Let me just say: moving to a new city sober is weird. Very weird.

When I left the East Coast and decided to set up life in Denver, I imagined hikes, new friends, endless sunshine. But what no one tells you is that Denver, for all its “outdoorsy” charm, can be hard to break into, especially when you’re not hitting the breweries. I found myself scrolling through “sober events in Denver” like a lost soul looking for a crew—one that wasn’t meeting up for pints or posting #SundayFunday beer flights. Spoiler alert: it’s slim pickings… very slim.

I’d been in Denver a few weeks when I stumbled across something called Sober Outdoors. They were hosting a ropes course event, and even though the price made me hesitate (let’s just say it WASN’T cheap), I thought, “Why not?” I mean, I could keep refreshing my social feeds, feeling like I was missing out, or I could get out there and actually live a little.

From Sipping LaCroix to Sky Trek Ropes: What am I doing?

So I show up at the ropes course early Saturday, trying to play it cool. Is that possible? There were about eleven of us, all looking a little like freshmen on the first day of school. We were strangers, but within minutes, the nervous energy shifted into laughter and little side conversations about where we’re from, what brought us here, and yeah, why we’re sober. It was this eclectic mix—artists, an ex-finance guy, a teacher, and then there was Nick P., the guy who started Sober Outdoors along with one of his volunteers, Hannah. She is a no-bs rafter chick who’s been sober a very long time.

Nick had this easygoing, mountain-y, Denver-y guy vibe that instantly made you feel at home. He is hilarious and fair warning, is a bit sarcastic to say the least. Of course he was a Colorado native. Of course! But let me tell you: when he got on that ropes course, the guy let out a shriek that you could probably hear in New York! We’re talking high-pitched, very girly, full-on scream. You’d think he’d just encountered a grizzly. We all lost it! Hanging there, gripping my rope and laughing so hard my stomach hurt, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time—a mix of genuine joy and a sense of ease. I finally felt like I’d found people who got it.

Why Sober Events in Denver Feel Different (And So Necessary)

Look, I love my AA family—they’ve been a huge part of my journey, and I wouldn’t trade those meetings and that group for anything. But this ropes course with Sober Outdoors felt like a whole new chapter (maybe it’s because I’m embracing Colorado - I don’t know). In AA, we’re usually in a circle, talking about the past, sharing stories, and processing life. But here, with Sober Outdoors, it wasn’t about staying safe in our comfort zones. It was about getting out, pushing ourselves, and doing something totally different—while sober.

Denver is a friendly place, but making real connections can be tricky, especially when you’re living a sober life. There’s this expectation to be a part of the brewery scene, which is huge in Colorado, and sometimes it feels like sobriety is a little foreign here. But at Sober Outdoors, there was no pressure to be anyone but ourselves. We were all there for the same reason: to live our lives to the fullest and to find a community that didn’t revolve around a bar.

Facing the Ropes and Remembering How Far I’ve Come. #Cheesy

There was one moment on the ropes that really stuck with me. I was at the start of this sketchy, wobbly bridge, with only a few planks to step on, spaced far enough apart to make you question every decision you’ve made leading up to that point. And for a second, I was frozen. It reminded me of my early days in sobriety—how I’d stand at the edge of something new and feel that same overwhelming fear, thinking, “Can I really do this?”

Back then, sobriety felt like an impossible bridge. But I took it one step at a time, letting go of what I thought I needed to hold onto. And in that moment on the ropes, staring at the long way ahead, I remembered that feeling and took a deep breath. One shaky step, then another. And before I knew it, I was across. It’s funny how something so small—crossing a few planks—can feel like such a massive victory.

I remembered something that day: sometimes, just showing up is enough. Whether it’s sobriety, making new friends, or climbing a ropes course, the hardest part is taking that first step. The rest, well…it’s one step at a time.

Finding My People, One Step at a Time

By the end of the day, I didn’t feel like the new kid in Denver anymore. I felt like I’d found my people. This group was real. No pretending, no forced small talk. Just a bunch of people who know what it’s like to want something different and aren’t afraid to go for it. And as cheesy as it sounds, I walked away from that ropes course feeling like maybe Denver was exactly where I was supposed to be.

So if you’re sober in Denver, if you’re looking for people who get it, try something like Sober Outdoors. Yeah, it wasn’t cheap, but after years of spending money on things that kept me stuck, I figured investing in something that helped me grow was more than worth it. Besides, who knew sobriety could be this fun?

-Jenn Stein