On Friday, September 11, 2026, participants will gather at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, for the annual 9/11 Stair Climb, an event that combines remembrance, community and physical challenge.
The event is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at Red Rocks, according to the official Red Rocks calendar and Denver Arts & Venues.
A Different Way to Remember September 11
The Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb is not designed as a traditional race. Organizers describe it as an opportunity to remember the people and events of September 11, 2001 while completing a demanding stair climb at one of Colorado’s most recognizable outdoor venues.
Participants can set their own pace. Some firefighters take part carrying their full gear, while others climb alongside family members or walk at a slower pace. The organizers say the focus remains on remembrance rather than competition.
That approach gives the event a distinctive character. Instead of gathering in a conventional indoor memorial setting, participants use the steps and natural surroundings of Red Rocks as the backdrop for a day of reflection.
Red Rocks Provides a Unique Setting
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is best known for its concerts, but the venue regularly hosts fitness and community events alongside its entertainment schedule.
The 9/11 Stair Climb stands out because it transforms the famous amphitheater into a place of remembrance during the morning before another major event takes place later that evening. Red Rocks lists Brandi Carlile with Stephen Wilson Jr. for September 11 at 7:30 p.m.
The contrast makes September 11 an unusually busy day at the Morrison venue, with the morning dedicated to remembrance and the evening reserved for live music.
Participants Climb at Their Own Pace
Organizers emphasize that the stair climb is not timed. Participants are encouraged to choose their own pace and personal goal rather than treating the event as a competition.
The event can include firefighters, families and members of the public. Some participants may run the stairs, while others walk and take time to reflect along the route.
For firefighters, the climb can also carry an additional meaning because many first responders who died on September 11 were firefighters who climbed the stairs of the World Trade Center towers while responding to the attacks.
Remembrance Remains at the Center
Although the event involves a significant physical challenge, organizers say its central purpose is remembering September 11.
The official Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb describes Red Rocks as a fitting location for reflection and encourages participants to pause during the climb, take in the surroundings and consider the sacrifices connected to September 11.
The event also has a community and charity component, with the organizers highlighting community participation and charitable support as part of the program.
What to Know About the 2026 Event
The 2026 9/11 Stair Climb is scheduled for:
- Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
- Time: 8 a.m.
- Location: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado
- Purpose: September 11 remembrance, community participation and physical challenge
- Format: Self-paced stair climb rather than a timed race
Denver Arts & Venues lists the event at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with an 8 a.m. start time, while the official Red Rocks calendar confirms it as part of the venue’s September 11 schedule.
A Meaningful Morning at a Colorado Landmark
The 9/11 Stair Climb offers a different kind of event at Red Rocks. While the venue is internationally associated with concerts, its dramatic steps and outdoor setting will instead serve as the backdrop for a morning focused on remembrance.
For participants, each step provides an opportunity to reflect on September 11 and the sacrifices made by first responders and others affected by the attacks.
As Red Rocks prepares for another packed September schedule, the stair climb gives the venue a distinctly solemn role on September 11, bringing people together through a shared act of remembrance and community.