Nestled In The Foothills Of The Rocky Mountains Lies A Colorado Gem Full Of Outdoor Fun

Golden, Colorado, is well-known for being home to the world's largest single-site brewery and a vibrant local beer scene; however, this charming city of about 20,000 is also a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're a hiker, biker, or paddler, you'll likely find plenty of wide-open space to play and take in the dazzling views and a comfortable home base after a fun day outdoors. 

Golden started as a mining camp in 1859 and quickly became Colorado's territorial capital during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. Through its iconic "Welcome to Golden" Arch and historic architecture, Golden still retains much of its Old West heritage and charm mixed with modern boutique hotels, diverse arts and culinary scenes, and easy access to nature. Trails in town intermix history and the outdoors; the Apex Trail follows a former toll and wagon road miners took to Leadville and Central City in Colorado's early days. The city also has its flag firmly planted in the 21st century. Travelers looking to cruise on area trails can rent e-bikes in town at Adventure West e-bike rentals. In Jefferson County Open Space parks, Class 2 e-bikes are permitted on paved trails, but not natural-surface trails.

If you're looking for a change of scenery from Denver, Golden is easy to reach by car or public transportation. From Union Station, it's less than half an hour by car and takes just a bit longer with public transportation. Travelers planning to bypass Denver (and a rental car) can take a combination of light rail and buses from the airport to Golden for $10. It normally takes just over two hours in total. 

Colorado's stunning Rocky Mountain National Park is widely known for some of the best scenic views in the state. However, hikers who aren't ready to climb up thousands of feet into the mountains can still enjoy plenty of outdoor fun and beautiful scenery walking around Golden. The city has a well-developed 24-mile-long trail network through town, with several walks to take in some of the city's beautiful natural scenery. A 2-mile loop of the Clear Creek Trail runs through downtown and provides easy access to the city's award-winning Clear Creek White Water Park, which has three sections for beginner paddlers and whitewater enthusiasts alike. There is no rental equipment or lifeguard on site. Downtown Golden River Sports provides daily kayak and paddleboard rentals. If you'd rather try tubing, Adventure West also rents inner tubes and provides a shuttle if you don't want to carry your tube after your float trip. 

Travelers ready to lace up their hiking boots or put their bike in low gear can climb up to Lookout Mountain, southwest of Golden, where Wild West showman Buffalo Bill was buried. From this viewpoint, you can see the Mile High City in the distance. Another can't-miss hike is up to North Table Mountain. While you can trek up it in all seasons, being there at sunset is absolutely golden — pun intended. 

Keep in mind that the weather can change rapidly in Colorado and toss a light jacket in your bag on a summer or fall hike. During the market season, before hitting the trail, you can also visit the city's farmers market near the library on Saturday mornings to grab some local fruit for your day hike or a picnic. 

Like Durango, another scenic and fun town in the Rocky Mountains, Golden brings history and the great outdoors together. The city still maintains much of its Old West heritage with museums and outdoor exhibits. History buffs keen to explore the city's past can take a self-guided city tour that takes just under an hour and passes major sights in town, including the Coors brewery, the original capitol building, and Golden History Park. A customized Google map of the tour is available online.

If you turn the dial back long before the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Utes inhabited the area, dinosaurs roamed around Colorado. The 1.5-mile-long Triceratops Trail is kid- and adult-friendly and leads past fossilized footprints from 68 million years ago. You can also hike solo or enjoy an audio tour to hear more of the story. Be sure to bring plenty of water for your hike. 

Colorado is known to be one of the fittest states, and you'll find no shortage of healthy eats (and plenty of excuses for a cheat day) in Golden. If you are eating clean, Kona Bowls Superfoods has poke and acai bowls. Vegetarians will also find a delicious array of curries and freshly baked naan at Coriander. If you're in the mood for pizza and beer, Anthony's Pizza and Pasta and Woody's Wood-Fired Pizza are two popular local pizza joints downtown. Hotels and accommodations in town range from bed and breakfasts to upmarket downtown boutiques, including the Golden Hotel and Table Mountain Inn. If you're a fan of Golden, you'll likely enjoy a trip to stunning Bend, another underrated outdoor city in Central Oregon.