Things To Do
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
A geologically formed, open-air amphitheater, Red Rocks offers a variety of recreation options including guided tours, hiking, biking, and of course an incredible summer concert series... hopefully nothing too interesting on August 7th!
Mount Galbraith Loop Trail
This moderate loop is great for avid hikers but still accessible for beginners, and will grant you views into two canyons as well as the City of Golden.
Dinosaur Ridge
Visit the Bones Bed, Crocodile Creek, Dinosaur Track, and Brontosaur Bulge from the guided bus tour, the hop-on/hop-off shuttle, or walk the 3-mile loop!
Maxwell Falls
The Maxwell Falls are one of the most popular hikes near Denver, and with good reason. It’s a perfect Colorado family hike with a variety of terrain, taking you to one of the closest waterfalls to Denver. There are options for a one mile hike, a three mile loop, and a four mile trek– all taking you to Maxwell falls.
Clear Creek Tubing
Tubing the Clear Creek Whitewater Park is one of Golden's biggest summer attractions!
Apex Bike Trails
Rent a bike and check out Golden's 24 miles of interconnected trails... or beyond, via the additional connected regional trail system. Trails vary in level and destination - there's something for everyone!
Alderfer / Three Sisters Park
Near the heart of Evergreen, Alderfer / Three Sisters Park has stunning views, landmark rock formations, beautiful old stands of ponderosa pine and over 15 miles of varying trails.
Colorado Railroad Museum
Learn about Colorado's railroad history as you stroll this 15-acre railyard and restoration facility, complete with 100+ steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses and a garden railway.
Mt Evans Byway
Climb... or drive the Mount Evans scenic byway to bag this 14er! From Idaho Springs (which seems appropriate) ascend 7,000+ feet over 28 miles to reach an altitude of 14,130 feet. Check out the scenic views of the Continental Divide, and see if you can spot any mountain goats and bighorn sheep!
St Mary's Glacier
If you're looking to see snow in August, take the quick hike up to St. Mary’s Glacier to see winter hanging on. It's a quick hike– 1.5 miles round-trip if you climb to the top, or only about 1 mile round trip if you hike just to the lake and back.
Rockies Game
If you get to Denver a few days early and need to check Coors Field off your stadium list, hit up the Rockies vs Cubs on Wed the 4th (7:40pm) or Thurs the 5th (2:10pm). They also play the Marlins that week: Fri Aug 6th (7:40pm), Sat Aug 7th (sorry, you're busy), and Sun Aug 8 (2:10pm).
Coors Brewery Tour
You can't very well go to Golden without taking the Coors Brewery Tour. UPDATE: closed due to Covid, last we checked :(
Bear Peak Trail
I hope you've been working your stair-stepper because this one is not for the faint of heart. It's 8.1 miles round-trip with a 2,875 foot gain in elevation, but well worth it for the views at the top
Fly Fishing
The "Golden Mile" of fly fishing is the result of a 2009 project by West Denver Trout Unlimited to create a first-class trout habitat in Golden. Brown Trout predominate, but there are Brook, Cuttbow, Cutthroat and Rainbow trout too!
Estes Park
About an hour and a half from Golden, Estes Park is known as a base for the Rocky Mountain National Park, home to wildlife including elk and bears, plus miles of trails and scenic byways.
Lake Dillon
If you have a few extra days, drive up 70 toward Breckenridge, and check out the stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, and round-the-lake bike trails at Lake Dillon, the largest lake in the area. The town of Dillon also offers lodging, camping, shopping, picnic and park areas, and of course beautiful mountain vistas.
More to do...
Check out Golden's website for even more recommendations on what to do and where to go!