Our cannabis-focused guide to a fun, adventurous, and elevated Colorado winter season.

Tourists flock to Colorado during winter (and they always have). With unparalleled access to winter snow sports, a healthy dose of seasonal sunshine, an urban center exploding with art and food, and of course, legal weed, it’s easy to understand why. 

That’s why HuffPost, in 2017, said, “Colorado is the most magical state in America.”

“There’s a reason ‘Rocky Mountain High’ is one of Colorado’s official state songs. Because regardless of your feelings on legalized pot, Colorado will leave you feeling absolutely magical.” – Lisa Miller, HuffPost

Our Denver Metro area dispensaries are ground zero for tourists taking their first steps on Colorado’s hallowed ground (we realize this sounds epic, but Colorado is epic!). Our budtenders welcome guests with more than a selection of our state’s premium cannabis products. They’re an unofficial extension of the Colorado Tourism Board, doling out advice to visitors who want to take advantage of what our state has to offer. And if you’re looking for dispensaries near the airport, you’re in luck. Lightshade Dispensary on Peoria at I-70 is one of the closest recreational and medical dispensaries to Denver International Airport. 

It’s for this reason that we decided to create our cannabis-enhanced tourist’s guide to Colorado winter activities (locals might find an undiscovered gem too).

Hike or take-in a chill (and chilly) concert at Red Rocks.

Red Rocks, just ten miles from Downtown Denver, is Colorado’s open-air amphitheater and natural wonder. Dusty red rocks (hence the name) rise above the city and beg for visits from tourists and locals alike. A day spent hiking and exploring the massive geological formations is a day well spent. 

Built into naturally occurring stone structures, Red Rocks Amphitheater plays host to touring musicians year-round. Everyone from the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix to Phish, Widespread Panic, and Wu-Tang Clan, have graced the Red Rocks stage. And while the concert schedule slows during the colder months, there’s a safe bet you can take in a show during a winter visit to Colorado. 

Cannabis and music go hand-in-hand. Bring a spiritual quality to your Red Rocks experience with a pre-show (or hike) edible. Just remember, with this, or any of the activities in our guide, public cannabis consumption is illegal, and it’s NEVER ok to consume and drive. Leave the transportation to a sober friend, Uber, or Lyft. 

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater

18300 W. Alameda Parkway,
Morrisson, CO, 80465

Enjoy an elevated meal at one of Denver’s outstanding restaurants. 

Denver’s food scene is exploding. Our once ho-hum selection of restaurants today is packed with talented chefs creating culinary masterpieces in every corner of the city. Cannabis is the ideal complement to food – there’s no better way to enhance the flavor and experience of eating at one of our city’s new restaurants or dining halls, than with a pre-roll, pre-dinner (see what we did there?).

Give yourself a case of the munchies and head to a Denver eatery. Here are some of our favorites:

Relax and stroll in one of our beautiful urban parks.

Denver has a slew of beautiful parks you should visit. And what’s better than strolling through a park with a discrete cannabis vape tucked into your pocket (remember public cannabis consumption is illegal – take caution). We are partial to two city-close parks in particular: City Park and Washington Park. 

Just east of Downtown Denver, City Park offers beautiful views of both the city and the mountains. And, it’s just minutes from our Holly location. It’s also adjacent to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science – if you get cold, duck into the museum and learn a thing or two. 

South of Downtown Denver rests Washington Park. With a sprawling lake and beautiful inner and outer walking paths, you can take a stroll with South Denver’s fitness fans who use the park to train for spring and summer endurance sports like running and cycling. And, it’s just a few miles from our central Denver dispensary. And yeah, Colorado locals are hearty – they will run or ride in the coldest of temperatures. 

City Park

2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80205

Washington Park

Downing and E. Louisiana Ave,
Denver, CO 80210

Take a DIY tour of the RiNo (River North) Arts District.

