Top Colorado Half-day Tours

See the UNESCO World Heritage–listed sites of Mesa Verde National Park on a tour of the park's Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. A guide provides insight into the history, architecture, and spiritual features of these ancient homes and how they were lived in hundreds of years ago. Please note, this tour starts inside the park; you must already be in the park after paying your own national park entrance fee.

Get out into the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains without the hassle of renting a car on this half-day afternoon tour. Meet your guide and small group in downtown Denver, then climb into a comfortable tour vehicle for the scenic ride into the nearby Rockies. You'll explore places with your guide that you might not otherwise find on your own.

The Denver foothills are packed with some of Colorado's best sights, from Red Rocks Amphitheater to Lookout Mountain and scenic Lariat Loop. Over the course of this half-day tour from Denver that explores the scenic foothills, get panoramic views of the mountain surroundings and stroll through small, historic towns before stopping in Evergreen for drinks. It's a quick escape from the big city buzz and a taste of life in the mountains, and one you can easily fit in a day when touring the "Mile High" City.

Eat your way through downtown Denver's ever-changing dining scene on a walking food tour that lets you sample five of the best restaurants in town, all in one afternoon. Discover award-winning eateries, authentic Neapolitan pizza, freshly baked empanadas from a family-owned shop and more. In between bites, learn about Denver's Wild West history and pass landmarks like the baseball field and iconic Union Station.

Explore the grand scenery of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado’s Wild West history on a small-group bus tour from Denver. Visit the famous natural amphitheatre at Red Rocks, and encounter descendants of America's last wild buffalo herd grazing in the foothills. Get panoramic views of Denver and the Front Range from atop Lookout Mountain, and pay tribute to one of the great showmen of the early West at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave on this easy half-day escape.

Explore Colorado’s natural playgrounds just a short drive from downtown Denver. Escape the city and head for the Rockies with a guide and driver to handle the road, so you can focus on the stunning scenery of Mt. Evans, Bear Creek Canyon, and Squaw Pass. Get a taste of mountain culture in the charming town of Evergreen, check out the dramatic formations of Red Rocks, and hike around serene Echo Lake on this half-day mountain sampler.

Climb from the streets of the "Mile High City" to Rocky Mountain National Park, on a day trip that showcases the rugged beauty of Colorado's mountains. Weave through small, historic towns and drive over alpine passes, as you scan the horizon for mountain wildlife like elk, black bears, or moose.

Beer and bikes are two of Denverites’ favorite things, which makes this the perfect way to check out downtown Denver. The nine-mile ride takes you down riverside paths, up neighborhood streets, and through downtown via the city’s extensive bike lane system. Check out the sports stadiums, historic buildings, and many public art installations, then refuel at a local tap room toward the end fo the tour. Guests are responsible for their own bar tabs.

Immerse yourself in the exciting history of the Colorado Gold Rush, and enjoy the intimacy of a small-group tour. Stroll through the historic town of Central City and follow the steps of the miners as you learn about their lifestyle. Visit an authentic ghost town, tour a real gold mine, and and learn about the mine's history and modern-day mining techniques. Get an opportunity to strike it rich by panning for gold and silver before your return trip to Denver.

You’re a serious beer enthusiast who wants to get out into the mountains and sample the best of the Colorado brewing scene. On this small-group tour, your group learns the history of brewing in the historic mountain town of mining town at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Your guide shows you some of the top local brewpubs. Enjoy tasting, find something you’ve never tasted before, and discover new brews you’ll love.

Get the lowdown on LoDo on an express tour of Denver’s oldest neighborhood. Both historic and rapidly changing, the district is home to many of the city's hippest bars, restaurants, and hotels. Walk a loop around LoDo’s most important landmark buildings while hearing tales from Denver’s Wild West history. Get inside tips on where to dine and drink while in town from a guide who knows the area best.

Discover why Denver is nicknamed the ‘Napa Valley of Craft Beer’ on a fun and social beer tour and pub crawl through the historic Lower Downtown (LoDo) district. Pop in to four local breweries to taste more than 10 samples of Colorado craft beer with an expert hops-, ale-, and lager-loving guide. Find out how Denver became the center of the craft brewing movement in the West, and walk off all those tastings with a jaunt through the city’s oldest and most dynamic neighborhood.

