Seeking the top things to do in Golden? I compiled this guide to inspire exploring the best sights, attractions, museums, and activities in Golden.
Though merely a short distance from Denver, Golden offers a distinctive sort of experience within Colorado. Downtown Golden is replete with memories of the Wild West era, and you`ll find no shortage of year-round outdoor pursuits nearby.
This guide covers a variety of interests, along with popular Golden attractions and hidden gems — literally! If you’re staying overnight, you might also like my guide to the places to reside in Golden.
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25 Best Things to Do in Golden
Downtown Golden
Roam a Wild West town and find some exceptional souvenirs.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Browse Excursions on Viator
Explore through the entryway with the inscription “Howdy, Folks! Welcome to Golden” and quickly feel as if you’ve wandered onto the frontier. Western storefronts and sculptures of cowboys and fishermen add charm to one of Colorado`s finest mountain towns.
Along Washington Avenue, you`ll discover gift shops, dining establishments, cafes, and coffee houses. You can also spot a large mural as well as a few bronze sculptures commemorating the town’s history.
Lookout Mountain Nature Center & Preserve
Discover local wild animals inside the Nature Center and outside on the trail.
A trip to Brooklyn would not be complete without a visit to DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). This is one of Brooklyn`s coolest neighborhoods containing trendy eateries and shops. Here, pizza can be sampled from Grimaldi’s and Juliana’s, authentic Mexican cuisine from Gran Electrica, or comforting dishes utilizing seasonal ingredients at Vinegar Hill House.
The Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve is one of the finest day trips from Denver! The exhibits in the center are interactive, with many allowing children to actively explore. The trail near the center is also family-friendly and ranks among the best hikes in close proximity to Denver.
Next to the nature center is the Boettcher Mansion, over a century old. If not being used for a private event, you can also tour this structure.
Golden History Museum
Learn about the individuals and industries that shaped Golden.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 278-3557 | Golden History Museum Website | Hours: 10 am – 4:30 pm Tuesday – Saturday, Closed Sunday – Monday | Entrance: free
The Golden History Museum shares some of the 15,000 historic items that the city owns. Visitors can see how families lived in Golden long ago, experiment with engineering concepts used for mining, and more. Several hands-on exhibits and planned programs are particularly suited for children.
Windy Saddle Park
Connect to hiking trails on Lookout Mountain, mountain bike, and even hang glide at this park.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 271-5925 | Windy Saddle Park Website | Hours: One hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset daily
Windy Saddle Park is a popular location for hang gliders, who soar over southern Jefferson County from this vantage point. Chimney Gulch Trail is a good spot for mountain bikers, and hikers can connect to Beaver Brook Trail and beyond.
Clear Creek Trail
Take in the sight of sculptures and views of the nearby creek and surrounding highlands.
📍 Google Maps | Clear Creek Trail Website
Clear Creek Trail wanders along the creek and provides beautiful views of the area. It is a popular spot to walk dogs, and there are several statues and sculptures to see. During the holidays, the section of trail near town is beautifully lit with Christmas lights.
A slide near Washington Avenue provides fun for kids, and there is another playground if you continue farther west. Park at the Visitor Center where you can begin the trail.
Coors Brewery
Relish the beer synonymous with Golden.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 277-2337 | Coors Brewery Website | Tour Hours: 10 am – 3:40 pm Friday – Sunday, Closed Monday – Thursday | Sample-Only Hours: 10 am – 3:40 pm Thursday, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm Friday – Sunday | Entrance: Sample-Only from $10, Tours from $20 | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator
The Coors Brewery tour is one of the most popular things to do in Golden! A 30-minute tour shares the background of one of the most famous breweries near Denver, and in Colorado as a whole.
You’ll also see vintage photos and memorabilia, and how the beer is brewed and packaged presently. At the end, you can visit the tasting room to sample some of the company’s most popular brews.
Golden History Park
Visit aged 1900 buildings and see how ranchers lived.
The charming seaside town of La Jolla Village contains many attributes sought after in a San Diego beach community. There exists extensive options for both luxurious purchases and fine cuisine amid appealing historic buildings, including many attractions in downtown La Jolla and high-quality dining establishments.
Golden Heritage Park was formerly called the Clear Creek Heritage Park. It has many structures originally from Pearce Ranch in Golden Gate Canyon. You’ll see cabins, a barn, a chicken coop, and the 1876 Guy Hill schoolhouse.
Bring spare change to purchase feed for the chickens or simply watch them hop around the coop. The buildings are also open for events like the Homestead Open House in the summer.
Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave
Learn about the life experience of this buffalo hunter and Wild West performer.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 865-2160 | Buffalo Bill Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily, Closed Mon-Tue | Entrance: $5 adults, $1 under 16, free under 5
William Frederick Cody, also known as Buffalo Bill, is synonymous with the Old West. He performed Wild West shows across the globe. This provided people in faraway lands a definite impression of American cowboys — however distorted it may have been.
