Denverites love to “go for the gold” in the fall, setting out on day trips as the aspens put on their annual color show. But the gold rush from Denver can mean bumper-to-bumper traffic. A better idea? Golden, Colorado. Avoid crowded highways and chart a gorgeous drive – or hike – through splendid fall colors around Golden. You’ll miss the crowds, save time, and can even enjoy leisurely post-fall foliage fun at Golden’s acclaimed restaurants, beer gardens, and outdoor patios.
Here are a few scenic driving trips and hikes to get your fall colors fix from Golden.
The Lariat Loop Trail.
In the 1920s, long before I-70 was ever dreamed of, Denver created their own Mountain Park system to preserve the Front Range for future generations. This became a collection of two dozen parks, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Buffalo Bill’s Grave, the bison herd overlook, Evergreen Lake, and others -- all great beauty spots close to the city saved as parks.
To make it easy to get from park to park, they were connected by a circular road that was named, The Lariat Loop Trail and you can enjoy that very same loop today during the height of fall colors for a Golden adventure!.
Gateway to Gold Scenic Loop
There would be no Denver metro area if it not for the fantastic gold mines that were discovered in Central City and Black Hawk. Recreate the main route from Denver to the gold fields by leaving from Golden and traveling up Clear Creek Canyon following the same route the railroad took, driving west on Hwy. 6 for an exciting excursion through tunnels, along cliffs above the roaring creek, and beneath towering sheer rock walls.
Traveling along Hwy. 6, Mayhem Gulch is a good place to stop for a walk. There are not many aspens in the canyon, but you’ll love the fast-moving creek and scenic views. Keep your eyes peeled for big horn sheep who live in the canyon and for rock climbers, who scale almost every cliff in sight.
In a few miles, turn north on Hwy. 119 (the “Peak to Peak Highway”) towards Black Hawk and Central City. Once called “The Richest Square Mile on Earth,” Central City looks much like it did in the 1870s. There’s beautiful Victorian architecture, colorful lampposts and flower baskets, and mountainsides of aspens and mining history. Take Eureka Street out of town to the old Cemetery, and follow Hwy. 3 (Upper Apex Road) through valleys of aspens and history. You’ll see dozens of old mines along the way. At Apex Valley Road, turn right, and this will take you back along a creek lined with aspens to Hwy. 119.
Head north on 119, and you’re soon in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. You’ll need to stop and get a $10 parks pass for the day, but some of the best aspens on the Front Range can be found at Bootleg Bottom, which has picnic areas and trails through the colorful trees.
Don’t miss the views from Panorama Point – one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Colorado. You can return from the Park to Golden on the Golden Gate Canyon Road, which takes you almost to the front door of the award-winning Cannonball Creek Brewing Company. Downtown Golden with its wide selection of shops, restaurants, and breweries, is just a couple minutes away.
Hiking Under a Canopy of Cottonwoods
Don’t forget that aspens are not the only tree that turns gold in autumn. Their cousin, the cottonwood (both trees are members of the poplar family), turns just as colorful. However, because of their lower elevations (cottonwoods live at 5,000-8,000 feet), the cottonwood turns later in the season and can have beautiful color for all of October and even up to Thanksgiving.
Golden’s most popular walk (selected by Westword as the best walk on the Front Range) is the Clear Creek Trail. The paved trail stretches from Clear Creek Canyon all the way to the South Platte River in Denver, 19 miles away, offering a tree-lined path with horseback riding, biking, hiking – and even gold panning along its banks. Golden’s back streets are also lined with colorful cottonwoods, as are many parks downtown.
Extra “Golden" Golden Hikes
This time of year, most any Golden hike will be extra, well, “Golden,” as gorgeous fall colors dot our landscape. You can’t go wrong with any outdoor excursion. Peruse our Golden Hikes to find one suitable to you! Be sure to follow the rules of the trail and respect our beautiful environment.
There’s a reason this town is named “Golden,” and you’ll find out why wherever you go in Golden this fall.