Watching a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre is an experience in itself. You are flanked on both sides of the stage by bright red sandstone rocks, with a beautiful view of downtown Denver. The acoustics are so clear that every seat in the house sounds crystal clear with little to no reverberation. There are no bad seats at the theatre, so you get to see and hear it all.

Yes, the rocks that surround the Red Rocks Amphitheatre stage make music sound better. The pair of 300 feet monoliths, known as Ship rock (right) and Creation rock (left), help produce the site's pristine sound. This makes Red Rocks one of a kind with its near-perfect acoustic environment. It is little wonder why it's one of the natural wonders of the world.

The Red Rocks Park and Ampitheatre is located in Jefferson County near Morrison, Colorado in the Eastern Rocky Mountains. It’s built into a natural rock formation at 6,450 feet above sea level.

Red Rocks is located approximately 16 miles southwest of Denver, 28 miles south of Boulder, and around 80 miles north of Colorado Springs.

There are several airports offering shuttle services near Red Rocks. The largest is the Denver International Airport, just 40 miles away. Other nearby airports include:

• City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport
• Aspen–Pitkin County Airport
• Eagle County Regional Airport
• Yampa Valley Regional Airport

There are several hotels to stay near the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, depending on preferences. The nearest is Origin Red Rocks, a Wyndham hotel that is only a 3-mile drive to Red Rocks. This hotel happens to be the official partner of the theater providing tailored services and amenities.

It always takes longer to get to Red Rocks than expected, and the traffic will always be a factor, so concert-goers need to plan ahead. It’s best to decide on a time to leave then add an extra half hour or more to ensure that you’ll spend less time waiting in line. The parking lots open 2 hours before the concert.

There are 4 different parking lots at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, each with its own characteristics. There’s the Upper North and Lower North, the Upper South and the Lower South parking lots. The Upper North lot is the best and closest to the seating area, so it gets filled quickly. Parking opens 2 hours before the concert, so it's advisable to arrive early to get a good spot.

Red Rocks includes 70 rows that fit up to 9,525 concertgoers. Seating is divided into:

1. Reserved Seating which is closer to the stage and includes secured seating space as well as additional legroom
2. General Admission Seating which is typically farther from the stage and includes first-come, first-serve seating

Pietro Satriano and his 25-piece brass band were the first musical act to perform at the venue. On May 31, 1906, they performed the grand opening for the “Garden of the Titans,” the name of Red Rocks before the construction of the ampitheatre.

The grand opening of the fully constructed Red Rocks Ampitheatre took place on June 15, 1941, with a series of performances including a ceremonial Eagle Dance and a Zuni Indian melody to honor the indigenous peoples of the region.

Even though Red Rocks Park and Ampitheatre is in neighboring Jefferson County, it is owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, Colorado.

In 2015, Red Rocks Park was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Services. This grants the venue certain legal protections that will help Denver preserve this historic concert venue and prevent new developments from altering the surrounding Park.

Red Rocks includes both a park and an ampitheatre. The Red Rocks Park is open to the public one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset every day. On non-concert days, the ampitheatre is typically open to the public as well.

On concert days, however, the ampitheatre may be closed for all or part of the day to prepare the stage and perform soundchecks. The ampitheatre is also closed to the public when private functions are being hosted.

There are designated smoking areas, no rock climbing, tickets for admittance, no signage, foods must be packed in clear plastic bags, no weapons, and no alcoholic beverages, among others. You can find more of the rules on their website, but these are some of the most important. To find a full list of rules and other information, check out the Red Rocks Frequently Asked Questions page on the venue's offical website.

Both kids and pets are generally welcomed at Red Rocks Park and Ampitheatre. Pets, however, must be leashed and are only allowed into the amphitheater during non-event hours.

Children may receive discounted prices on tickets and other events in the ampitheatre; however, the promoters of certain events may specify certain age requirements for attendance. Age-related rules, regulations, and discounts are determined by event promoters, not Red Rocks.

Visitors must remember that only soft packs, cloth bags, and backpacks size 12” x 17” x 12” or smaller are allowed in the amphitheater for everyone’s safety. Moreover, food must be placed in a clear plastic bag the size of one gallon or less. Plastic utensils only and fruits and vegetables must be sliced.

Some of the world’s most influential musical artists and groups have performed at Red Rocks Ampitheatre, including:

• The Beatles performed at Red Rocks as part of their first American tour in 1964.
• The Grateful Dead ushered in the jam-band movement at Red Rocks when they first performed there in 1978.
• U2 filmed “U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky” while performing at Red Rocks in 1983
• Widespread Panic played its 32nd show at Red Rocks in 2008, the most shows performed by any single act in the venue’s history
• Mumford & Sons feature film “The Road to Red Rocks” includes their 2012 performance at the ampitheatre, where they also recorded the live video for their song “I Will Wait”

This is only a small sample of the hundreds of acts that have graced the stage at Red Rocks Ampitheatre.

After winning Pollstar’s annual “Best Outdoor Concert Venue” award for the 11th time in 1999, the name of the award was changed to the “Red Rocks Award,” and the ampitheatre has been eliminated as a possible contender since. It seems that Red Rocks is such a great concert venue that other venues just simply can’t compete.

The Red Rocks Park includes several nature trails. The longest is the Red Rocks Trail, popular for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. Other trails include:

• The Trading Post Trail
• The Funicular Trail
• The Mt. Vernon Creek Trail
• The Geologic Overlook Trail

The Trading Post Trail begins at Red Rocks Trading Post, which houses the Colorado Music Hall of Fame and the Red Rocks Store, both of which are open to the public 363 days a year. It’s closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Red Rocks also hosts film screenings, large group yoga sessions, and winter fitness training at the Ampitheatre throughout the year.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre has had 2,998 concerts.

The next concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre is on November 14, 2024. The bands performing are: Armin van Buuren.

The last concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre was on November 11, 2024. The bands that performed were: Allure (Tiësto).