Phone:
303-561-4450

Hours:
May - Sept
9am – 6pm
Sept - May
10am – 6pm 

Admission:
Adult: $15
Child: $7
Senor: $13

Website:
www.oceanjourney.org

With the nearest ocean a distant 1000 miles away, your exposure to water in Denver is relegated to lakes, rivers, taps and melting snow. Maybe that’s what prompted the 1999 opening of one of the premier aquariums in the country – Colorado’s Ocean Journey, located on the west end of downtown.

Colorado’s Ocean Journey is perfect for people who want to take a glimpse into several unique environments that have one thing in common – mucho agua. Visitors can follow the paths of two distinctly different rivers from their meager mountain top beginnings down to their ocean deltas. During your journey, you’ll view plant and animal life that thrive in the water or along the riverbanks and coasts. More than a dozen natural habitats have been constructed, giving visitors an opportunity to observe the animals in their natural setting. 

With its exotic sights and sounds, the Indonesian River Journey is an enchanting simulation of distant lands. You can sail down the Kampar River on the island of Sumatra, from the Barisan Mountains to the South China Sea. The river meanders through caves, lush rain forests and roaring waterfalls. Along the way, you’ll see some of the most exotic fish in the world and a pair of endangered Sumatran tigers. The best time to view the tigers is around 3pm, when the tigers are lured into the water by strategically placed items.

Your journey’s end is a 320,000-gallon recreation of the Pacific Ocean, complete with an abundance of animal life. At this point, you can’t help but hear the eerie theme music to “Jaws” ringing in your ears. This tank contains a number of formidable looking sharks that seem to slip through the water with ominous grace. 

The Colorado River Journey re-creates the 1500-mile excursion from the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the Sea of Cortez. From the heights of the Continental Divide, you will descend through lush flatlands and steep canyons until finally reaching the magnificent coast of Mexico. After hearing the crashing waves, feeling the surf pounding around you, and marveling at the nearly 6000 tropical fish, you definitely won’t feel land locked anymore. 

With everyone else in the world getting to the park early to avoid the crowds, the best time to visit is between 3pm and 4pm. The main parking lot is across the street and charges $5.