rent a car for your adventure and subsequent outdoor recreational activities and enjoy the amazing beauty that Colorado offers.

Check Google Flights for the best prices.

Stops to Make on Your National Park Road Trip from Denver to Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Colorado and is one of the most amazing places to visit in Colorado . Mesa Verde, one of the first designated UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites in ALL of the world , features the cliff dwellings and archeological heritage of the Ancestral Puebloan people (600 to 1300 CE).

The distance from Denver to Mesa Verde National Park by car is approximately seven hours. If you plan to spend time exploring the national park and taking some of the guided Mesa Verde tours, you'll definitely want more than just one day for your visit.

From Denver to Mesa Verde, Colorado - courtesy of Google Maps

Add to your adventure with stops in :

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Breckenridge
• Chimney Rock National Monument
• Colorado Springs
• Vallecito Trail

Some of these stops will be a bit of a detour (see the above map), but hey, isn't that the fun of a road trip ?

Where to Eat

There are a few options of places to eat when you visit Mesa Verde.

Metate Room : This is the only sit-down dining available within the park and is open only for dinner. The Metate Room is in the main building of Far View Lodge where you can also find a gift shop and a lounge.

Far View Terrace Cafe : This economical and kid-friendly option is located just down the street from Far View Lodge where you'll find breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings served cafeteria style. If you have never tried a Navajo Taco before, you might want to try one here! You can even pick up some grab and go breakfast and lunch options.

Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe : Close to the Mesa Verde park headquarters and the Chapin Mesa Museum, this cafeteria offers a seasonal menu with appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts.

Far View Lounge : Above Far View Lodge, enjoy stunning views, watch a sporting event, and enjoy time with friends and family in a relaxing atmosphere. You'll find typical pub fare—appetizers, snacks, cocktails, beer, and wine.

Knife Edge Cafe : Within Morefield Campground, head on over to the outdoor patio to enjoy some pancakes and other breakfast foods.

Morefield Campground Store : Check out the Campground Store for basic food, snacks, and beverages, located in Morefield Campground.

Pack a Picnic : Plan a picnic lunch to bring with you and eat along the way as you explore the park or after you've enjoyed one of the Mesa Verde tours. Be sure to bring a packable cooler with you.

Where to Stay Before Your Mesa Verde Tours

Interested in immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the park? You have options for staying within the park as well as more options in the small towns, such as Cortez, outside the park. Note that it will take you about an hour to reach the top of the mesa from Cortez.

If you have the opportunity to stay within the park, I highly recommend it. You'll have better access to the attractions and cliff dwellings.

If you plan to stay for more than one day, there is camping in Mesa Verde National Park as well as reservations available at the Far View Lodge .

The lodge is conveniently located at the center of the park—about 15 miles from the entrance to the park. Far View features amazing views to the south over Mesa Verde and is available for reservations from spring to fall.

Camping in Mesa Verde National Park

"Morefield Campground is located just four miles from the park entrance. The 267 campsites are located within a high grassy canyon filled with Gambel oak, native flowers, deer, and wild turkeys. A camp store offers registration, food, and camp supplies. Firewood, gasoline, showers, a coin-operated laundromat, and a kennel are located nearby. Each site has a picnic table, gravel tent pad, and fire pit/BBQ grill." ~ Check NPS.gov for reservations

Things to Pack for Mesa Verde Tours of the Dwellings

If you are planning a road trip from Denver to Mesa Verde, a few of the items you will want to add to your road trip packing list include:

• Hiking boots
• Camelbak water reservoir and pack
• Hat or visor

Check my Amazon Storefront for ALL of your TRAVEL GEAR

Tips for Visiting Mesa Verde National Park

You might have guessed that Mesa Verde National Park sits on a mesa. The elevation of Mesa Verde is 8,572 feet at its highest point. As such, the temperatures get pretty hot in the summer months if you are planning outdoor recreational activities.

Some tips for your visit?

• Plan for an early start to avoid peak crowds
• Visit at a cooler time of the day
• Get an early start to maximize your time in the park
• Wear sunscreen
• Drink lots of water

You'll find the visitor center and park entrance kiosk outside the park; once you enter Mesa Verde National Park there is still a twenty-minute drive to reach the top of the mesa. Entrance requires an America the Beautiful Park Pass or a pass to Mesa Verde.

Mesa Verde Tours: Self-Guided

There are a number of self-guided Mesa Verde tours that you can add to your itinerary, especially if you are only planning to spend one day in Mesa Verde National Park .

1. Cliff Palace

Along the Cliff Palace Loop Road, you'll discover one of the largest cliff dwellings in North America. You can view the Cliff Palace from the Cliff Palace Overlook as well as from Sun Temple on the Mesa Top Loop.

2. Cliff Palace Loop Road

The 6-mile Cliff Palace Loop Road features cliff dwellings and overlooks as well as access to the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail.

3. Far View Sites

It is an easy ¾-mile walk among the pinyon-juniper forest on the mesa; the short walk connects a community of farming villages and an ancient reservoir. Far View features one large kiva (living area) surrounded by 30 to 40 rooms. Three smaller kivas were added at a later date.