The River North Arts District, most often referred to as RiNo, is a former industrial area transformed by artists. Sprawling and walkable, the neighborhood is home to craft breweries, specialty coffee shops, restaurants, and independent retail boutiques. 

Each September, artists (legally) paint murals across the neighborhood during an event called Crush Walls. Locals and tourists flock to RiNo to experience and photograph the urban art, and even on the coldest of Colorado winter days, it’s fun to get lifted and lost in the maze of streets and artwork. 

*Pro-tip: RiNo is infinitely Instagrammable. Don’t forget your phone or camera. 

River North Arts District (RiNo)

Visit the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Colorado sees over 300 days of sunshine each year, and that’s why the Denver Botanic Gardens is open year-round. Offering a beautiful and educational plant-focused experience, as well as sunrise yoga sessions, special events, and free days, for Colorado winter tourists, a day-long visit is a perfect respite from the fast pace of travel. 

With an expertly timed cannabis dose, you’ll find mellow satisfaction wandering the beautifully curated gardens. 

Denver Botanic Gardens York Street

1007 York Street
Denver, CO 80206
303-865-3500

Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms

8500 West Deer Creek Canyon Road
Littleton, CO 80128

Head to the hills to ski or snowboard.

We’d be remiss not to mention the number one draw for Colorado winter tourists: easy access to the nation’s best skiing and snowboarding. Our mountains are beautiful and fun, and of course, winter sports and weed go hand-in-hand (but please, always be safe). There’s nothing like floating down the slopes in a haze of fresh powder, elegantly elevated by your favorite strain. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? 

And instead of an apres-ski beverage, how about a post-snow smoke session or mellow edible. Not only is cannabis a healthier option that won’t leave you feeling hungover the next day, but it’s also excellent for easing the aches and pains that come part and parcel with a day out on the slopes. 

*Pro-tip: when you arrive at Denver International Airport (DIA), drop by our Peoria Dispensary and pick up a cannabis-infused salve to give your tired muscles extra TLC.

Act like a local and go sledding at Ruby Hill.

Colorado Public Radio calls Ruby Hill, a “sledders gold mine.” This in-the-know spot is where you’ll find kids (and adults) sledding on epic snow days.

If you’re lucky enough to visit our state during, or after, a round of heavy snowfall, we suggest you find a sled and join locals on the legendary sledding hill. Of course, everything is enhanced with cannabis – before you launch yourself down a slope covered in snow and ice, drop by one of our Denver dispensaries and stock-up for the frigid festivities. 

Ruby Hill Park

1200 W. Florida Ave
Denver, CO 80223
720-913-1311

Get arty at the Denver Art Museum.

Former Mayor’s Wellington Webb and John Hickenlooper worked hard to transform Denver from Cowtown to Art-town, and the Denver Art Museum is our crown jewel. We love to consume cannabis on a frigid winter’s day and spend hours lazily gazing at collections of art, from modern masterpieces to epic renaissance scenes of beauty and tragedy, to contemporary pieces that leave us scratching our heads. Canna-friendly winter tourists traveling to Colorado should make a trip to our world-class art museum a priority. 

The Denver Art Museum

100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway
Denver, CO 80204
720-913-0169

Fight the cold in hot springs.

Colorado is home to several naturally occurring mineral hot springs, and Strawberry Park, just outside the major Ski destination, Steamboat Springs, is our favorite. 

“Imagine relaxing in 104-degree mineral water while Steamboat’s famous Champagne Powder gently collects in the surrounding forest.” Sounds fantastic, right?

The drive to Strawberry Park is not for the faint of heart, so we suggest that you either have a designated driver or blaze after you’ve soaked and made your way back into town. We can’t think of a better post-Strawberry Park activity than relaxing at the AirBnB or Ski Chalet with a pre-roll, some great food, and a warm fire. 

Strawberry Park Mineral Hot Springs

44200 County Road #36
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
970-879-0342