Outdoors

Outdoor fun in Golden, CO, is endless for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike. Whether you’re journeying on a weekend-long hiking adventure or kicking up dirt behind you on a day biking excursion, there are so many sights to see and memories to make with family and friends. 

Get Outside Any Time of Year

Enjoy stunning views and fun activities year-round at our city and state parks. 

Bike up trails for sweeping vistas of springtime wildflowers, catch local fish in the summer, or hike through fiery yellow forests in the autumn, and maybe spot a bald eagle or a moose in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. 

When it snows, don’t hole up inside. Instead, embrace the thrill of the outdoors during the best season for winter sports — give snowshoeing, fat tire biking, or even ice climbing a try at area parks. 

Surrounded by picturesque foothills, challenging trails, and plenty of open-air adventures, it’s no wonder downtown Golden is packed full of shops selling outdoor gear. Whether you’re heading out for a day or several of fishing, snowshoeing, or kayaking, you can get everything you need right in town.

Trailblaze Your Own Adventure 

Grab your friends and hike or bike your way up and down the scenic trails of North Table Mountain, where you’ll be far above the busy world below. Don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of an elk or two along the way and stunning wildflowers if you explore the mesa in the spring or early summer.

Golden trails aren’t just for hiking shoes and bike tires. Horseback riding through the scenic outdoors offers a Western experience that can make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time.

And, if you’re tired of keeping things too flat, why not think vertically and head out for some rock climbing or bouldering?

Here, there’s no adventure too big for those who love the outdoors.

Revel in the Local Watering Hole

Splash your way through eddies, pools, and wave drops just a few minutes from downtown Golden at Clear Creek Trail & Water Park. The local watering hole is a prime spot for kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding, as well as fishing, one of our most beloved pastimes. Feel the flow of the river against your waders as you sweep your fly line over the tumbling waters of Clear Creek.

On land, explore the Clear Creek Trail, a two-mile paved loop perfect for avid hikers and families with little ones.  

Leave Busy Behind

Take a day to escape it all with a round of golf at Fossil Trace Golf Club and tee off to stunning views of the foothills.

You can easily fill a day trip here with outdoor adventures like golf, biking, and hiking, but if you’d like to stay longer, relax and reconnect with nature on a camping trip. Delight in the quiet at our walk-in-only backcountry camping sites, one of the many lodging options in Golden, and enjoy outdoor activities. At night, share stories by the campfire before cozying up in your guesthouse, cabin, or yurt.

If there’s any activity that’s new to you or you want to challenge yourself with the help of a professional, Golden has plenty of guides and excursions to choose from. And for those who love the adventure of an outdoor treasure hunt, Golden has some of the best geocaching opportunities in Colorado.

Whether it’s for a day, overnight, or a weekend, come to Golden and share the love of the outdoors with us.