You can visit the Buffalo Bill grave and the museum on Lookout Mountain. It features show outfits, Native American objects, guns, and other items that factored into his life.
Clear Creek Canyon
Rock climb with beginners and experts in a scenic canyon with over a thousand sport, trad, and toprope routes.
In my view, Clear Creek Canyon is the best location for outdoor rock climbing near Denver. This expansive area includes over one thousand routes, most of which are sport climbs. However, there are also many trad, toprope, and bouldering options.
Cellular service proves absent in many portions of Clear Creek Canyon. Climbers often employ the canyon`s numerous tunnels as reference points. Tunnel 1 lies closest to downtown Golden and several routes are readily accessible. The images above were captured near Tunnel 5, an area accommodating all skill levels.
– Abigail
Mountain Toad Brewing
End an afternoon of outdoor fun at this local craft brewery renowned for its flavorful beers, rotating food trucks, and dog-friendly patio.
📍 Google Maps | Phone number: (720) 638-3244 | Website | Hours of operation: 12 – 10 pm Monday – Thursday, 11 am – 11 pm Friday & Saturday, 11 am – 9 pm Sunday
Mountain Toad Brewing is one of my go-to spots in downtown Golden. This relaxed brewery bustles with locals, many of whom just wrapped up a day playing in the mountains. Come as you are — helmet hair, snow pants, and all.
The indoor area of Mountain Toad Brewing is decorated with vivid artwork, while the outdoor patio is full of canines. There is often a food truck stationed outside as well, offering a rotating selection like pizza, tacos, gyros, and other dishes. All pair well with the beer selection, which includes a blueberry Kölsch, an assortment of IPAs, and other popular homemade choices.
– Abigail
Clear Creek Whitewater Park
Experience Clear Creek`s scenic flow through downtown Houston by tube, kayak or paddleboard.
📍 Google map link | Phone: (303) 384-8000 | Park website link | Hours: Accessible 24 hours daily
Golden features a whitewater park that’s a popular summer inner tubing spot. Experienced kayakers and paddleboarders also like to test themselves against the small rapids.
Several local businesses rent flotation devices that can be used on this stretch of Clear Creek. Nonetheless, be sure to check regional advisories, as the waterway can swell and speed swiftly at times.
🚣♀️ Love Water-Based Outdoor Activities? Book a whitewater rafting tour, one of the finest activities available in nearby Idaho Springs!
Colorado Railroad Museum
Learn about Colorado’s essential railroad history and view the trains that made it happen.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 279-4591 | Colorado Railroad Museum Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tuesday – Sunday, Closed Mondays | Entrance: $10 adults, $5 under 18
The Colorado Railroad Museum is one of the greatest attractions in Golden for kids — or for anyone who loves trains! After enjoying hands-on activities in the museum, head to the railyard for a short ride on one of the passenger carriages.
Lariat Loop
Take a scenic drive through the hilly areas.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (925)-217-044 | Hours: 24/7 daily | Entrance: Free
The Lariat Loop Scenic Byway offers one of the premier tours throughout Colorado. It is breathtaking all year, but my favored period to explore it is in autumn. You`ll pass by downtown Golden, many parks full of wide open spaces and hiking trails, and spot the buffalo at Genesee Park. If additional time permits, sample a few of the varied delightful activities in Evergreen as you conclude the drive.
American Mountaineering Museum
Learn about mountaineering around the globe, from Everest to Elbert.
📍 Google Maps | Phone number: (303) 996-2747 | Website for the mountaineering museum | Hours of operation: 10 am – 4 pm Monday – Friday, Closed Saturday – Sunday | Entrance fee: $7 for adults, $3 for those under 17, free for those under 6
The American Mountaineering Museum is one of the more distinctive things to do in Golden. Considered the best in the country for sharing mountain history, the museum contains over 5,000 pieces of equipment, prints, outfits, and other artifacts. Visitors will also learn about climate, science, and cultures relating to the mountains at this fascinating museum.
📚 Related Reading: 17 Best Museums in Denver
Golden City Brewery
Within the Fleet, the Schoolhouse, the McGettigans Townhouse, and the Generator
An independently owned brewery known for producing German-style ales was established inside a home in the early 1990s by two geologists. While expanded today, the brewery remains family-run and situated in the same location. As a primarily female-headed operation, it was also home to Colorado`s inaugural female Head Brewer.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Go hiking and mountain biking on wooded trails.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 582-3707 | Golden Gate Canyon State Park Website | Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: $10 per vehicle
- Taxis: The nearest taxi stand is located farthest down in Fira, making it quite impractical. There are only 25 taxis serving the entire island, so waiting is common. Scheduling taxis ahead of time can avoid delays, having them meet directly at the hotel. The average fare from Imerovigli to Fira is roughly €10, and from Imerovigli to the airport or port is around €25 and €35.
