Plan Your Visit to Golden, CO
Located in an area of spectacular natural beauty, Golden is where the mountains meet the plains. The area offers outstanding outdoor recreation with biking, hiking and kayaking all available right in town. Golden also offers a wonderful, small mountain town atmosphere with creekside restaurants, outdoor cafes, fine dining, art galleries, outdoor recreation shops, one-of-a-kind boutiques, quaint historic homes, and a variety of museums.
And then there is the beer. Golden is home to the world’s largest single-site brewery, as well as to a half dozen craft breweries and distilleries.
FAQs
Where Can I Use The Bathroom In Golden?
There are three public restrooms available in Golden: Parfet Park (701 10th Street), Lion's Park Ball Field (10th Street North of Clear Creek), and near the Astor House (822 12th Street). All have code locks that automatically open and lock the restrooms daily. They are set to be unlocked from 7AM to 10PM daily.
What Is The Elevation Of Golden?
5,675’
Where Can We Take A Short, Easy Hike?
Try the trail along Clear Creek! It’s paved, there aren’t a lot of changes in elevation, and you can stop by several Golden attractions while you walk. For a list of trails in Golden, click here.
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Where Can I Park?
Click here for a full list of places to park in Golden.
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How Can We Get Around?
If you do not have your own transportation, please consider the FlexRide Bus. Service is now offered every 15 minutes on the weekdays from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. The City of Golden’s Bike Library, located to the west of the Visitors & Information Center, is open summer months and is free for the first two hours. Downtown Golden is walkable, but if you need to get to the other regions, we recommend using a ride-share service.
Is Smoking Allowed?
Downtown Golden is a smoke-free zone. Smoking in other regions is only allowed in designated areas.
Are Dogs Allowed?
Yes, but all dogs must be leashed. There are off-leash dog parks located at Tony Grampsas Memorial Sports Complex and Ulysses Sports Complex if you want to let your furry friend run free.
Can We Go Tubing?
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has extended the prohibition of waterway activities on Clear Creek through June 25, 2020. These restrictions extend from the western Jefferson County line through the City of Golden, and includes Vanover Park. The order prohibits ALL USES in Clear Creek, including all single-chambered air inflated devices, such as belly boats, inner tubes, and single chambered rafts, “body surfers,” and swimming, as well as all vessels, kayaks, whitewater canoes, and multi-chambered river boards. Find details here.
How Can I Talk To Someone About Golden?
The Golden Visitors & Information Center, located at 1010 Washington Ave, is a great resource for the Golden area. Please stop in or call 303-279-2282.
Here are a series of possible itineraries in Colorado’s first capital city.
- Enjoy the Arts in Golden at galleries, museums and nearby Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
- Walk or bike ride Golden’s Famous Beer Trail, from Coors to award-winning craft breweries.
- Re-live the Old West in Golden with Buffalo Bill, railroaders and mountaineers at the town’s museums.
- Go shopping in Golden under the famous arch at one-of-a-kind boutiques.
- Dine in Golden from the tastiest deli sandwiches and pizza, to gourmet meals in gorgeous locations.
- Hike the hills around Golden including North and South Table Mountain, Lookout Mountain and Mount Zion.
Golden is accessible by light rail from downtown Denver’s Union Station. Trains run as often as every 15 minutes to the Jefferson County Government Center, where connecting bus service is available during the week for the short run to historic downtown Golden, Clear Creek, and Coors Brewery. On the weekends, complete your trip from the Government Center to downtown Golden using a car service or walking or biking on the paved, scenic 3-mile trail.
Golden is also just a few minutes drive from I-70, and is located directly on U.S. Hwy 6. Located just 12 miles west of Denver, Golden is a short, pretty drive from nearby major attractions including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Buffalo Bill’s Grave, the Colorado Railroad Museum and the casino gambling in Black Hawk and Central City.
Once in Golden, the free Bike Library provides a variety of two-wheel options, from cruisers to multi-speed mountain bikes. There are 40 bikes available for free for two hours, with nominal fees for longer periods. (May-Oct)
Golden has never forgotten its Western roots and history. Spanning main street is Golden’s famous 58-foot long Welcome Arch, which has been saying “Howdy Folks!” to visitors since 1949. Golden was Colorado’s first capital city and today is filled with historic buildings, museums and events that bring the colorful era of the Old West back to life.
Here are some itineraries:
- Meet the West’s most famous scout and showman at Buffalo Bill’s Grave & Museum.
- Ride an authentic steam locomotive at the Colorado Railroad Museum.
- See the actual clothes worn by the first Americans to summit Mount Everest at the American Mountaineering Museum.
- Walk back in time on the 1.5 mile-long Triceratops Trail and see 100 million year old footprints of a Tyrannosaurus rex.
- Follow the history of beer brewing in Colorado on a free tour at the world’s largest brewery, Coors.
Golden loves families and is filled with activities for kids.
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Learn how to pan for gold and identify gems and minerals at the Mines Museum of Earth Science.
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Climb indoors at Earth Treks Golden, Colorado’s premier indoor rock climbing and bouldering gym with 300 roped routes up 45-foot high walls.
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Walk the level trail along Clear Creek, crossing bridges back and forth over the rushing river.
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Enjoy the parades during Buffalo Bill Days in July or the December Old Golden Christmas parades.
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Feed the chickens at an old 1880's riverside farm and homestead at the Golden History Park.
Golden is the closest “mountain town” to Denver, and as such it has developed into an outdoor recreation paradise with all Colorado forms of recreation available nearby. Here are some suggested itineraries.
- Pedal up Lookout Mountain, perhaps the most iconic bicycle hill climb in the state, featured twice in the USA Pro Challenge with the world’s top cyclists.
- Snowshoe past old barns at a 19th Century farmstead in Walker Ranch
- Hike or bike the five mile trail that circles North Table Mountain, and stop at New Terrain Brewing Co. (located right off the trail) for a victory beer.
- Kayak or raft down Clear Creek through a series of a dozen man-made water chutes.
- Horseback ride through stands of aspens at nearby Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
- Rock climb in Clear Creek Canyon, one of the best rock climbing centers on the Front Range.
Check out how some of Golden’s notable citizens and business owners describe their “Perfect Day in Golden.”
- Erik Weihenmayer, co-founder of No Barriers
- DeeAnn and Brett Weiber, owners of the Windy Saddle and Trailhead Taphouse
- Jon Bortles, owner of Woody's Wood-Fired Pizza
Resources on Golden
Be sure to visit our Creekside Golden Visitors Center filled with maps, brochures and suggestions on all things Golden!
The Golden Bike Library is located right next door and open May – Oct.
Maps and Guides | Golden Travel Guide | Visit Golden
More Resources
Deals - Golden Ticket
Golden Ticket | Attractions & Restaurants Deals in Golden, CO
Digital Visitors Guide
Digital Golden Visitor's Guide | Golden Travel Guide | Visit Golden
Visitors Center
Golden Visitors Center - Visit Golden
Getting Here & Around
Traveling to Golden? | Transportation Services | Visit Golden
History
Founded in 1859, Golden is an idyllic former gold rush town nestled between North and South Table…
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Travel Alerts
Visit Golden recognizes that residents and travelers may be concerned about COVID-19 and how it may…