Explore Red Rocks When Visiting Sedona, AZ

The Sedona area is well known for its breathtaking beauty and rugged terrain; however, if you wish to enhance your vacation a bit more, a trip across the Colorado border may be in order. Here, you will find the Red Rocks Park, which has become widely recognized for its large red sandstone formations. In fact, Red Rocks has become one of the most notable and popular parks across the country.

Red Rocks Park is located in Morrison, Colorado and is nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The formations in the park stand in mute testimony to the majesty of nature. While at first glance it might appear as though the open-air amphitheatre was man-made this is not entirely the case. The 'walls' are completely geologically formed and there is no other sight like it anywhere else in the world. The amphitheatre design is comprised of two 300 hundred foot monoliths which provide perfect acoustics for any performance. The monoliths are known as Ship Rock and Creation Rock.

Originally known as the Garden of Angels, the area that surrounds Red Rocks has been quite popular with musical performers for more than one hundred years. The panoramic view as well as the acoustic perfection of the area creates a scene that is nothing short of breathtaking. Beyond the sheer wonder of the geological formations; however, visitors will discover there is much to be learned and discovered in regards to animal and plant life over the last 250 million years as well.

The expansive sandstone ledges that form the monoliths were gradually raised from the ocean floor to form what are now the walls of the amphitheatre. A veritable record book of history is contained inside those walls including nearby dinosaur track and fossil fragments from a variety of animals. Whether you are an armchair biologist or you simply enjoy learning more about history, Red Rocks is the perfect place to explore, learn and appreciate fine music.

Both the size and the degree of slope of the monoliths are amazing. As both monoliths are taller than Niagara Falls, they have served as a subject of interest for quite some time and were even listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World at one time.

The idea of constructing an open air amphitheatre inside the monoliths was first conceived of by John Brisben Walker in the early 1900s. A temporary platform was erected and a number of concerts were held between 1906 and 1910. The area was purchased by the City of Denver in 1927 and the WPA as well as the CCC began work on constructing a permanent stage while maintaining the natural beauty of the area at the same time. The Amphitheatre officially opened in 1941 and has remained open ever since to enthusiastic applause.

Today, guests can enjoy a wide variety of performances held in the Amphitheatre as some of the best performers in the country routinely travel to the stage to perform.