Head south from Denver on a small group tour to two of Colorado’s most majestic places. First, visit Garden of the Gods, a unique geological area with colossal red rock formations. Then take a drive up Pikes Peak, which inspired the song “America the Beautiful.” Have lunch and enjoy a bit of free time or shopping in the charming town of Manitou Springs, then take a scenic drive through the foothills back to Denver.

Venture into the heart of one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods—and hear many of the city’s spookiest ghost stories as you visit its supposedly haunted landmarks—on this small-group walking tour. Pick the standard tour duration, or upgrade for an extended experience: whichever you choose, you’ll explore the historical Capitol Hill neighborhood, where you can see highlights like Titanic survivor Molly Brown’s house, creepy hotels and apartment blocks, and more.

Get chills down your spine on an evening walk through Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Learn about some of the most haunted dwellings in the city. Let your guide take you through the dark streets, pointing out the haunted mansions, telling tales of historic scandals, and discovering paranormal activity.

See the UNESCO World Heritage–listed sites of Mesa Verde National Park on a tour of the park's Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. A guide provides insight into the history, architecture, and spiritual features of these ancient homes and how they were lived in hundreds of years ago. Please note, this tour starts inside the park; you must already be in the park after paying your own national park entrance fee.

Get a new perspective on Colorado scenery as you soar between rocky expanses on this ziplining course at Seven Falls. Fly down five ziplines extending up to 1,800 feet (548 meters), plus traverse two suspension bridges and bound down a 180-foot  (54 meter) rappel. Though this is an adrenaline-filled day, kids meeting the weight limit can still participate.

The lush forests, rocky gorges, and waterfalls of Seven Falls lie just outside Colorado Springs. On this tour, enjoy unbeatable views as you tackle the Woods Course zipline circuit and soar through the Seven Falls Canyon. With five ziplines reaching up to 1,500 feet (450 meters) long and heights of 150 feet (45 meters), it’s sure to get your adrenaline pumping and full instruction is provided.

Splash through some of Colorado’s most epic whitewater rapids on this half-day Royal Gorge rafting tour. Get a new perspective on the canyon and paddle beneath the world’s highest suspension bridge as you tackle thrilling class III and IV rapids. This top-rated rafting tour earns rave reviews for awesome river guides and unforgettable adventure.

Get a scenic introduction to one of Colorado's favorite outdoor activities with a rafting tour of the Bighorn Sheep Canyon. With easy access and mellow rapids, this stretch of the Arkansas River is a great choice for beginning rafters and families with children age 6 and up. In between tackling rapids like ‘Spikebuck’ and ‘Sharks Tooth,’ enjoy classic Colorado scenery on smoother stretches.

Experience Denver like never before on this guided, 3-hour, small-group, motor-scooter tour. Learn about the city’s history and architecture while visiting favorite locations like Confluence Park, Lower Downtown (LoDo), National Velvet, LoHi, Denver Highlands, Colorado Convention Center, Coors Field, Denver Union Station and much more. Ride on side streets and multi-lane roads. Guided training plus a helmet, eye protection, sunscreen and more are included.

Discover the natural beauty of the Broadmoor Seven Falls in Colorado Springs on this canopy tour that combines eight ziplines, two suspension bridges, and a 180-foot (55-meter) rappel. This zipline course is designed to show off the geological features of the waterfall park, located next to the iconic Broadmoor resort.

Get the very best views of Colorado’s natural wonder on a Jeep tour that takes you to the mouth on the Royal Gorge and over the highest suspension bridge in the United States. Get a perspective most visitors miss with exclusive access to the park’s southern entrance, plus a stunning panorama from the top of Fremont Peak. Along the way, dig deeper into the region’s history with sightings of historic graves and dinosaur footprints.

Leave civilization behind for a few hours on a half-day rafting tour through Royal Gorge. The thrilling 3-hour excursion is the perfect opportunity to combine your love of nature and adventure sports. The class III, IV, and V rapids take you through Sunshine Falls, the Narrows, Sledgehammer, and more. You can leave your camera on dry land, as a professional photographer takes pictures that are available for purchase.

Explore a rugged mountain landscape on a half-day Jeep tour to La Plata Canyon, and discover high-alpine meadows, avalanche gullies, and Colorado wildflowers with an experienced guide at the wheel. Both morning and afternoon departures are available for this La Plata Canyon tour, which departs from an office in Durango.