Golden, Colorado is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, home to the famous Coors Brewery and Colorado School of Mines.
Golden maintains it’s old west charm, with it’s own lively and walk able downtown, packed with great restaurants, unique shops, and more.
And tucked in the foothills of the Front Range, outdoor adventure and activities are never far way.
So, let’s get into our Top Things to Do In Golden!
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Helpful Map of the Golden Area
Use this helpful interactive map of the area to explore the top attractions near Golden, Colorado.
Tour The Coors Brewery
One of the most famous attractions in Golden is the Coors Brewery. They offer full tours of their massive brewery, plus a free beer tasting at the Hospitality Lounge. Or you can skip the tour and just do the beer tasting at the Hospitality Lounge.
Something to note is that all visits require reservations. The full tour is $20 per person, and the Hospitality Lounge is $10. Both options receive 3, 8oz beer samples and access to the gift shop.
Book A Tour Of The Coors Brewery
Try Local Craft Breweries
But in addition to the Coors Brewery, there’s lots of excellent craft breweries to try as well.
New Terrain brewery is our favorite local brewery in town. It’s just a little outside of downtown, with their massive airy taproom and dog-friendly beer garden, it’s an excellent gathering place to enjoy a beer. We love that they always have a good variety of citrusy IPAs on tap, but you can always find a variety from lagers to sours, and more.
If you are looking for something a little more cozy and low-key, Mountain Toad and Golden City are both easily walkable from downtown.
And a little outside of downtown, there’s Cannonball Creek, Holidaily Brewing, and Coda Brewing.
So there’s no lack of great breweries in town to enjoy a beer after some adventure.
Muy Loco Tacos
And when visiting some of these local breweries, you gotta keep a look out for the Muy Loco Tacos food truck.
This is our favorite food truck based in Golden. They rotate between most of the craft breweries in town, always serving up just fire tacos and Mexican food. Everything is delicious, but you gotta try the Elote Pelota appetizer. Check their instagram for where to find them.
Sherpa House
This Nepalese restaurant and cultural center is one of the most unique places in Golden. The beautiful building, furnishings, decor and even landscape mimic a Nepalese Sherpa House, providing a one-of-a-kind dining setting.
But the food is no afterthought. They specialize in Nepalese, Sherpa, Tibetan, and Indian cuisine. And the food is so flavorful and delicious. And since it’s so difficult to know what to order, the sampler plate is a great way to try a little bit of everything.
Red Rocks Ampitheatre
The foothills of the Rockies are home to one of the most iconic music venues in the entire world. Just a few miles south of Golden a pair of twin sandstone formations frame the incredible Red Rocks Amphitheater. So Golden is probably the best place to stay if you are planning on seeing a concert at Red Rocks.
While seeing a concert is our favorite thing to do here, the amphitheater hosts other types of events too, like movies and yoga. Or you can simply visit the park for free during non-event times too. There are trails for hiking and biking, that offer incredible views of the rock formations, meadows, and the Denver area.
Since the 1940’s, Red Rocks has been hosting regular concerts from about April to November. Check out the Red Rocks Hall Of Fame to learn about the many legendary musicians who have graced the stage. It’s just down the stairs from the top deck.
Performers and concert goers alike are always captivated by the magical energy at Red Rocks. And the steep angle of the seating means that there isn’t a bad seat in the house. While you can catch concerts from all types of genres, Denver’s music scene definitely leans towards, electronic music, bluegrass, and jam bands.
And here’s just a few pro-tips if you do come for a concert.
Getting to and from the venue can be a challenge, especially for sold out shows. There is plenty of parking in their 4 different lots, but obviously that only works if you have a sober driver. And the upper North lot is the most conveniently located. But regardless, it’s best to wear comfortable shoes, because a night at Red Rocks means lots of walking.
Most shows at Red Rocks are almost all General Admission. So you’re free to choose your own seats or move around as space allows. The rows are labeled 1-70, and it’s good to remember what row you’re in if you go to the restroom or to get drinks. If you’re below row 35, the music is louder, the lights more immersive, and the crowd packed tighter. Above row 35, there’s more room to move and you get views of lights of the city. But the sound quality can be affected by wind.
Bonfire Burritos
What started as a humble Food Truck has turned into a golden institution. Now a laid-back counter-service restaurant, this place still pumps absolutely dynamite burritos.
They also make tacos, bowls, home-made chips & guacamole and more. It’s a can’t miss spot for affordable breakfast or lunch.
