Red Rocks
As soon as we decided to live in Boulder for a month, I knew I wanted to see a concert at Red Rocks, less than an hour’s drive away. For the first time, I purchased concert tickets primarily based on venue and date, rather than performer. But with an iconic venue like Red Rocks, you can’t really go wrong.
The Park
One of the many cool things about Red Rocks is that it’s not just a theater, it’s also a county park. We arrived extra early so that we could 1) get a good parking spot, and 2) hike on the trails before the show. The park is at an elevation of 6,450 feet, and is at a place where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. So there were plenty of interesting rock formations and scenic vistas to enjoy on our hikes. Red Rocks is notorious for capricious weather, and it began to rain just as we reached the first trailhead. Fortunately, we had brought our rain jackets, and the rain didn’t last long, anyway. We hiked the Geologic Overlook Trail, above the amphitheatre, and the Trading Post Trail, below it. The hiking was fun, and the views were fantastic.
The Amphitheatre
The “perfect” acoustics in Red Rocks are a natural phenomenon, and live performances have been happening there since 1906. The award-winning amphitheatre was designed by Burnam Hoyt and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, opening in 1941. Since then, everybody who is anybody has performed at Red Rocks. The Beatles were there in 1964, Bruce Springsteen did his first outdoor performance there in 1978, and The Grateful Dead performed there 20 times. It has been immortalized in filmed concerts by John Denver, U2, Stevie Nicks, and more.
When we had finished our hikes, it was time to queue up to enter the amphitheatre. We found seats in the 49th row, spread out a beach towel, and enjoyed the simple picnic we had packed. Then, showtime: The Wallflowers opened for Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
What a spectacular setting! The stage’s backdrop was a huge sandstone rock on which colored patterns were projected. Beyond the stage, we could see the skyscrapers (and later, the lights) of Denver. On each side of us was a majestic 300-foot rock, and above us was nothing but the vast, black, starry sky. We could see and hear everything perfectly. It was a night to remember.
Both bands were great fun! We were more familiar with The Wallflowers and Jakob Dylan, but Big Head was the fan favorite (it turns out that their early summer concert at Red Rocks is an annual tradition). With the magnificent views, first from the trails and then from our seats, we had multiple doses of awe. It was easy to understand why Red Rocks Amphitheatre is so highly regarded by performers and fans.
In hindsight, we walked more miles and climbed many more stairs than we needed to. We parked in the Upper North lot, then did a long, steep walk up to the first trail, then a long staircase and steep walk down to the second trail, and then a big climb back up to the parking lot (to get our picnic from the car). Then we walked down and entered the amphitheatre at the front by the stage, then walked up the steps to the General Admission section (we probably should have entered at the rear and walked down to our seats). Visiting the restroom involved still more stairs, both up and down. I guess we were a little crazy. But it was totally worth it!
Final tally: 15,200 steps, and the equivalent of 65 flights climbed. If you visit Red Rocks, bring a rain jacket and a sweater, and be prepared for lots of stairs.
