Click here for a full list of places to park in Golden. View Answer

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.

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. Complete your trip from the Government Center to downtown Golden using the Ore Cart Transit Service, 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.

You can also get around downtown Golden using the Ore Cart Free Transit Service.

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 Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum (indefinite closure 9/20/2024).
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.

Learn how to pan for gold and identify gems and minerals at the Mines Museum of Earth Science.
Climb indoors at Movement Golden, Colorado’s premier indoor rock climbing and bouldering gym with 300 roped routes up 45-foot high walls.
Walk the level trail along Clear Creek, crossing bridges back and forth over the rushing river.
Enjoy the parades during Buffalo Bill Days in July or the December Holiday parades.
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.
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.