Denver and the Rockies: Alpenglow in Both Directions

Denver sits at 1,609 meters on the edge of the Great Plains, with the Rocky Mountains forming an abrupt wall to the west. Sunrise turns that wall amber and pink before it reaches the city; the phenomenon is visible in the lake reflections at City Park and Washington Park. Sunset backlights the entire Denver skyline from the west, and the Rockies behind catch alpenglow 20 to 30 minutes after the city goes dark. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 16 kilometers west at 1,970 meters elevation, offers the reverse angle: standing within the red sandstone formations with Denver's plains glowing 350 meters below. Mount Evans (4,348 m) is visible on the clearest days. At 39.7°N, golden hour lasts about 38 minutes. Late September through November offers the most frequent clear western skies after summer monsoon patterns clear.