Colorado's Captivating Rocky Mountain Gem Is A Musical Sanctuary With Winding Streams, Wetlands, And A Garden

Most singers and songwriters leave a discography of their work as a testament to their musical talent and spirit. Some even find a home in some Colorado alpine playground with luxe charm and year-round fun, after a life far away on the road and hanging by a song, eventually becoming synonymous with that place. Few are blessed to have an actual spot that merges both. John Denver, the folk singer-songwriter who embodied gratitude, hope, and appreciation for nature, has such a sanctuary — the John Denver Sanctuary – in Aspen, his adopted home for the last 26 years of his life. It's a mountain gem with winding streams, wetlands, and a garden that matches the natural majesty he often sang about in his songs.

At the 4.5-acre sanctuary's heart lies a Colorado blue spruce, standing in place of Denver. It provides an alternative to the bustle of Aspen, letting visitors retreat to a place of contemplative silence. Throughout, it has vivid reminders of the musician's environmentalist streak, his love for the outdoors inspiring songs like "Rocky Mountain High." The sanctuary is a place to leave yesterday behind and be born again, the same way Denver was reborn in the Rockies.

For those already in Aspen, this oasis is hard to miss, resting in the center of the city just a four-minute walk from Main Street toward Rio Grande Park. Travelers should merge a visit to the sanctuary with a bigger trip to Aspen. The closest major transit hub, Denver International Airport, is over 180 miles away, so try to finagle a flight to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport instead. The John Denver Sanctuary is a 16-minute bus ride away.

John Denver's specter is never far away in his sanctuary. In fact, it's everywhere, with his lyrics engraved into boulders forming a circle in the Song Garden. Those large stones, drawn from the Roaring Fork River, create a sanctum allowing visitors to rest among Denver's words — a place where, as Denver sang, "sunshine on your shoulders makes you happy" and "sunshine on the water looks so lovely." The sanctuary also houses a substantial collection of perennial flowers. The overall experience fills up the senses like a night in the forest, as Denver might say.

The John Denver Sanctuary hides an innovative bit of environmental conservation as well. Originally a ditch with an underground pipe, a Herculean 15-year effort saw boulders placed and native greenery planted to create a dynamic Eden. Its winding streams and wetlands combine to create a filtration system as well. Stormwater passes through each, ridding itself of impurities as it heads to the Roaring Fork River.

The sanctuary's flowers bloom in May and June, making it the most captivating time to visit. You'd, of course, miss the absolute best skiing in the U.S. But maybe that's not so bad. Coming in late spring will make the visit much cheaper, as accommodations during this time of year cost about half as much as ski season's $500-plus per night, when Aspen becomes the priciest vacation destination in the U.S. Regardless of when you're in Aspen, be sure to stop by Denver's sanctuary, walk in quiet solitude, or have your earbuds play his greatest hits as you stroll among the forest and the streams, seeking grace in every step you take.