With an average of 300 days of sunshine, it’s hard to not to be active in this growing city. Denver boasts over 4,000 acres of parks and endless on and off-road trails allowing you to walk, run, or bike anywhere.
Get your heart rate pumping and your Fitbit buzzing by renting a bike from Denver B-Cycle (there are locations all over the city!) and cruise to just about anywhere on the 85 miles of paved bike trails around the city. Hop on the Cherry Creek trail (2200 15th St (Confluence Park access point), Denver, CO 80202) and cruise downtown to Confluence Park, the birthplace of Denver.
During the day, this downtown trail is filled with power walkers in business suits, hipsters on fixies and everyone taking their dog for a walk. Denver is an incredibly dog-friendly city, so don’t be surprised to find do in the office, on the streets and on porches of every bar and restaurant.
You’re a little over half way to hitting your 10,000 steps goal! Really drive it home with a jog in one of Denver’ Parks.
Wash Park: 2.35 miles = 4963 steps
City Park: 3.01 miles = 6357 steps
Cheeseman Park: 1.40 miles = 2956 steps
My favorite park is Washington Park, know to Denverites as Wash Park (Address: Louisiana Ave and Downing, Denver, CO 80209). This beautiful park has two lakes and 2.3-mile loop. In the summer, this park is a sea of volleyball nets. The park also has a neighborhood gym, outdoor and indoor basketball courts, crochet court, bocce court and tennis courts.
Ever been to a park party? 3.2 alcohol is allowed in all of Denver city parks. So don’t be surprised when you see a picnic table with a keg on your jog. FYI, full proof alcohol can only be bought at liquor stores and 3.2 alcohol can be purchased at gas stations.
Now that you have crisscrossed the city working your way up to 10,000 steps it’s time to head west to the re reason to visit Denver, the mountains!
Test your limits and see if you can run the steps at Red Rocks Amphitheater (18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465). Running the inside of the theater on the seats will gain you 68 very large steps. The outside steps will get you 380 steps on your Fitbit. It may n sound like a lot but with a 100-foot elevation gain from the stage to the top you are sure to be out of breath.
Running up steps at 6,450 foot elevation not your thing? Stroll the trails that loop the park or check out a Yoga on The Rocks class in the summer. From April to October you can catch a world-class concert under the stars. Red Rocks is not only a bucket list venue for fans but for musicians as well because of its spectacular natural acoustics. During set break be sure to check out the museum and learn the incredible history of Red Rocks.
While we don’t typically get much snow in the city there are plenty of winter actives nearby to hit your Fitbit goals. The closest resorts to get in your turns are Arapahoe Basin, Loveland and Winter Park. All of these resorts are less than an hour half from downtown and offer everything you need to learn how to ski or board. Not feeling the downhill? Any trail is a snowshoeing trail with a blanket of snow on top. Golden Gate state park is a short 45-minute drive from Denver and the perfect place to pass your 10,000-step goal.
Once you feel that double buzz on your wrist congratulate yourself on exceeding your 10,000-step Fitbit goa with a beer from one of 150 breweries Denver has to offer.
Cheers!
Check out my other Denver Travel + Fitness Guides on Expedia’s Blog Viewfinder
Fitness Breaks around the City
Heathy Restaurants in Denver
Denver Guides
