Adventure Forest at the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

Adventure Forest at the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is the outdoor play counterpart to one of Denver's best children's museums — and it is every bit as thoughtfully designed as the exhibits inside.

Located on the museum's campus in the Jefferson Park neighborhood near the South Platte River, Adventure Forest is a nature-inspired outdoor play space featuring log climbs, rope bridges, tree-house-style structures, and natural materials that give children an opportunity to engage with climbing, balance, and imaginative outdoor play in a way that feels genuinely different from a standard playground.

For parents visiting the Children's Museum, Adventure Forest means you have compelling outdoor play available for the moments when kids need to run after a stretch of indoor exhibits. The two areas complement each other naturally — the indoor museum handles rainy or very cold days, Adventure Forest shines on pleasant Colorado mornings.

Admission to Adventure Forest is included with your Children's Museum of Denver ticket. Museum memberships — which are excellent value for Denver families who visit multiple times a year — cover the outdoor play area as well. At around $16 per person with children under 1 free, a family of four can expect to pay roughly $55-65 for admission.

The Jefferson Park location is great for combining with other nearby activities: the South Platte River trail is steps away for a post-museum walk, and the LoHi neighborhood has family-friendly restaurants and coffee shops nearby for a post-visit meal.