4. Mesa Top Loop Road

Mesa Top Loop Road is also a 6-mile driving tour featuring 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo history, villages, cliff dwellings and overlooks.

5. Park Point

Park Point features a short walk to the highest point in the park at 8,572 feet. With spectacular views across the Four Corners Region, you'll want to be sure to have your camera ready to go.

Looking through the telescope

6. Spruce Tree House

Who comes to Mesa Verde without wanting to see the amazing cliff dwellings carved into the side of the mountain? Spruce Tree House Overlook offers a view of the park’s best-preserved cliff dwelling.

Mesa Verde Tours and Dwellings: Guided Tours

If you wish to see the Mesa Verde Dwellings up close and personal, then you'll definitely want to reserve your space on one or more of the guided tours offered by the park service.

Take note of the physical requirements for these hikes as you will be climbing ladders and scaling the side of cliff using carved footholds.

Stone Steps Carved Out of Rock Cliff in Mesa Verde

Tickets and Reservations

Be sure to have a copy of your receipt to go on a tour. You can use a screenshot of your receipt or bring a paper copy. Ticketed tours with a ranger are required to enter the cliff dwellings. Tours run from mid May to the middle of October.

" Tour tickets can be purchased only on recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Tickets are available 14 days in advance, 8:00 am MT, on a rolling daily window. For example, tickets for May 17th will be available starting May 3rd at 8:00 am MT. Demand for tour tickets is high. We recommend reserving tickets as soon as they become available. " ~ Recreation.gov

Cliff Dwellings & Tours

Mesa Verde National Park is open year round; timed-entry reservations are required between May and October. Once in the park, tickets are available for ranger-led tours of a number of cliff dwellings.

7. Cliff Palace

Get up close and personal with Cliff Palace. As the largest cliff dwelling in North America, the architecture and design is amazing. It was built between 1190 and 1280 CE, and offered residence to over 100 people.

Getting to Cliff Palace requires you to climb down uneven stone steps and four ladders. Total walking distance is 1/4 mile.

Cliff Palace

8. Balcony House

Scaling ladders as the Ancient Puebloans must have done and then squeezing through a narrow tunnel on your hands and knees makes this a tour for adventurous souls. Some of these passages were used over 800 years ago!

Check the website for the tour specification and times.

Square Tower House

9. Square Tower House

Square Tower House is the tallest standing structure in the park complete with original plaster, paint, roof, and rock art. Mesa Top Loop offers a great view of the tower from the overlook, but the ranger-led tour of Square Tower House is a glimpse into one of Mesa Verde's most impressive cliff dwellings.

The hike to Square Tower House is a strenuous 90-minute, 1-mile round-trip hike. If you have a fear of heights, you may wish to view this dwelling from one of the overlooks. The path is unpaved and uneven and includes cliff drop-offs, switchbacks, and two ladders for you to climb down. Each tour participant must have the ability to climb over boulders and navigate steep trails unassisted.

10. Ranger-led vs Ranger Assisted Tours

Ranger-led tours are hour long tours through some of the ancestral dwellings. The ranger-assisted tours are timed-entry experiences that allow you to move through the cliff dwellings at your own pace. Rangers are stationed along your route to answer questions and facilitate your experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the elevation of mesa verde national park.

The elevation of Mesa Verde ranges from 6,800 feet in the south to 8,570 feet along the northern border.

Is it possible to spend 12 hours in Mesa Verde?

You will get a chance to see a lot of the dwellings within twelve hours. If you plan to participate in any of the ranger-led tours, you may wish to give yourself an extra day to explore.

What is the Mesa Verde meaning?

Mesa Verde is spanish for "green table" .

What is the best time of year to visit Mesa Verde?

While Mesa Verde National Park is open year round, the best time to visit would be from May to October. This is also the time that you would need to have timed-entry reservations to enter the park.

What is a kiva in Mesa Verde?

Kivas, a Hopi word, were underground rooms that tended to be round and small household areas that were used for daily activities as well as for special ceremonies on occasion.

What is the landscape on the mesa?

Having suffered through three big fires, much of the mesa is fairly barren. There are some trees closer to the overlook points.

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Final thoughts on 10 epic mesa verde tours on a national park road trip in colorado.

On our first visit to Mesa Verde National Park, Chris and I marveled at the cliff dwellings. I found myself wondering how the Puebloan people climbed down to their homes using small footholds and ladders? What about small children? Did these homes keep intruders out? You may wonder the same.

Be sure to sign up for one of the Mesa Verde tours to experience an up close and personal experience for yourself.

You will surely leave with a greater sense of their building skills, adaptability, methods of self-preservation, and a general sense of day to day life on the mesa.

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• 15 Best Places in Colorado This Summer for Family Travel
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• All Aboard for the Best Adventures in Glenwood Springs!
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• Top 10 Fun Family Adventures in Colorado Springs
• 5 Best Things to Do In Estes Park, Colorado
• 10 Best Things To Do in Rocky Mountain National Park