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We won’t mince words: Going to Red Rocks Amphitheatre can either be heavenly or hellish—rarely in between. Without a little planning, you could easily miss your favorite song in a 30-minute queue for the bathroom, reach the front of the merch line only to find a pathetic stash of XX-smalls, and, before you know it, you won’t be able to hear Lord Huron without thinking about that time you tumbled down a flight of Red Rocks’ iconic stadium stairs in your stilettos.
The point is, preparation is key. We sat down with Brian Kitts, a 14-year employee at Red Rocks, for his best tips for everything from parking to seating to avoiding those taxing stairs (spoiler alert: You can’t).
Jump Ahead:
What to Wear to a Red Rocks Show
Setting yourself up for success begins before you leave the house. “You can generally tell people who have not been there before because they show up in heels,” Kitts says. We know, you want to wear your peep toes for Matt Rife, but you’ll almost certainly be the butt of one of his jokes when you sprain your ankle on the stairs, so just don’t.
“You should basically approach a show there the same way that you would approach going on a mild hike,” he says. That means closed-toed shoes, sunscreen and shades, and a reusable water bottle. And, as with any outdoor endeavor in Colorado, pack for weather swings—in other words, bring layers. Single-pocket bags no larger than 13-by-15-by-18 inches are allowed inside, just have them open and ready to be searched before you enter the amphitheatre.
Parking Tips for Red Rocks
Picking the right parking lot—there are five inside the venue—is all about whether you want to get your workout in before or after the show. The Upper North Lot, near the Visitor Center, provides easy access to the top entrance (and demands the least sweat equity), which means it also fills up first, Kitts says. If you’re cool with a seat closer to the back, you’ll only have to climb a couple flights of stairs up and out of the parking lot to get to row 70. If you’re vying for a seat close to the stage, though, hop on the Amphitheatre North Trail, a gentle downhill route from the parking lot with a few stairs that can be a little more treacherous in the dark after you’ve had a few. Either way, you’ll need some patience to exit Red Rocks when you land in the Upper North Lot: “That’s going to make your way out a little bit longer because it’s first in, last out,” Kitts says.
For an easier escape route, Kitts suggests Entrance Two, which services the south lots. The Upper South Lot is conveniently located at the base of an ADA-accessible ramp (with scenic views of more red rock on your right) that snakes around Ship Rock. At the junction, ascend the stairs take the stairs and they’ll spit you out around row 24. (This lot also has a shuttle for folks with mobility issues.)
If you want to shotgun a Coors with a stranger, Lower South Lot One, also known as Shakedown Street, is your place. We hope you’re wearing your walking shoes because you’ll need to hike about half a mile from here to the venue. Take Trading Post Trail up to Ship Rock Road until you see that ADA-accessible ramp we mentioned above on your right. Lower South Lot Two, situated right next to Lower South One, is designed for those parking oversize vehicles (think: RVs, buses, limos, etc.).
And finally, park in the Lower North Lot if you love the StairMaster. It’s the first lot you’ll see if you arrive via Entrance One and is a little easier to get out of than the Upper North Lot. The hike to the amphitheatre, however, is far more grueling. You’ll walk along Trading Post Road for about .2 miles, then take the stairs on your right. We’ll be honest: There are a lot of them. Don’t be afraid to take breaks on the landings.
Tailgating is allowed in all of the lots at Red Rocks, but no glass. And be wary of leaving no trace; the local wildlife don’t need whatever is left of your Smashburger. You can’t bring any alcohol into the venue but sealed sober beverages less than 32 ounces are allowed.
Parking lots open four hours before each show, and don’t underestimate the crowds for comedians and country artists. “Those are the ones where there’s going to be a lot more traffic because there are fewer people in the cars,” Kitts says. While EDM shows and jam bands might draw bigger crowds, patrons are more likely to travel by party bus or in large groups, resulting in fewer vehicles vying for parking spots.
