Once a booming gold rush town, present-day Golden has emerged as a thriving community that retains its Old West charm while providing access to world-class outdoor activities. This article explores what makes Golden such an appealing tourist destination in Colorado.
In This Article
TL;DR
- A historic gold rush town with preserved 19th-century architecture and sites
- Gateway to outdoor adventures in surrounding parks and nature areas
- Family-friendly attractions like dinosaur fossils, railroads, and interactive museums
- Vibrant local culture with festivals, breweries, and Western traditions
Destination Overview
Golden is located just 15 miles west of Denver, positioning it as an easily accessible base camp to the Rocky Mountains. As the Jefferson County seat, it serves as the commercial and cultural hub of the surrounding communities. Golden offers visitors a glimpse into Colorado’s frontier past through its restored 19th-century buildings and historic sites while also providing modern amenities, restaurants, and lodging.
The appeal of Golden Gate Canyon State Park stems from its diversity of attractions and activities. Outdoor enthusiasts have a wealth of options to explore the natural landscapes in Golden Gate Canyon State Park or hike the scenic trails along Clear Creek.
Adrenaline junkies can catch thrills at the Heritage Square Amusement Park, while families can dig for dinosaur fossils or learn about the American West. Fossil Trace Golf Club is considered one of the best courses in the Denver area and gives visitors an up-close look at Triceratops footprints. The small-town community comes alive through local events like buffalo roundups, Oktoberfest celebrations, and fine arts fairs.
Local Experiences and Culture
Golden offers visitors authentic glimpses into Colorado’s culture and heritage. The city celebrates its past through events like historic home tours, gold panning demonstrations, and reenactments of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show at the yearly Golden Buffalo Bill Days festival. Visitors can also interact with locals at the farmers market, summer concert series, and cultural festivals.
The town is known for its thriving arts scene and specialty shops selling handmade crafts, Western apparel, and artisanal foods. Visitors can take painting or pottery classes, watch an old-fashioned melodrama, or browse the galleries along Washington Avenue. The plethora of independently-owned restaurants, cafes, and breweries such as reflect Golden’s free-spirited culture with their eclectic menus and Rocky Mountain-inspired decor.
Visit the Coors Brewery to learn about its impact on local agriculture, business, and history. The brewery walks visitors through the manufacturing process, offers samples, and discusses its measures to encourage sustainability. A Coors Brewery tour requires advanced booking, so be sure to plan ahead.
Historical Significance
As a former gold rush supply town, Golden played a pivotal role in the early development and settlement of the Colorado territory. It was founded in 1859 by prospectors drawn to the region by the discovery of placer gold deposits along Clear Creek. Golden quickly transformed from a mining camp into a thriving commercial center equipped with mills, smelters, wagon shops, liveries, and other businesses catering to miners.
Many of the original buildings from Colorado’s frontier era still stand today, offering a window into the past. Tourists can visit historic sites like the Astor House Museum, Clear Creek History Park, and the Colorado Railroad Museum to immerse themselves in 19th-century life. Downtown Golden also features over 150 restored Victorian-era buildings, with covered wooden boardwalks and false-fronted brick facades reminiscent of the Old West.
Outdoor Adventures
Golden’s proximity to the Rockies provides easy access to world-class outdoor activities, like the over 45 miles of hiking and biking trails that wind through scenic North Table Mountain and Apex Park. Visitors can also fish, kayak, or tube along the rapids of Clear Creek. Just west of town lies Golden Gate Canyon State Park, offering over 12,000 acres of wilderness with hiking trails past abandoned mines and up to panoramic mountain vistas.
Golden transforms into a hub for ice climbing, snowshoeing, and other cold-weather activities in winter. The town also serves as an entry point for skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of the Arapahoe Basin and Loveland ski resorts. From family-friendly sledding hills to extreme backcountry terrain, the Golden area offers alpine adventures suited for all ages and skill levels.
Family-Friendly Attractions
Golden offers families plenty of kid-pleasing attractions like hands-on museums, thrill rides, and interactive activities. The Colorado Railroad Museum provides train rides aboard historic locomotives, while the Astor House Museum allows visitors to experience a Victorian-era hotel. At Dinosaur Ridge, one of the world’s most fertile dinosaur fossil sites, kids can hunt for bones and view dinosaur tracks and fossils along the Fossil Trace.
