Mount Morrison
A steep, short grind above Red Rocks with a view over the amphitheater and all of Denver.
About Mount Morrison
Mount Morrison is the 7,881-foot foothill that rises directly behind Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Jefferson County, about two miles northwest of the town of Morrison. It's small by Colorado standards, but the climb is anything but easy.
The usual route goes up the south ridge from the Titans Road (Entrance 4) lot off Highway 74. In about 3.8 miles round trip it gains roughly 2,000 feet, with loose gravel, rock bands and a short scramble near the top. Local hikers use it as training for fourteeners.
The payoff is a summit with a bird's-eye view of the Red Rocks formations and amphitheater, the Dakota Hogback, Green Mountain and the Denver skyline, plus Mount Blue Sky to the west. It is one of the best sunrise perches within half an hour of the city.
Near the town of Morrison, this 3.6-mile out-and-back trail is rated difficult and used mostly for hiking, with dogs welcome on leash. It's a solid warm-up climb if you're building toward something bigger in the Front Range foothills, and the summit gives a genuinely different angle on Red Rocks and the plains beyond than the more commonly photographed viewpoints nearby.
History
Most of the route crosses Jefferson County Open Space land, within Matthews/Winters Park, with Red Rocks Park (a Denver Mountain Park) just below. Heavy use in 2020 and 2021 widened and eroded the trail as hikers stepped off it, and in spring 2022 Jeffco Open Space restored the route, building gabions to control erosion and close off social trails.
Photographing Mount Morrison
Best light: Sunrise is the reason to go: you look east over Red Rocks and the plains as the sun comes up behind Denver, lighting the red sandstone below you. City lights before dawn add interest. Winter inversions and clear post-storm mornings give the cleanest views of the skyline.
Shots to look for
- Looking down on Red Rocks Amphitheatre and its sandstone fins from near the summit with a 70-200mm.
- The Denver skyline at sunrise compressed with a telephoto beyond the Dakota Hogback.
- A wide shot from the summit block showing the ridge, Red Rocks below and the plains stretching east.
- Mount Blue Sky to the west catching first light.
Photo tips
- Bring a headlamp and trekking poles for a pre-dawn start; the footing is loose on the way down.
- Pack light; this is steep, and a heavy tripod is a real burden. A travel tripod is plenty.
- The small lot fills quickly on weekends and summer days.
- Stay on the restored trail and off the closed social paths.
Know before you go
- Dogs are prohibited on the Mt. Morrison trail.
- The route is steep with loose gravel; descending can be harder than going up.
- Parking at Red Rocks Entrance 4 is limited to about 20 vehicles.
- Red Rocks event days can affect traffic and access around the park.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Mount Morrison hike?
It's short but strenuous: about 3.8 miles round trip with roughly 2,000 feet of gain, loose gravel and a short scramble near the summit.
Are dogs allowed on Mount Morrison?
No. Jefferson County Open Space prohibits dogs on the Mt. Morrison trail.
Where does the Mount Morrison trail start?
From the parking area at Red Rocks Park's Entrance 4 on Titans Road, off Highway 74 west of Morrison.
Featured in: Photography Spots Near Denver
Combine it with
Red Rocks Park · Dinosaur Ridge · Matthews/Winters Park · Lair o' the Bear Park
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: en.wikipedia.org · cmc.org · jeffco.us. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.