And I love that they have different sizes. You can start your day with one of the smaller burritos for less than 10 bucks, and it won’t make you feel like you need to go lay down.
And they also have nitro cold brew coffee, local craft beers, bloody Mary’s, what’s not to love.
Go For A Hike
Golden sits right at the foothills, between the Rocky Mountains to the west, and North and South Table Mountain to the east. So there’s excellent hiking trails practically in all directions.
North and South Table Mountain have over 30 miles of trails and endless panoramic views from the top of either mesa. Trails are steep to get up, but then relatively flat once you’re on top.
The closest trailhead to downtown is for the Lubahn Trail, which is a quick way to get up to the top of South Table Mountain.
The table mountains can be hiked practically year-round, but they lack any sort of shade, so they aren’t great for hiking in the summer.
But not to worry, you can always head up into the mountains for cooler temperatures. Some of the best day hikes near Golden are in Clear Creek Canyon, Golden Gate State Park, Mt Falcon Park, and Chief Mountain.
Ohh and something to be mindful of is that rattlesnakes are often present near hiking trails in the foothills. Just keep an eye out for them along trails, and always give plenty of space if you see one. Luckily they often warn you with their distinctive tail rattle.
Clear Creek Canyon (Peak to Plains Trail)
If you want to be in the mountains in no time, go walk, bike, or drive Clear Creek Canyon. This scenic stretch of road right at the edge of town quickly brings you into rocky winding canyon. It’s also a popular place for rock climbing.
Within the canyon, you can enjoy several sections of the Peak to Plains trail. This collection of paved mixed-use trails that are great for walking, biking, and more. The grand vision is complete a continuous 65-mile path connecting Denver to Loveland Pass. It’s still a work in progress to complete the entire trail from Denver to Loveland Pass. But there are still plenty of completed sections in Clear Creek Canyon that are ready to enjoy now.
Right at the entrance to the Canyon you can use the 1.75-mile Gateway Segment, or if you are on foot, make a loop by crossing the suspension bridge and returning on the Winch Ditch trail, a historic aqueduct turned unique trail section.
The other major trail section is the Up-Canyon 4-mile section that starts at the Big Easy Trailhead.
When we visited in 2025, and crews were hard at work completing the newest 3-mile segment, that will extend the gateway segment all the way to Huntsman Trailhead.
Learn more about The Peak To Plains Trail and stay up to date on the newest construction.
Lookout Mountain
Another great scenic drive is up to Lookout Mountain. This viewpoint right above town is a spectacular way to take in the views of Golden, the foothills, and beyond. It’s about a 15 minute drive up to the viewpoint, with many great views along the way. And up at the viewpoint you can enjoy the Museum and Gravesite of famous western figure, Buffalo Bill. ($5 admission)
If you continue on this road, you can do the entire 40-mile Lariat Loop Scenic Byway. It connects the towns of Golden, Evergreen, and Morrison, making a scenic tour of the foothills. It passes many museums, open space parks, and other heritage sites that make an excellent day trip.
Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza
Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza has been a Golden staple for over 30 years. A cozy and rustic bar and restaurant that’s famous for their all-you-can-eat salad bar, beer-cheese soup, and wood-fired pizza. I was very impressed with the quality and freshness of the ingredients at the salad bar. And the pizzas are excellent. Offering a huge variety of toppings and herb-seasoned crust.
They also have a full bar with great deals on cocktails, loaded bloody Mary’s, and even local craft beers as well. And if ‘all-you-can-eat’ is not your thing, you can order a-la-carte too. Pizza, burgers, wings, whatever you’re feelin’.
Mines Museum Of Earth Science
Golden is home to the Colorado School Of Mines, a prestigious science and engineering university with a focus on energy and the environment.
So one of the coolest free things to do is check out the Museum Of Earth Science. And it’s completely free to visit (donations welcome).
I can almost guarantee that this will be the coolest rock collection you’ve ever seen. Which maybe doesn’t sound that cool. But seriously, wait until you see these magnificent specimens.
You will just be shocked by the incredible diversity of shapes and colors that form naturally.
They have collections for various regions of Colorado, and around the world.
We had a little fun trying to decide what region of the world has the coolest rocks. While it’s certainly debatable, my vote goes to South America.
Buffalo Rose
This historic restaurant, bar, and music venue is a great spot to check out in Golden. I love the renovations that blends modern airy ambiance with the old west charm. There is frequently live music at the Sky Bar, which has a cool retractable glass roof, and an outdoor patio section. And The Rose is their independent 600-person music venue that hosts bigger acts regularly.
