Solo in the City: A Mile-High Adventure in Denver

Hikes & national parks

• Rocky Mountain National Park
  You'll need to make an entry reservation (book this on the national park's website), and honestly, try to get it as soon as possible so that you can also get access to Bear Lake Road. I didn't get it, which limited some trail options, but there's still plenty to explore. Skip the super short trails like Coyote Valley Trail (literally 12 minutes) and Alluvial Fan Trail unless you just want a quick waterfall view with chipmunks. The real winner was Lily Lake Loop—gorgeous views around the lake with tons of flowers and a perfect mix of yellow and green meadows. I wish I had also done Mary Lake since I passed it on the way and it looked beautiful. Upper Beaver Meadow Loop felt a bit too desolate for my comfort as a solo hiker, especially with potential bear activity and zero other people around. If you're with someone who's a confident mountain driver, definitely stop along the tundra area—I was too freaked out by the windy roads, but the mountain landscape looked completely different up there.

• Dinosaur Ridge
  Make sure to map to "Dinosaur Ridge Main Visitor Center," NOT the AllTrails location—I learned this the hard way when construction had the other entrance closed. The walk is about 45 minutes at a moderate pace, almost entirely on asphalt (it's a closed road), with decent incline as you go up and down the mountain. Yes, it's hot and exposed, but seeing real dinosaur tracks in such high-quality preservation is absolutely worth it. You'll see fossilized water movement, insects, and other incredible details. Go early (by 9 am) to beat crowds and heat.

• Red Rocks
  Another early morning recommendation—aim for 9 am. Construction made some trails inaccessible, so I ended up parking by the Trading Post and hiking from there. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous (it's not called Red Rocks for nothing), and I was lucky enough to spot deer on the trail. This is about an hour at moderate pace with good incline—I'd recommend starting from the Trading Post side and going toward the southern amphitheater entrance to avoid the steepest climbs. Don't skip checking out the amphitheater itself when you're done; even if there's no show, it's impressive (they were setting up for Vance Joy that evening when I went).

Parks & nature

• Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
  Go around 5 to 6 pm for the best animal viewing (early morning works, too). The self-drive is about 11 miles through various habitats. Don't get discouraged if you don't see much at first—I barely saw anything until the four- to five-mile mark. All the bison were super far away (definitely bring binoculars or a good camera), but I saw deer, bucks, and ground squirrels. Since it wasn't crowded, I could stop leisurely along the roadside, and it's easy to let other cars pass if you want to take your time.

• Washington Park
  This feels like Denver's version of Central Park—lots of space, activities, and a solid two-mile walking trail. They even have swan boats! Just bring a hat because there's not much shade, especially if it's hot out.

• Denver Botanical Gardens
  Nothing particularly unique here, but I always love visiting botanical gardens when traveling. It's peaceful being surrounded by all the flowers, and I enjoyed the colorful displays. Plus, it's attached to Cheesman Park if you want to extend your nature time.

• City Park Farmers Market
  Cute market with unique vendors and lots of vegan food options. The breads looked amazing. Just go when it's not blazing hot since there's zero shade—learned that one the hard way.

Coffee shops

• Coffee Sarap: My friend's favorite coffee shop in the city, and I can see why. Their honey lavender chai was probably the best chai latte I've ever had.

• Dandy Lion Coffee Co: Super cute spot with greenery and a nursery inside. I got the Ollie (their chai latte take) which had toffee nut and macadamia milk—flavors I'd never tried before, but wow, what a combination.

Meals

• Denver Biscuit Company: There are three locations; I went to the one on the way from the airport into the city. Holy heavy lunch, but so worth it. Got the Lola—basically a breakfast fried chicken sandwich with bacon, maple syrup, and garlic honey butter on the flakiest, most buttery biscuit ever. The side of sausage gravy for dipping was perfectly seasoned, too.

• Woody’s Wings n Things: Multiple Denver Reddit recommendations, and I get why. After seven miles of hiking in 95-degree heat, their pork lo mein came out super fast and tasted absolutely perfect. Definitely understand why locals keep calling this a must-try.

• Happy Camper Pizza: I was most excited for this place because of the vibe, and it didn't disappoint. The goat cheese mozzarella sticks were a pleasant surprise—crispy outside, soft and chewy inside, and the goat cheese blended perfectly with marinara. The Nadene small pizza was great, but the real star was the ranch dip. Very scene-y, pre-game kind of place, but also just a cool spot to hang out and watch the game.

• Levan Supply: Great pastrami sandwich with a nice kick from the mustard. Their kale salad seasonal special was more like cilantro and mint than kale, but still tasty.

• Corner Ramen and Poke: Perfect after a long day of hiking. I got the sukiyaki, which comes prepped like ramen instead of the traditional dipping style. Tasted great and was exactly the easy, comforting meal I needed.

Drinks

• Avanti Rooftop: Nice vibe with good people watching. The music ebbed and flowed between dancey hits and just okay tunes, but it's a solid spot to end the evening. It’s right across from Happy Camper Pizza, so it’s nice to have as a post-meal stop.