Denver, also known as the Mile High city because of its elevation of exactly 5,280 feet above sea level, is the capital city of the state of Colorado. Some tourist attractions are the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, all of the art museums and, of course the Denver Zoo. Just as popular as these landmarks, though, is the variety of action sports that Denver has to offer.
At its high elevation, Denver has a plethora of snow and mountain sports to offer. Not to mention lots of hiking. If you’re into vertical frozen stuff, you can take ice climbing classes at Bob Culp Climbing School. In just two days time, you can become well acquainted with the basics of ice climbing and be prepared to experience the world famous ice climbing conditions that Colorado has to offer. Already know how to ice climb? They offer all levels of training up through advanced classes and guided climbs.
The Colorado Mountain Club offers weekend mountaineering trips among other services geared towards mountain lovers. If you’re looking for a day hike, high altitude hiking around Summit Lake is a supreme experience. Many athletes train at high altitude to prepare for events, and you can too! If you’re looking to have some high altitude fun off of the ground, than paragliding off of Mt. Zion may be the answer for you. It’s only a ten minute walk from parking to the launch site and then whoosh! You’re off into the Colorado sky soaring over scenery far below. If you think that sounds scenic, than you would also enjoy hot-air ballooning over the Chatfield State Park area – perhaps with that special someone?.
Of course, if you’re not one for heights, there is always skydiving in the wind tunnels at SkyVenture. 12,000 horsepower worth of wind suspends you in a tunnel where you perpetually fall, experiencing all of the upsides of skydiving without the downside of having to jump out of a plane.
During the summer, the flora and fauna is beautiful! It is a perfect time to go ahead and get out that mountain bike. An hour west of Denver, Buffalo Creek offers great downhills, smooth rolling hills, breathtaking rock formations and is almost exclusively single track. While it’s warm out, you might as well go kayaking around Confluence Park. Located in Denver’s lower downtown, it is an incredibly unique way to see the hustle bustle of America’s 23rd largest city. If you’re a skater, there is always Erie Community Skate Park. At 16,800 sq ft, it is fairly large and offers smooth transitions, lots of stairs and rails. Skaters at any level can appreciate what this park has to offer. With as much national and state park in the surrounding areas as anybody could ever want, Denver is truly an outdoorsman’s paradise. These elements combined with the mountain terrain and high altitude make extreme sports in Denver a highly unique and breathtaking experience. Come and enjoy what this city has to offer.
Top 10 Action Sport Activities in Denver
- Ice Climbing Classes at the Bob Culp Climbing School
- Indoor Skydiving at SkyVenture Wind Tunnel
- Scuba Diving Classes at A-1 Scuba & Travel
- Single-Track Mountain Biking at Buffalo Creek
- Weekend Mountaineering with the Colorado Mountain Club
- Kayaking in Confluence Park
- High-Altitude Hiking around Summit Lake
- Skateboarding at Erie Community Skate Park
- Paragliding off Mt. Zion
- Hot-Air Ballooning with Chatfield State Recreation Area
photo credits: casey.reynolds, mclcbooks
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