The John Denver Sanctuary
The John Denver Sanctuary
4.5
About
The John Denver Sanctuary is an open space and park which is open to the public for FREE from dawn to dusk. There is no fencing around the area and no tickets are required for entry to the Sanctuary and surrounding trails.
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  • Michael M
    New York City, New York189 contributions
    Lovely to walk through
    Our flight was delayed due to snow so I spent some time walking through the sanctuary and was so happy that I did. One of the rare free things to do in a very expensive city and it did not disappoint. Very peaceful and beautiful views were everywhere - especially with the fresh snowfall.
    Visited November 2022
    Written January 3, 2023
  • Lorna G
    3 contributions
    What a great space
    This is amazing. What a tribute to John Denver. I have been a fan since he started, even with the Chad Mitchell Trio. If I lived in Aspen I would come here everyday, with a book or my stitching to just relax and reflect. Aspen was really packed when we were there. Had a difficult time finding a parking place. But as busy as it was, the sanctuary was quiet and peaceful. I think John ( I feel as if I knew him) would be very honored by what Aspen has done to honor him, and his dedication to our earth. His song “Singing Skies” came to mind as we walked through the song garden and the sanctuary. This is a gem. I have to say though, the people we encountered, except a few bikers and a young man with his pup, were rude, and I felt as if they looked down their noses at us. We didn’t try to shop or dine there since it was so busy. What we saw of the of the community was very nice, clean, well kept.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 2, 2023
  • Terri L
    Yorkshire, United Kingdom471 contributions
    A lovely tribute, restful place
    A nice tribute to this famous man, great find in the back part of the town. Excellent location on the Roaring Fork River. Children (and adults) can paddle/splash, cool off in the river contributory.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 16, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Margaret J
Gilbert, AZ31 contributions
Oct 2020
If you are in the Aspen area, this place is definitely a must see! Even if I was not a huge John Denver fan ( I am!!!), I would still recommend this place as a must see! Trees, water, sky, peace, beauty, and JD`s songs all around you, this is a perfect place to picnic, stroll, meditate, nap, contemplate, write songs, sketch, read, cry, heal, and find peace...even if it`s just while you are here. this is not only a tribute to a man who has been the voice of the wilderness for so long, it is also a marvel in reclaiming waste water and bio-filtering it for reuse, truly amazing. JD would definitely approve!!!
Written October 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sojo83
Overland Park, KS60 contributions
Aug 2020
This little Aspen oasis is worth the trouble to find. (Maybe it was our GPS, or the map we were using, but finding and parking took a while.) Anway, it is a beautiful and touching tribute to the singer who was clearly touched by the natural world.
Written August 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Destination826490
South Carolina17 contributions
Jun 2021
We had planned our trip to be able to see the John Denver Memorial and it was awesome. I have been a fan of John Denver since I first heard him sing Country Roads many years ago. I am so glad my girlfriend mentioned going on a trip to Colorado together to see this sanctuary. It certainly did not disappoint and I believe that John would love how this has blossomed into this lovely place. I certainly recommend going there and best of all it's free!
Written July 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dixiepeach
Kansas City, MO8,367 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
The garden area of the sanctuary is beautiful! From the babbling of the stream running by to the beautiful flowers, this a a very peaceful place to walk, share a picnic or read a book. There are very large rocks with the lyrics of many of John’s song inscribed on them as well as other notable quotes of nature and life from other famous people. There is a small theater there but it was not open while we visited. Best of all, it’s free entry into the garden! There is a parking garage directly across the street from the Sanctuary. The garden area has uneven cobblestones and would not be easily navigated by strollers, wheelchairs or by persons with certain mobility issues.
Written August 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,751 contributions
Sep 2022
John Denver, one of the best-selling and most popular recording artists and among the most beloved entertainers of his era, loved to sing about his joy of nature and was known for his love of Colorado. In 1974, he was named poet laureate of the state. In 2007, his anthem Rocky Mountain High was adopted as the state song of Colorado. He lived in Aspen from 1972 until his death in 1997. The following year, the John Denver Sanctuary was opened in the heart of the city. Located at 470 Rio Grande Place, next to Rio Grande Park, near the Roaring Fork River, it is a 4.5-acre landscaped retreat featuring lush grass, perennial flowers and engraved rocks honoring John Denver. The city converted a small ditch into an environmental masterpiece, sculpted thousands of cubic yards of earth, found and placed hundreds of boulders, planted groves of native trees, shrubs and wild flowers and created wetlands, streams and waterfalls. It is an ideal spot for family picnics and for meditation, a favorite go-destination for locals and tourists alike. Visitors can learn about the history of the Sanctuary by walking through the Song Garden, which features many of John Denver's lyrics engraved into huge boulders placed in a perfect circle to represent the circle of life as a score of music. At the circle's center, a single Colorado Blue Spruce was planted which symbolizes the spirit of John Denver. It is an idyllic location and visitors won't wonder for long where rocky Mountain High originated.
Written September 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sally G
redondo beach, ca341 contributions
Jul 2021
Quiet and peaceful. A wonderful tribute to one of my favorite singers. An easy and meandering along a lovely stream. Seeing John's words carved into stone was so inspiring. It is a part of a public park so it is free.
Written July 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephanie M
Freeport, FL230 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
This park/sanctuary is a lovely tribute to one of America’s great singer songwriters. We visited in late October and it was still very nice to see the stones with the words of John’s songs etched into them. It’s very tranquil there and being beside the river adds to the charm. Well worth a visit if you’re in Aspen.
Written October 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sue M
Anaheim, CA32 contributions
Aug 2022
Stopped to visit since it was my bucket list item, loved John Denver. A portion of the Sanctuary was undergoing renovation at the time of our visit. I think best time to go is early to mid-morning hours to enjoy the peace and quiet. Lots of dog-walkers around, some pets unleashed. Sanctuary is located within Rio Grande Park.
Written September 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kim36237
Lake Zurich, IL156 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Escape from the shopping and restaurant area and make the short walk to enjoy this beautiful and peaceful park area. Stroll the rock paths and sit and listen to the water flowing throughout the gardens. The rocks with John Denver song lyrics is interestingly displayed.
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

m2b
4 contributions
Oct 2022
So peaceful and well laid out. Perfect place to relax, read, or just chill listening to the wind rustling thru the golden Aspen leaves. Great place for a picnic. BTW, The Grateful Deli (on Main) has really good sandwiches for a reasonable price.
Written October 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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