Free Things to Do in Denver
Denver's best free activities include Red Rocks Amphitheatre fitness stairs, Cherry Creek Trail (40 miles), City Park with mountain views, Sloan's Lake Park, Confluence Park, and free public tennis courts at Washington Park.
12 places · 12 free · Updated Oct 2026
315 steps across 69 rows, 145 feet of elevation gain at 6,450 feet. People run stairs here year-round. Trading Post Trail is a 1.4-mile easy loop, Red Rocks Trail is a 6-mile loop with 1,300 feet of gain. Stairs close during concerts and events.
Ten lighted hard courts in Washington Park, free and first-come first-served. One-hour courtesy limit when others are waiting. Park around it has a 2.6-mile jogging loop and a lake.
40-mile paved trail from Confluence Park in LoDo southeast to Cherry Creek State Park. The popular 11-mile stretch from Confluence Park to the reservoir is flat and heavily used by cyclists, runners, and skaters. Connects to the Platte River Trail for a 100+ mile network.
284 acres around Denver's largest lake. 2.6-mile flat paved loop for running, walking, biking. Tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, two playgrounds, and kayaking/paddleboarding on the lake (non-motorized boats allowed).
18-acre park where Cherry Creek meets the South Platte in LoDo. The 16th Street Wave is a man-made whitewater feature for kayaking, river surfing, and SUP. Confluence Kayaks (2301 7th St) rents gear nearby. Free to visit.
Well-maintained park with lighted basketball courts, tennis courts, walking/biking path, soccer and softball fields, playground. Free. Good courts for southwest Denver.
330 acres with a gravel 5K jogging loop, tennis courts, handball court, soccer and football fields, softball diamonds, horseshoe pits. Two lakes, Rocky Mountain views. Denver Zoo and Museum of Nature & Science are both inside the park. Free.
28-mile paved trail along the South Platte from Chatfield State Park through downtown to Brighton. Connects to Cherry Creek Trail at Confluence Park for 100+ miles of trails. Flat, good for cycling, running, skating. Free. Downtown section goes past REI and several breweries.
8 lighted outdoor pickleball courts, free, first-come first-served. Quiet equipment pilot location so you must use foam Librarian Pickleball balls. Busy mornings and evenings, midday is your best bet for open courts.
Hilltop park with panoramic Rocky Mountain views. The Astro Sundial at the top identifies peaks from Longs to Pikes. Open lawns, playground, walking paths. Good sunset spot. Free parking.
Lighted outdoor basketball courts at the former Lowry Air Force Base, well-maintained. Free, first-come first-served. Also has tennis courts, playground, open fields, and a rec center. Less crowded than City Park. Free parking.