Waterparks in Colorado
When the sun’s beating down on your back, there’s only one place to go — a waterpark!
While Colorado may be known for its stunning natural landscapes, with various mountains, forests, rivers, hot springs, mesas, and dunes dotting the state, it doesn’t hurt to add a bit of man-made fun to your itinerary once in a while. Waterparks are a great site for entertainment and excitement — it’s hard to be sad or grumpy when you’re splashing around in pools or sliding down colorful plastic slides.
Colorado has many great options for waterparks and we’re proud to feature the best waterparks in Colorado that you can visit with your loved ones. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of their attractions and their locations, as well as tips on how to make the most out of your trip to a waterpark. You’ll find everything you need to know about enjoying the waterparks in Colorado with this handy guide.
Map of Waterparks in Colorado
Best Waterparks in Colorado
These are the waterparks in Colorado that you should include in your must-visit list for a fun-filled vacation:
Adventure Island
Adventure Island is an indoor waterpark within Greeley Recreation’s Family Funplex facility. It’s owned and maintained by the city government, so ticket prices are affordable. The waterpark features a warm water pool with a lazy river and various play structures and waterslides. Take note that the minimum height requirement for the slides and the lazy river is 48 inches.
There’s also a 25-meter lap pool and a water basketball hoop that’s perfect for getting exercise in while the kids play around. As the entire waterpark is indoors, you can schedule a visit no matter the weather. The facility is open from Monday to Sunday, with varying opening hours: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday to Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends.
When you’ve gotten tired of swimming around, the Family Funplex also has a myriad of other activity options, such as a weight room, a fieldhouse, a walking track, a miniature golf course, a ballpark, and more.
Address: 1501 65th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 | Phone: 970-350-9401 | Email: funplex@greeleygov.com | Website: greeleyrec.com/family-funplex/
Bay Aquatic Park
If you’re in Broomfield on a sunny day, a visit to Bay Aquatic Park is the best way to spend it. This outdoor waterpark is designed for families and children aged 13 years old and under, so you don’t have to worry about the safety of any kids in your group.
The Bay Aquatic Park features an inner tube slide, two body slides, an interactive play structure, and a leisure pool complete with zero-depth entry and racing slides. The height requirement for the slides is 48 inches. Kids that don’t meet the requirement can still ride as long as they pass a basic swim test. For children aged 6 years old and under, there’s a spacious tot pool with kid-friendly slides and a fun sprayground. Life jackets are also available for free, upon request.
Other amenities you’ll find at the park are family dressing rooms, restrooms, concessions stands, and a large grassy picnic area where you can set up a blanket and relax under the shade. This year, the park will open for the summer on May 28, 2022, and operate from Monday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Be sure to check the website for any closure announcements on days with inclement weather.
Address: 250 Spader Way, Broomfield, CO 80020 | Phone: 303-464-5520 | Website: broomfield.org/The-Bay-Aquatic-Park
Brighton Oasis Family Aquatic Park
While the Brighton Oasis Family Aquatic Park may be on the smaller side, large crowds are still eager to get in during the summer. This outdoor waterpark is a nice place to visit in Colorado Springs, featuring a lazy river with a wave generator and zero-depth entry, two exciting slides, and a climbing wall in the dive well for adults. As usual, the height requirement for slides is 48 inches.
For kids, there’s a separate tot pool with interactive play features, a water basketball area, and zero-depth entry. Beach chairs, umbrellas, and tents are scattered throughout the park to serve as rest areas, and there’s also a snack bar in case you don’t want to bring your food. This year, the park’s summer schedule begins on June 1, 2022, until at least August 7, 2022. It’ll be open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., as long as the forecasted high for the day is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re worried about weather-related closures, be sure to call in advance.
Address: 500 S 4th Avenue, Brighton, CO 80601 | Phone: 303-655-2000 | Website: brightonco.gov/Brighton-Oasis-Home-Page
Island Kingdom
Located in Colorado’s capital city, Denver, the Island Kingdom at Elitch’s Gardens has long been the site of many treasured summer memories. This exciting outdoor attraction features eight kinds of thrill slides (including enclosed aqua tube slides, continuous river-run tube slides, a tube corkscrew speed slide, a 65-foot and 62-foot tall high-speed free-fall slide, a high-energy tubing bowl ride, an enclosed water funnel slide, and a six-story tall hybrid slide) and a great selection of family attractions (including a wave pool, an action river, a 75-foot tall family raft slide, and a kid-friendly area with mini slides, sprayers, and a big tipping bucket).
A visit to the Island Kingdom is sure to be an action-packed day, as Elitch’s Gardens is also home to a theme park filled with rollercoasters, family rides, kid rides, and water rides. If you’re planning to go, be sure to check the park schedule on the website for operating hours.
Address: 2000 Elitch Circle, Denver, CO 80204 | Phone: 303-595-4386 | Email: info@elitchgardens.com | Website: elitchgardens.com/water-park/
Great Wolf Lodge
Longing for the excitement of a waterpark even when rain is pouring down or snow is starting to pile up on the ground? The Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs is an indoor waterpark equipped with various attractions that are sure to delight no matter the season. At the park, you’ll find an interactive four-story water fort treehouse, a wave pool with zero-depth entry, a four-story tall tandem tube slide, a kiddie playground, and swimming pool, a six-story tall hybrid slide, a toboggan-style slide, a water basketball area, and a floating obstacle course.