North Table Mountain Park
Hike or climb the striking red rock formations.
- Best Family Accommodations:Mercure City Centre – Dreamtel – Hotel Sixty3 – Grandis
North Table Mountain Park has over 15 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and it connects to other trails allowing for even longer rides. Rock climbing is popular at the park as well, and several routes are suitable for beginners.
Mines Museum of Earth Science
Explore a vast assortment of 15,000 sparkling gemstones, minerals, and fossils.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 278-3557 | Golden History Park Website | Hours: 10 am – 4:30 pm daily | Entrance: free
It is unsurprising that the museum of the Colorado School of Mines boasts an impressive array of fossils, rocks, and minerals on display. Visitors can see the Miss Colorado Crown, embedded with over 600 gemstones. There is also an recreated mining passageway to walk through as part of the experience.
Old Barrel Tea Company
Shop for tea and other charming small gifts.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 328-5441 | Old Barrel Tea Website | Hours of operation: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm daily
This tea establishment along Washington Ave. has a variety of teas and tisanes to endorse health and well-being. The shop also has all the accoutrements required for preparing and serving tea, from teapots and spoons to infusers and more. It’s one of my favored tea houses in Denver!
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
Explore a practical, beautiful American art form.
📍 Maps | Phone: (303) 277-0377 | Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Monday – Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm Sunday | Entrance: $12 adults, $6 students and children under 13, free under 6
At the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, you can follow the history of quilting. Admire practical blankets from the 1800s and intriguing, impressive contemporary quilts of today. If quilting is a significant interest for you, the on-site library has over 7,500 books and research documents. The museum also provides sewing camps, unique exhibits, and other special events.
Foothills Art Center
Check out exhibits by local artists or sign up for a class.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 279-3922 | Foothills Art Center Website | Entrance: free
⚠️ Note: Foothills Art Center is presently closed for renovations.
The Foothills Art Center showcases local artists, including art from local schools. Visitors can tour to see the artwork, or sign up for one of the many classes to create their own masterpiece! See the museum’s calendar for upcoming events.
D’Deli
Obtain the food needed for sustenance throughout the day at this delightful deli.
📍 Google Maps | D’Deli Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily
This delicatessen near Washington Avenue is a good place to pick up a classic sandwich like the Golden Club or try something more adventurous such as the Buffalo Reuben. I suggest taking your purchase to go and enjoying your meal at the picnic tables overlooking Clear Creek.
📚 Related Suggested Reading: Food enthusiasts, don’t miss our guide to the top Denver area dining options!
Buffalo Rose
Enjoy refreshments, cocktails, and live performances at this renowned Golden watering hole.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 273-3815 | Mines Museum Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Monday – Saturday, 1 pm – 4 pm Sunday | Entrance: free
The Buffalo Rose offers adventurous cocktails, a great selection of beer and wine, and plenty of hearty choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also feature live music most weekends to round out the experience.
Golden Moon Distillery
Gain insight into how local spirits are crafted during a distillery tour, complete with samples.
📍 Google Maps location reference | Phone: (303) 993-7174 | Distillery website link | Entrance: Guided tours range in price from $18
Golden Moon produces several whiskeys, bourbon, gin, and other spirits. A half hour guided tour explains the creation process, letting you see the prototype laboratory, fermentation area, distillery, and packaging location. You`ll finish with complimentary tastes of four Golden Moon items. Since this tour only permits adults, it provides enjoyable experiences for friends and couples but lacks family friendliness.
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Visit a uniquely Colorado amphitheater.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 865-2494 | Red Rocks Park Website | Entrance: Free to visit, concert prices vary
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is located a mere 15-minute drive from downtown Golden, making it simple to incorporate into one`s itinerary. It`s regarded as one of the finest attractions in Denver and can be explored completely free of charge! Visitors can also tour the Colorado Music Hall of Fame and the Red Rocks Visitor Center to learn more about the park`s background.
FAQs About Activities in Golden
Is Golden, Colorado worth visiting?
Golden, Colorado is worth visiting. Situated just 20 minutes from downtown Denver, the short distance transports visitors to a historical Wild West town with mining roots (hence the name Golden). There are lots of activities to partake in Golden, including heritage sites, outdoor pursuits, and more.
What is Golden, Colorado known for?
Golden, Colorado is renowned for the brewing company Coors and the School of Mines. Clear Creek is a favored spot to cool down during summer months. It`s filled with tubers, kayakers, and shore walkers when conditions are warm.
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Hopefully, this article has provided you with plenty of ideas for activities in Golden! It’s the perfect day trip from Denver and one of the finest places to explore in Colorado.