The Lookout Mountain Nature Center has interactive exhibits for all ages to explore the natural ecosystem. It also features free naturalist-led programs, a walkable nature preserve, and a hands-on play room and observation room for the kids.
Other family favorites include the American Mountaineering Museum, the Heritage Square Amusement Park with its vintage rides and Wild West stunt shows, the Clear Creek Whitewater Park for rafting adventures, and the Mother Cabrini Shrine, which surrounds a 22-foot stone tower. Golden also hosts child-oriented events year-round, from summer concerts and movies in the park to holiday parades and tree lightings in winter.
A can’t-miss location with the family is the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater, which hosts year-round events and boasts panoramic views of Denver.
Seasonal Events and Festivities
Throughout the year, Golden hosts an array of events and festivals that immerse visitors in local culture while spotlighting the town’s mining heritage. Key annual events include:
Buffalo Bill Days:
This June weekend celebrates Golden’s Wild West past with a parade, rodeo, craft fair, concerts, and reenactments of Buffalo Bill’s traveling show.
Golden History Museums:
Golden’s four history museums offer behind-the-scenes tours, special exhibits, and history reenactments every June.
Golden Fine Arts Festival:
Each August, downtown Golden fills with over 200 artists selling pottery, photography, jewelry, paintings, and more.
Oktoberfest:
Golden pays homage to its German heritage through this September festival featuring bratwursts, beers, live music, and Bavarian costumes.
Parade of Lights:
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Golden kicks off the holidays with a nighttime parade showcasing elaborate light displays.
Dining and Culinary Experiences
Golden’s dining scene celebrates Colorado cuisine with fresh regional ingredients spotlighting native bison, trout, elk, and sustainable meats. The town’s restaurants, cafes, and breweries incorporate local flavors like green chiles, Palisade peaches, and Rocky Mountain honey into their menus. Many eateries source their ingredients from local purveyors, farms, and nearby mountain towns like Evergreen and Idaho Springs.
Visitors flock to Golden to sample its craft beer culture, with over a dozen breweries producing India pale ales, stouts, saisons, and other specialty brews. Most offer behind-the-scenes tours along with patio seating boasting mountain views. Foodies can indulge in farm-to-table fare, handmade chocolates, artisanal cheese shops, and destination restaurants recognized for their wine lists and game dishes.
Accommodations and Lodging
Golden offers diverse lodging options to suit different budgets and preferences. Downtown historic locations like the Golden Hotel and Pansy’s Parlor Bed and Breakfast capture the town’s pioneering spirit with Victorian-style architecture and period decor. Bed and breakfasts like the Castle Marne Inn provide a cozy, romantic atmosphere with extras like freshly baked cookies and evening wine.
Modern hotels offer additional amenities like pools, fitness centers, and event spaces. Unique vacation rentals, from tiny homes to luxury log cabins in scenic canyon settings, are also available. Most accommodations are centrally located near downtown attractions, with options for mountain seclusion just minutes away from everything Golden has to offer.
FAQ
What is there to do in Golden in the winter?
Golden comes alive in winter with ice skating, tubing hills, holiday events, and easy access to ski resorts. Visitors can snowshoe through mountain parks, admire ice sculptures during the Parade of Lights, or soak in the geothermal hot springs.
What is Golden best known for?
Golden is best known for its role in Colorado’s gold rush era of the late 1800s, visible through preserved buildings and museums that offer a window into the state’s pioneering past. The town is also a gateway for outdoor recreation in the Rocky Mountains.
What are the top things to see in Golden?
Top sights include the Colorado Railroad Museum, Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, A Coors Brewery Tour, The American Mountaineering Museum, Heritage Square Amusement Park, Lookout Mountain Nature Center, Dinosaur Ridge with real dinosaur tracks, and Lookout Mountain with panoramic vistas. The historic downtown district also offers attractions on every block, and golfers won’t want to miss the famed Fossil Trace Golf Club.
What events does Golden host annually?
Some of Golden’s signature annual events are Buffalo Bill Days rodeo festivities, Golden History Museum tours, the Golden Fine Arts Festival, Oktoberfest beer celebrations, and the Parade of Lights, which kicks off the winter holidays.
What dining is Golden known for?
Golden is known for its craft breweries, farm-to-table restaurants showcasing Colorado cuisine, and specialty food shops with local confections, cheese, and chocolate. Many eateries focus on sustainable meats and regional ingredients.