Buses to Red Rocks
Don’t want to worry about parking? Consider taking a party bus or shuttle to the venue. Here are some of the most popular options that offer rides for every show:
- Bus Party!: This service picks up from Clever Girl in RiNo or Punch Bowl Social in Baker for select shows. Your ticket to ride (around $55 per person) also includes discounted drinks and food at the pickup location before departure.
- Shuttles to Red Rocks (RRX Shuttles): Choose between Illegal Pete’s on Colfax (departs 45 minutes before doors open) or Union Station’s Thirsty Lion (departs 30 minutes before doors open) as your pickup spot for this shuttle ($65 per person).
- Red Rocks Shuttle: Hop on one of their public shuttles at Union Station, the Colorado Convention Center, Improper City, or LoHi’s Avanti Food & Beverage ($65 per person).
Uber and Lyft can also take you to and from Red Rocks shows, but beware of surge pricing. A ride home from a Saturday night concert will likely cost more than a round trip on one of the shuttle services.
Seating Tips for Red Rocks
For most concerts, the first seven rows are reserved and the rest (up to row 70) are general admission, seating 9,525 people in total. The amphitheatre is bleacher-style—rising 100 feet from the stage to the top row—so all of the seats offer an unobstructed view of the performers, but depending on the type of experience you want to have, you might prefer certain sections over others.
For a good view of the performers and the Denver skyline, you’ll want to sit in row 30 or higher, Kitts says. But be sure to check the weather before you head out. “Wind actually moves sound waves around,” he says. “So if you’re close to the top of the venue on a night when it is particularly windy, your sound is going to be affected.” Any row in the 30s is generally a sweet spot: far enough away to see the city lights but not so far that the sound is impacted on a blustery evening.
Kitts’ next tip: Bring a blanket. If you want to score a seat close to the stage but the rows have already filled up, you can set up a spot on one of the planter boxes off to the side. This spot is particularly nice if you plan to camp out early—the trees will offer you some shade until the sun sets. (But if you forget to pack a picnic blanket or towel, you’ll be sitting in the dirt.)
Doors generally open two hours before the show, but it can vary. Double-check your ticket for the exact time.
Concessions Tips for Red Rocks
Since Red Rocks is symbolic of the state, it only seems fitting that its vendors are, too. At concession stands scattered throughout the venue, you’ll find fare from local favorites including Rolling Smoke BBQ, Anthony’s Pizza, and new this year: Machete Tequila & Tacos and Birdcall.
If you don’t want to wait forever for your White Claw, head down the stairs on the north side of the stage. Just before the bathrooms (right where the Amphitheatre North Trail dumps out) you’ll find a concession stand tucked into the rock. This tends to have the shortest line because it’s not visible from the stands, Kitts says. If you don’t mind a longer stroll, descend the stairs on the south side of the stage and turn right around row 24. You’ll find both concession stands and merch tables down these stairs—typically with shorter lines than those found on the top plaza because you can’t see them from the stands. While you might have read online that you can order food and drink from the concession stands on the Red Rocks app, don’t get your hopes up. Kitts says that feature has been removed.
But if schlepping your sips up and down the stairs sounds awful, just sit tight. There are tons of employees roaming the aisles with buckets of ice-cold beverages (both boozy and nonalcoholic). “Every beverage that is sold by one of those people who’s walking has been loaded up backstage and is being hauled up and down those stairs by human energy. So I would encourage fans to tip them well because it’s a hard job,” Kitts says.
Bathroom Tips for Red Rocks
All those bevvies are bound to have you looking for the bathroom at some point during your Red Rocks visit, but out-of-the-know attendees could wind up waiting 30 minutes for the loo. Luckily, Kitts says there’s a clear winner for the venue’s best bathroom: “In the Visitor Center, there are potentially the nicest bathrooms in the entire city,” he says. “People just don’t know they’re there.”
The Visitor Center sits on the north side of the top plaza. Head inside and through the museum hallway to find those luxurious latrines. Although the Visitor Center has been closed for renovations, Kitts says the bathrooms are still open. As for which potties to pass? Don’t bother with the restrooms beside the stage on the north stairs. Those almost always have a long line.
