Where's the best street art in Denver beyond RiNo? Skip the crowded RiNo murals and check out: Santa Fe alley between 11th-12th (real graffiti), South Broadway underpasses (massive pieces, zero crowds), Crush Walls year-round, Colfax Avenue for raw city art, and Baker neighborhood garage doors. First Friday art walks are best for seeing artists actually painting.
Everyone does the RiNo art walk. Takes the same photos at the same murals. Posts the same "Denver is so artsy!" caption.
RiNo IS cool. But Denver has street art everywhere, and some spots are actually better than RiNo.
Here are the places where locals actually go to see new art.
1. The Alley Between 11th and 12th on Santa Fe
Why it's better: Art changes constantly, actually underground
When to go: First Friday art walks or random Sunday afternoon
This isn't Instagram-pretty art. It's real graffiti. Tags, throws, pieces. The stuff that gets buffed and redone.
The alley connects galleries on Santa Fe. During First Fridays, artists are actually painting. You can watch.
No tourists here. Just locals who actually care about street art, not photo ops.
The vibe is completely different from RiNo's curated walls.
2. South Broadway Underpass Art
Why it's better: Huge pieces, walkable stretch, zero crowds
When to go: Morning for good light
The underpasses along South Broadway from 6th to Alameda have massive pieces. We're talking full wall productions.
Nobody goes here except people who live nearby. You can actually look at the art without someone taking a yoga pose photo.
Start at the 6th Avenue underpass. Walk south. Each underpass has different artists, different styles.
The acoustics in the tunnels make everything echo. Weird but cool.
3. The Crush Walls (Not During the Event)
Why it's better: High-quality art without event crowds
When to go: Literally any time except September
Everyone knows about Crush Walls event in September. What they don't know is the art stays up all year.
The walls are scattered around RiNo and beyond. Larimer between 24th-30th. Brighton Boulevard. Random walls in Five Points.
Go in winter. Nobody's there. Same art, no crowds, better photos.
Plus you can actually find parking.
4. Colfax Avenue Between York and Colorado
Why it's better: Mix of sanctioned and unsanctioned art
When to go: Weekend mornings
Colfax gets ignored because it's "sketchy." But the street art is incredible.
Business walls, electrical boxes, random surfaces. It's not organized or pretty. It's real city art.
The old Smiley's Laundromat wall changes monthly. The dispensary walls have professional pieces. Random tags fill the gaps.
This is what Denver street art looked like before it got trendy.
5. Baker Neighborhood Random Walls
Why it's better: Neighborhood art, not tourist art
When to go: Bike around on Sunday
Baker doesn't advertise its art. It's just there. Garage doors, sides of buildings, alley walls.
Start at South Broadway and 3rd. Zigzag through the neighborhood. Every other block has something.
These aren't commissioned pieces for Instagram. They're neighborhood kids practicing. Local artists experimenting. Actual community art.
You need a bike to see it all efficiently. Walking takes forever.
Beyond Murals - Other Art Spots
Meow Wolf's Exterior
Everyone goes inside. The outside has art too. Changes regularly. Free to walk around.
The Art Park at 40th and Blake
Tiny park with rotating sculptures. Never anyone there. Weird pieces that make you think.
Union Station Underground Tunnels
The pedestrian tunnels have rotating exhibitions. Literally underground art. Most people rush through.
When RiNo Is Actually Worth It
I'm not saying skip RiNo. Just be strategic:
Early morning: 7-9am. Empty alleys. Good light.
Weekday afternoon: 2-4pm. Locals on lunch, tourists elsewhere.
First Friday: Embrace chaos. It's fun if you expect crowds.
Winter: Cold keeps crowds away. Art looks good with snow.
The Photo Reality
Those perfect RiNo photos you see? Here's the reality:
- They waited 20 minutes for crowds to clear
- They cropped out the trash cans
- They definitely edited the colors
- They didn't show the construction next door
The other spots I mentioned? No waiting. No crowds. Just art.
How to Actually Find Street Art
Don't use Instagram guides. Everyone uses those.
Walk alleys. Best art is always hidden.
Look for buffed walls. Fresh buff = new art soon.
Talk to gallery workers. They know where artists are painting.
Check electrical boxes. Tiny canvases everywhere.
The Local Move
Here's what Denver locals actually do:
Park in Baker. Grab coffee at Metropolis. Walk to Santa Fe art district. Check the alleys. See what's new.
Then walk up to RiNo via the river path. See the touristy stuff. End at Denver Central Market for food.
You see everything, avoid driving between spots, and actually walk through neighborhoods.
Why This Matters
RiNo turned street art into a tourist attraction. Which is fine.
But Denver's actual street art scene is bigger than one neighborhood. It's in alleys, under bridges, on random walls.
The best pieces aren't on any map. They're not hashtagged. They might be gone tomorrow.
That's what makes them worth finding.
What's your favorite hidden art spot in Denver? Always looking for walls I haven't seen.
Next: Cherry Creek Trail Changed How I See Denver - another local secret worth exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see RiNo street art?
Visit RiNo early morning (7-9am) for empty alleys and good light, weekday afternoons (2-4pm) when tourists are elsewhere, or embrace the First Friday chaos. Winter is great too - cold keeps crowds away and art looks good with snow.
What is First Friday in Denver?
First Friday is a monthly art walk on the first Friday of each month in the Santa Fe and RiNo art districts. Galleries stay open late, artists paint live murals, and the streets fill with people. It's chaotic but fun if you expect crowds.
Where is the Crush Walls art?
Crush Walls murals are scattered around RiNo and beyond - Larimer between 24th-30th, Brighton Boulevard, and random walls in Five Points. The festival happens in September, but the art stays up all year. Visit off-season for no crowds.
Is the Santa Fe Art District better than RiNo?
Santa Fe has more authentic, underground art - real graffiti that changes constantly, not just Instagram-pretty murals. The alley between 11th and 12th has tags, throws, and pieces that get buffed and redone. It's what Denver street art looked like before it got trendy.
What's the best way to find hidden street art?
Walk alleys (best art is always hidden), look for buffed walls (fresh buff = new art soon), talk to gallery workers who know where artists are painting, and check electrical boxes for tiny canvases. Don't rely on Instagram guides - everyone uses those.
Is Colfax Avenue safe for walking?
Colfax between York and Colorado has great street art but gets called "sketchy." Weekend mornings are best - the art on business walls, dispensaries, and random surfaces is incredible. It's not organized or pretty, but it's real city art worth seeing.