In good weather? No problem, but with half a day you better be watching weather because those foothills will get snow even in light storms and climbing up is SLICK in snow. Plus sundown is currently just before 5PM.

drove a rental car to the top of Mt. Evans. I could be wrong about this but it may be the highest road in the US. Ran into a herd of wild mountain goats on the trip back down. It is a scary ride.

This was 15 years ago so.

My wife and I went up to the top of Mt Evans this past August and it is, as you say, a scary ride whether going up or back down. The road was in terrible condition and demands prudent, slow driving even for SUVs. Bringing one of those small oxygen canisters that are sold throughout Colorado isn't a bad idea. It was an amazing view from the summit but we won't be going back, once was enough.

small museum but with only a half day and dead
Winter I would do something else.

followed by the art museum and/or tour the mint. No car needed.

Black American West Museum

https://www.bawmhc.org/

Love Books?, the Tattered Cover Bookstore is or at least was amazing. Haven't been there in years and years. Not sure if they are at the same location.

Also the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

https://www.dmns.org/

go south towards Colorado Springs you can visit the Garden of the Gods and if you want to head up towards Morrison to see some ghost towns
Mount Vernon, CO Ghost Town – in Morrison,

or you can go to Golden Colorado, thirty minutes outside Denver

and if you are interested in a fine dining establishment , which I have not been to in years this one in my opinion is / was remarkable....in

Sedalia, CO called Gabriel's
5450 Manhart Ave, Sedalia, CO 80135, CO 80135

https://www.gabrielsdenver.com/

And if you want to see where the "The Shining" was filmed in the Hotel its called the "Stanley Steamer" in Estes Park, where Elk like to roam through the streets...seriously.......and you just might see some Mountain Goats along the ridges of the road going to Estes Park....

but be advised about the weather.....everything comes off the front range and if you get a chance look up at the sky....the blue in the sky in my opinion is just something else..... yes I like the west.....

Enjoy and have fun

To check out some ghost towns. And I LOVE The Shining. I wish I could have made the travel arrangements myself... I would have built in a couple extra days. But I will make the most of the time I have!

It is a bummer that my time is so limited and it'll be February. But I will try to get out and about after my training days, even if I can't get too far out of the city.

Hope the weather's good while you're here.