The Great Wolf Lodge also offers several on-land attractions, such as interactive adventures, a climbing wall, bowling alleys, a ropes course, mini-golf courses, an arcade, and more. For maximum convenience, you can even book a room for an overnight stay.
Address: 9494 Federal Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921, USA | Phone: 844-553-9653 | Website: greatwolf.com/indoor-water-park
Pirates Cove
If you’re looking for an outdoor summer destination in the city of Englewood, the cheerful, pirate-themed Pirates Cove welcomes you for a fun day on the water. It features a zero-depth entry leisure pool nicknamed the “Lagoon,” where little kids can run around and climb the large play structure with a dump bucket, a lazy river where you can bob along in a tube, a 25-meter, six-lane pool, and a 35-foot tall slide tower that leads to three slides of varying speed and length. For food options, there are several concession stands inside, as guests are prohibited from bringing in outside food.
The park is typically open from May to September, although this year it opens on June 4, 2022, due to a staffing shortage.
Address: 1225 W Belleview Ave, Englewood, CO 80120 | Phone: 303-762-COVE | Email: pirates@englewoodco.gov | Website: englewoodco.gov/pirates-cove
The Great Outdoors
The Great Outdoors Waterpark, located in Lafayette, is a great place to spend a summer day. The outdoor facility features attractions like a lazy river, a mini slide for kids, a vortex pool, a spacious lap pool, a set of 21-foot tall double flume slides, a diving board, a monkey bar, and cargo net hybrid, and a zero-depth entry pool with a play structure and a dump bucket.
Other amenities available to make your visit more hassle-free are family restrooms, lockers, bike racks, ADA pool entry lifts, a snack bar, rentable canopies, umbrellas, lounge chairs, and picnic tables. This year, it opens its doors for the summer on June 4, 2022, and will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Address: 500 E. South Boulder Road, Lafayette, CO | Phone: 303-665-0469 | Website: lafayetteco.gov/Great-Outdoors-Waterpark
Water World
Did you know that America’s largest waterpark is in Colorado? If you want to end your trip with a bang (and a splash), head on over to Water World in Federal Heights. This massive facility spans over 70 acres, with nearly 50 different attractions for guests of all ages. Wave pools, high-speed slides, tube and raft slides, lazy rivers, toboggan slides, play structures, gondolas, cabanas, bungalows — you’ll find everything you’ve ever dreamed of finding at a waterpark in Water World. Some of the attractions are also themed, bringing you face-to-face with Egyptian temples, dinosaurs, and even glaciers. Several restaurants and concession stands are available within, but you’re free to bring in your food.
This year, Water World begins operations on May 28, 2022. Just be prepared to brave the crowds looking for their fun in the sun.
Address: 8801 N. Pecos St., Federal Heights, CO 80260 | Phone: 303-427-7873 | Website: waterworldcolorado.com
Tips To Maximize Your Visits to Waterparks in Colorado
If you want to make the most of your trip, preparation is the key. Here are a few tips to help you maximize your enjoyment at the various waterparks in Colorado:
- Plan out your day. It’s good to know what time the waterpark opens and closes, as well as whether or not it’ll even be open on the day you want to go. Keep in mind that it’ll likely be crowded on holidays and weekends. Take note of any special attractions you want to visit so you don’t run out of time wandering around the park. It’s also good to check height restrictions for the rides you
- Check the weather forecast. As refreshing as it is to splash around when the sun is at its strongest, days with cloudier forecasts can give you more protection and make the trip more relaxing. If a thunderstorm is on the horizon, however, it may be better to postpone the trip.
- Buy your tickets in advance. By buying your tickets before the visit, you can skip the lines of people buying them on the day of. As a bonus, you might also be able to find discounts or packages online.
- Arrive early. If you get there right when the park opens, you’ll have more time to see the sights and go on the rides. More people will trickle in as the day progresses, so arriving a few hours before crowds peak can help you better appreciate the attractions.
- Wear sunscreen. Spending a day at a waterpark can be great fun today but a painful sunburn tomorrow. Make sure that you bring a strong sunscreen and reapply it regularly.
- Make meet-up plans. If you’re going to a particularly big water park, you should be prepared for the possibility that someone from your party is going to get lost. Designate a specific area as an emergency meet-up spot and make sure everyone knows where it is.
- Pack your bags. Remember to bring the essentials: bathing suits, sunscreen, flip flops, towels, and a complete change of clothes and underwear. Other items that you might also bring are goggles, swimming caps, lip balm, a padlock for a locker, and snacks/meals (if the waterpark allows outside food).
Start Planning Your Trips to the Best Waterparks in Colorado
If you have an empty spot in your Colorado trip itinerary, a day at a waterpark is the perfect way to fill it in. Spending time at a waterpark is enjoyable no matter what your age — you can relax by bobbing along a lazy river, seek thrills by zipping down breathtakingly tall water slides, indulge your inner child by climbing around interactive play structures, or even take a step back from the water and visit the on-land attractions in some parks. Whether you’re traveling with friends, family, or even just yourself, you’ll have the time of your life at the best waterparks in Colorado. Bring your sunscreen and a smile and get ready to make lasting memories.
Have too much fun and don’t want to end your trip yet? Check out our website now for other interesting places to visit in Colorado and other regions in the U.S.
Be sure to also check out our list of the best indoor water parks where you can enjoy amazing water slides and pools year round!
Looking to explore Colorado? Here are some other great things to do in the state:
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