They serve uniquely regional American cuisine with latin and western flair. And the menu presented as an old-timey newspaper is a nice touch. We really enjoyed the Green Chili Artichoke Dip and signature Bison Burger.
Bobs Atomic Burgers
This funky little counter-service burger shop is famous for not making things complicated. They serve some affordable and tasty burgers, fries, onion rings, and shakes, etc. But prepare to wait in a bit of a line if you come during popular times.
Once you make it inside, you are prompted with a burger slip to fill out. Some toppings are free of charge such as lettuce, tomato, onions, etc. While others are additional cost, such as cheese, bacon, guacamole, etc. They also have hot dogs, chicken, and veggie burgers.
Oh and they pick a fun super hero name out of a hat to call for your order instead of your name. This provides a good laugh when the food runner is yelling out all sorts of funny characters.
Tubing On Clear Creek
During the Summer, you can cool off by tubing down clear creek right into town. But it’s floating season is pretty short. It’s often flowing too high in early summer, and get’s a little too low in late summer. Check Visit Golden to find out the flow and whether or not it’s safe to float.
A popular spot to put in is at the Gateway Trailhead and float about one mile to the take out at Vanover Park. It’s best if you can shuttle two cars. But you can also park at the bottom in town, and then walk to the put in spot.
There are some small rapids to be cautious of and you might consider wearing water shoes or secure sandals.
You can bring your own tube (something like this one), or rent from Golden River Sports or Adventure West.
Walk the Shops Downtown
Downtown Golden has a nice walkable Main Street area with a great collection of shops, restaurants, and art galleries. So an easy thing to do while you’re in town is to walk the streets to find some unique souvenirs.
Visit the Farmers Market
And the Farmers Market takes place on near the Library on Saturday’s from 8am to 1pm, generally from May to October. You can find many different fruit and veggie vendors, local fashion good, and even some unique pastries and local sauces and spices.
Check their website for the most up to date information.
Denver Biscuit Company (aka Atomic Cowboy & Fat Sully’s)
Denver Biscuit Company is one of our favorite places to grab breakfast when in the Denver Area. And lucky for you, they have a location in Golden. This place’s dynamite breakfast items all coalesce around their delicious biscuits, whether that’s a fried chicken biscuit sandwich, smothered biscuits and gravy, or some other decadent creation.
This establishment also teams up with Atomic Cowboy for tasty burgers and Fat Sully’s for delicious pizza. So you’re bound to find something you like on their menu no matter the time of day!
Thai Gold Restaurant
For anyone craving Thai food, this quaint restaurant is located in a house near Main Street. They offer tons of different popular Thai dishes that will certain provide a kick of flavor to your day. Our favorite dish here is Panang Curry, which just hits that perfect amount of spice, creamy, and a little bit of sweetness.
The Golden Mill
As you’ve probably noticed, there is no shortage of tasty restaurants to try out in Golden. But if your group can’t decide on the same cuisine, then consider Golden City Mill. This food hall has a variety of different restaurants to choose from.
Upon entering you are ID and give a wrist band for drinks, and then given a card to put your purchases on. You use this card to swipe and charge anything within the restaurant. Then, at the end, they will give a final charge for everything you purchased inside.
Where To Stay In Golden, Colorado
If you are looking for the best place to stay in Golden, the Table Mountain Inn is a top-choice. It’s a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel, that captures the southwestern spirit, and is just a delight to stay at. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and well-appointed. And their Main Street location is literally a stones throw from many of the best attractions in Golden.
But with many rooms providing excellent views of Golden and the surrounding scenery, sometimes we couldn’t help but just relax on our patio enjoying the views from there.
And their on-site restaurant, the Table Mountain Grill & Cantina is an excellent restaurant in its own right. With delicious Mexican classics, and other southwestern entrees. The house margaritas are excellent. So for a unique and pleasant stay in Golden, you should check it out.
Book A Night At Table Mountain Inn
Use the map below to find other great places to stay in the area.
Tips For Parking In Golden
Parking around the city can be a little confusing. Especially because many of their signs say Paid Parking, but in small print, the first 2 hrs are free. Either way you will need to register your license plate via an app. You scan the QR code at any lot and then it will have you register for the free 2 hours or you can pay if you know you will be out staying the 2 free hours. Each additional hour is $2.50 with a maximum of $10/day.
There is free day and overnight parking at Clear Creek Parking Lot (up to 72 hrs).
And also free street parking near the Coors Brewery Visitor Lot on 14th St and East St.
Just be sure to read signs so you don’t get a ticket, or worse towed.
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