Facility Overview
The Triangle Lot at Red Rocks Park is an open-air surface parking area situated along Ship Rock Road in the scenic foothills near Golden and Morrison, Colorado. Tucked directly adjacent to the Upper South Lot, this unique, wedge-shaped parking area is widely recognized among regular concertgoers and park visitors as one of the most convenient parking footprints in the entire municipal park system. The lot features an open-sky layout with an asphalt and hard-packed surface, offering unobstructed overhead headroom without any low-hanging clearance structures or overhead beams.
Because the lot is open to the sky, standard passenger sedans, pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, and vehicles carrying roof racks, cargo boxes, or bicycle carriers can park comfortably. However, due to its compact dimensions and limited total stall count—accommodating roughly 20 to 25 standard vehicles—large recreational vehicles (RVs), motorhomes, commercial limousines, and chartered party buses are strictly prohibited and redirected to designated oversized vehicle parking areas in the Lower South or Top Circle facilities.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Perched right beneath the dramatic red sandstone monoliths of Red Rocks Mountain Park, the Triangle Lot provides an unmatched launching point for entertainment and outdoor recreation. World-renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre sits mere paces to the north; from this lot, pedestrians can ascend directly toward the venue's South Ramp, reaching lower-to-mid bowl seating (around Rows 20 through 36) within a short 3- to 5-minute walk. This layout bypasses the grueling multi-flight staircases associated with the lower lots.
Beyond live concert events, the lot provides immediate access to premier park attractions and amenities:
- Red Rocks Visitor Center & Heart of the Rock Theatre: Located at the top of the amphitheatre, featuring exhibits on musical and geologic history, interactive displays, and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.
- Ship Rock Grille: A full-service dining venue built seamlessly against natural rock walls, open for lunch, patio refreshments, and pre-show dining.
- Trading Post & Trailhead: Situated just downhill to the south, serving as a historic visitor outpost and the start of the 1.4-mile Trading Post Trail loop.
- Historic Downtown Morrison: Located less than two miles south via CO-74, filled with local pubs, cafes, and taverns such as the Morrison Holiday Bar, The Fort Restaurant, and Red Rocks Grill.
- Historic Golden & Clear Creek: Situated approximately 15 minutes north, offering breweries, dining, and the Colorado School of Mines campus.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Accessing the Triangle Lot is most straightforward when entering Red Rocks Park via Entrance 3 or Entrance 4 off Colorado State Highway 74 (Morrison Road). Drivers wind north along Red Rocks Park Road and proceed up Ship Rock Road toward the Upper South area. Ingress is managed by municipal traffic control and park staff on concert days, who direct vehicles into available stalls on a strictly rolling basis.
One of the greatest competitive advantages of parking at the Triangle Lot is post-event egress. Because traffic exiting Ship Rock Road can peel downward toward Entrance 3 and 4, drivers consistently bypass the gridlock that clogs Entrance 1 and Entrance 2 onto CO-93 and Interstate 70. Regional highway connections are exceptionally close: drivers can connect quickly to US-285 south toward the Denver metro, C-470 eastbound toward the Tech Center, or I-70 westbound toward the Rocky Mountains. For public transit users, the RTD W-Line light rail terminates at the Jefferson County Government Center–Golden Station, roughly 10 miles away, while private event shuttles and rideshares (Uber/Lyft) operate staging out of the Jurassic Lot at Entrance 2.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Direct South Ramp Venue Access: Enjoy a continuous, paved, ramped walkway leading into the amphitheatre concourse without ascending major wooden stair towers.
- Open-Air Headroom: Fully uncovered surface parking accommodating tall SUVs, rooftop cargo carriers, and light recreational gear.
- Complimentary Venue Parking: General parking is included with valid Red Rocks event tickets and is completely free for daytime park explorers.
- Nearby ADA Shuttling: Close proximity to the Upper South ADA facilities, where accessible shuttles and golf-cart escorts assist patrons with limited mobility.
- Active Event-Day Staffing: Coordinated parking marshals and Denver Arts & Venues traffic officers assist with daytime parking and nighttime directional control.
- EV Charging Access Nearby: ChargePoint Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations are located down the hill at the Trading Post Lot as well as the Upper North Lot.
Ideal For
- Concertgoers Seeking a Fast Exit: Ideal for music fans wanting to pack up and clear out promptly following the encore via Highway 74.
- Patrons Preferring Ramped Incline over Stairs: Perfect for attendees who prefer walking the South Ramp rather than climbing the hundreds of stairs rising from Lower North or Lower South.
- Daytime Hikers & Runners: An outstanding staging spot for morning stadium workouts, steps conditioning, and treks along the Geologic Overlook or Trading Post Trails.
- Ship Rock Grille & Visitor Center Guests: Convenient daytime parking for tourists visiting the Hall of Fame, gift shop, and scenic overlooks before afternoon venue lockouts.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Because the Triangle Lot contains only around 25 spaces, competition for spots is intense. On show days, parking lots officially welcome concertgoers roughly two hours prior to venue door times, though daytime park visitors frequently arrive early. To secure a stall here, arrive at least 2.5 to 3 hours before doors or take advantage of a midday park visit. Keep in mind that event traffic control personnel direct vehicles into whichever lot has capacity; once the Triangle Lot reaches capacity, traffic will be directed down to Lower South or the Trading Post.
Tailgating is permitted behind vehicles provided paths of travel remain unobstructed, but open fires and glass containers are strictly prohibited across all park grounds. Red Rocks sits at an elevation of 6,450 feet; bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and layers for rapid mountain temperature shifts. If you end up taking a rideshare home, Red Rocks allows parked vehicles to stay overnight, but your vehicle must be retrieved by 10:00 AM the following morning to prevent ticketing and towing.