After years of waiting, Denverites will finally be able to take public transit to Red Rocks starting this weekend — but only during limited hours (more on that below).
The new multi-agency transit initiative known as Westracks will bring shuttle service to the iconic Morrison concert venue from several stops in Jefferson County.
For Denverites, the best way to hop on the new Red Rocks shuttle would be to take RTD’s W Line to the Jefferson County Government Center. From there, the shuttle will stop at an additional five locations:
- Matthew/Winters Park Trailhead
- Martin G. Lockley Center at Dinosaur Ridge
- Red Rocks Trading Post
- Downtown Morrison
- Morrison Natural History Museum
Shuttle tickets are free. (RTD tickets are not.)
But, there’s a catch.
The bus will run on weekends only between Memorial Day and Labor Day, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
That means you’ll be able to get to concerts, albeit a few hours early. No worries, though, since that leaves enough time for a nice mini-hike or a tailgate.
Getting home will be a whole other issue. Transit riders to concerts will be left stranded, either having to take a rideshare or find a willing stranger to drive you home.
And because it only runs on weekends, a majority of concerts and events at Red Rocks will be inaccessible to the new service. That means upcoming shows like a Monday night Kesha concert or a Tuesday night serenade by Weird Al Yankovic will continue to be closed off to people who rely on public transit.
Last year, Jefferson County officials told Denverite they view the shuttle as a way to get into nature without driving, not necessarily a way to get to concerts.
The shuttle will run as part of a two-year pilot program.
