Dig Into Golden to Explore Geology, History & Adventure

Welcome to Golden, Society of Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits conventioneers! To help you make the most of your time, check out this overview of Golden's must-see spots and local favorites. You can find more info at Visitgolden.com or by stopping into the Golden Welcome Center, located at 10th and Washington. Enjoy your stay!

First Things First, Getting Around:

Golden is an incredibly walkable city and with beautiful views all around, strolling through town is a great way to go! You can also rent an e-bike for a few hours or even a few days! Take advantage of the free Ore Cart—a convenient, ADA-accessible service operated by the City of Golden and Colorado School of Mines. Running three routes (the Silver (Ag) Route and Tungsten Route (W) Route include Downtown Golden and the Colorado School of Mines campus), the shuttle runs Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. There are also public transportation options to get around the Denver Metro Area via Light Rail and RTD Bus, or to the mountains via Bustang. In addition, you can use your favorite ride-share app, taxi, or explore private shuttle services. VisitGolden.com has a transportation page that outlines all the options.

Rock Solid: Check Out the Mines Museum.

Golden is a hub for earth science enthusiasts, largely thanks to Colorado School of Mines. Don’t miss the Mines Museum of Earth Science, which offers free admission and features 15,000+ square feet of extensive mineral collections, rare fossils, mining artifacts, a Goodwill moon rock, and a dazzling fluorescent mineral room, where minerals burst into vivid colors under ultraviolet light.

Get Your Western On in Golden.

Golden’s iconic downtown arch proclaims, “Howdy Folks! Welcome to Golden, Where the West Lives!" and the city offers plenty of opportunities to “cowboy up.” Drive the Lariat Loop to the summit of Lookout Mountain. It’s a thrilling ascent with 51 curves, dramatic cliffs and spectacular views in all directions and at the top, you can visit Buffalo Bill’s Museum & Grave for a fascinating look at the most famous character from the Old West. You can also belly up to a classic Golden watering hole, like the Buffalo Rose or Old Capitol Grill & Smokehouse, both are housed in historic buildings and are ideal spots to enjoy a fresh Coors.

Visit - or Tee-Off - Where the Dinosaurs Once Roamed.

Nearby Dinosaur Ridge is North America's premier dinosaur tracksite and you'll encounter Jurassic and Cretaceous trackways, trace fossils, and exposed layers of the Dakota Sandstone and Morrison Formation. If you’re a golfer, play Fossil Trace Golf Club, where you can view Triceratops footprints, as well as other prehistoric creatures’ fossils, adjacent to the golf course’s 12th green. Or walk the Triceratops Trail, which runs along the course, and is a 1.5 mile gravel trail with several stops highlighting clay mining as well as invertebrate tracks and traces of dinosaurs, birds, mammals, and insects.

Dine on a Patio, Stroll the Town & Catch a Golden Vibe.

Golden is home to a friendly, laid back atmosphere, gorgeous mountain views, friendly merchants and terrific restaurants. There’s every type of cuisine imaginable in Golden, from casual fare like Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza or Bob’s Atomic Burgers to international cuisine like Nosu Ramen and Sherpa House and even farm-to-table fine dining at Abejas or upscale Italian at Bella Colibri. Try to get a table on a patio or take a post-meal stroll through town where you can soak in a Golden vibe! Check out our comprehensive list of amazing restaurants to enjoy during your stay.

Experience the Legendary Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre.

From The Beatles to U2, your favorite artists have probably made a stop at Red Rocks, a natural amphitheater set amongst towering rock formations. During the first week of August, you can catch Saturday morning  Yoga on the Rocks, and a full evening concert line-up including Tedeschi Trucks, The Beach Boys w/Colorado Symphony,  ZZ Top, KLove and  Dispatch w/John Butler. There are several transportation options for getting to concerts at Red Rocks, check them out here. You can also visit Red Rocks during the daytime to tour the venue, gaze at the gorgeous sandstone rocks and even hike in the park. The Eddy Hotel and Taproom offers a Red Rocks Sunrise Hike & Breakfast guided experience, which is open to the general public and an easy and fun way to explore.

Take a Hike - or a Stroll.

Colorado is renowned for its scenic hikes, and Golden is the gateway to the "foothills" of the Rocky Mountains. A few favorites include North Table Mountain Trail, a moderate trail which delivers the kind of sweeping, cinematic views that make your jaw drop—and your camera roll fill up fast. Formed by lava flows some 60 million years ago, this ancient mesa now boasts wide-open meadows, rugged cliffs, and postcard-worthy glimpses of the Front Range. For those less acclimated to higher altitudes, enjoy a stroll on the paved, accessible Clear Creek Trail. You can pick up the trail in downtown Golden by the Golden Welcome Center and in no time you will feel like you’re in a Colorado postcard. Bridges cross the creek several times and there are many benches and scenic spots with views of the beautiful river and the rugged Rocky Mountain canyon. For a more comprehensive list of the many ways to get active in Golden, check out our guide to the area's iconic hikes.

Check out Golden’s Arts & Culture Scene.

Golden is home to a thriving arts scene, with colorful murals, sculptures and art installations throughout town. You can learn more about each public art piece here or just take it on your own. Stop into Foothills Art Center - Astor House, which offers free admission and a rotating exhibit of regionally acclaimed artists. Also offering free admission, Golden History Museum & Park, with two locations, the Museum, which offers exhibits about Golden through the years and the History Park, which gives a taste of the rugged pioneer life. Another option? Take a self-guided walking tour with Golden History Museum’s Walking Tour of Historical Points and wander through Golden at your own pace taking in all the historic sites.

Enjoy a Beer in the World’s Biggest Little Beer Town.

Golden brews more beer than any other city, largely due to the production at Coors, widely regarded as the world’s largest single-site brewery. In addition, Golden has approximately half a dozen craft breweries and most with outdoor beer gardens that are perfect for post-convention conversation and a chance to rub elbows with locals. You may also want to tour Coors Brewery or visit the hospitality lounge and learn about the brewing process and history of this American icon, but reservations are required and fill up fast. Check their website for more info. But why stop there? Golden is also the home to a number of other incredible bars, breweries, and distilleries, all offering a unique taste of the Golden community.

Thanks for visiting!