The summer months are a brutal reminder that for all of our mountain love, Denver is in a desert. Looking for Denver’s cool side? Look no further, here is our curated list of ten ways to stay cool in Denver this summer.
Luxury Rooftop Pools
For those looking to stay in town and enjoy a little luxury, Cherry Creek’s hotel rooftops have you covered. Both The Halcyon and The Jacquard (pictured) offer day passes to their prime rooftop pools. The views, drinks, and the water will have you forgetting the heat in no time. Reserve a cabana to enjoy your cocktail in full lounge mode, or stick around The Jacquard after the sun goes down on the weekends to catch the DJ spinning until close.
Paddle Board at Bear Creek Lake Park
Twenty minutes from downtown, Denverites will find Bear Creek Lake Park and Soda Lake Beach. Situated in the shadow of Red Rocks Amphitheater, Bear Creek is the perfect setting to grill some hot dogs, jump in the water, and take out the paddle board. The Soda Lake swim beach features a marina where you can rent boards, boats (motorless only), and get your hands on locally made gourmet popsicles. Those in the know will bring a cooler and float across to the north side beach for a more secluded beach experience.
Cool Down from the Inside with a Frozen Cocktail
Denver’s bar scene continues to grow into new and fun places, and with it, the variety of ice-cold beverages. Frozen cocktails are a sure-fire way to beat the heat, and a couple of our favorites happen to be within a couple of blocks of each other down on South Broadway. Despite an ever-changing landscape, this neighborhood has retained its vintage charm and punk rock vibes. To stay cool, swing by La Loteria for a Frozen Mezcalerita, Frozen Mangonada, or Frozen Paloma. Once you’ve garnered up the courage to hit the heat again, you can wander by classic Denver vintage spots like Boss Vintage before hitting The L Neighborhood Cocktail Bar for their Frozen Pina Colada or Strawberry Daiquiri. Because it’s just as important to be cold on the inside as on the out. For the full rundown on Denver’s frozen bevvy scene, check out some other recommendations here.
Tube the Platte or Clear Creek
Tubing is a summer standard in Denver, and there is a wealth of options to explore with only a short drive. For those who enjoy the lazy river vibes, look no further than the South Platte River. Grab your tubes and Park one car near Reynold’s Landing before taking the whole crew down to the Blackrock Lake Parking Lot. From there, you can drop your tubes in and take a lazy float back. The mischievous will bring squirt guns, and the brewery fans will pop out at Breckenridge Brewing for a couple of cold ones at the end of the journey. Plan for an hour or so on the river and don’t forget your sunscreen.
For the more adventurous tubers, the rocky waters and quick-moving rapids of Clear Creek in Golden can provide thrills and relaxation. You can get tubes and anything else you might need at Golden Goods Inc. downtown, and then hike up the paved bike path before setting off and holding on. Check visitgolden.com for flow rates to make sure the creek is at a safe level for tubers.
Patios with Misters
Headed up to the Ballpark District, it’s clear the drinking capital of Denver has outfitted itself for summer. With multiple bars sporting patios and misters, you can combat the desert heat with the moisture we all crave. One of our personal favorites is the Tap Fourteen Rooftop Beer Garden. With over 70 beers on tap, skyline views, and—I can’t say this enough—mist, it is a great place to cool off this summer.
Catch a Matinee
There is nothing like a cold, dark theater on a scorching hot day. Luckily, Denver is full of unique places to see a flick. One of the best is the Mayan Theater. Originally opened in 1930, this theater has been a staple of the Baker neighborhood for nearly 100 years (though it did take some time off from 1984 to 1986). The beautiful southwest art deco-inspired theater features new releases alongside foreign films and retrospectives, recently covering the works of directors like David Lynch and Paul Thomas Anderson. Next up? A summer series featuring classics like The Big Lebowski. Locals will tell you that they have the best popcorn in town. Regardless of your preferred genre, the Mayan can act as a cool refuge on a hot day.
Swan Boats at Jazz in the Park
Denver has no lack of music in the summer, but only one spot has music you can hear while riding a swan boat on the lake. Since 1986, City Park Jazz has hosted a local act-only festival running every Sunday for ten weeks through the summer. Acts this year vary from the Rowdy Brass Band and their boisterous horn section to the sultry, sweet tones of Dzirae Gold. You can hear the tunes just fine echoing from the boathouse on your LED lit swan boat for only $12.
More Than Just Waffle Cones
Denver’s ice creameries have gone beyond the days of the simple scoop shop. The fine folks over at Little Man have summer booked with ice-cold events. Catch swing dancing on Saturday nights at their Highlands location and cut a rug between scoops, or take one of their Willy Wonka-style tours of the factory on West Colfax. For those afraid of getting swallowed by the chocolate river, Sweet Action in Uptown boasts a secret walk-in freezer door that leads patrons to a speakeasy-style cocktail bar. No windows, full A/C, and you can bring your ice cream with you.
Mountain Day Trip to Left Hand Reservoir
Nothing beats getting out of town and finding a cool mountain lake when the city heat threatens to drive you insane. And at the risk of angering my fellow Coloradans by revealing a still-slightly-hidden treasure, Left Hand Reservoir is only 90 minutes from downtown. This pristine lake sits at nearly 11,000 feet, so the water is ice cold year-round. It’s rarely crowded, and a great spot to put in a paddle board. The turn off is just before the gates to access Brainard Lake, and 4WD is recommended, but the adventure is well worth it as soon as your feet touch the water.
DAM That’s Cool
With eight stories and 210,000 square feet of air-conditioned, art-filled goodness, the Denver Art Museum is a staple in our city. Grab an ice-cold, housemade lemonade at Levan Deli before wandering over to the museum. Currently showing History is Painted by the Victors, artist Kent Monkman’s first major exhibition in the United States. The exhibit challenges our understanding of European influence on American art through indigenous and environmental themes. This particular exhibit comes with a warning for parents due to its provocative nature. Wander for hours, the entrance costs $25, but the air-conditioning, and tickets for patrons 18 and under, are free.