Like a mini Boulder, cheaper and older
Golden: 48-Hour Escape from Denver
The Coors Brewery, a white-water creek, and the original Buffalo Bill grave, 30 minutes from downtown Denver.
Golden: The Coors Brewery, a white-water creek, and the original Buffalo Bill grave, 30 minutes from downtown Denver.
At a glance
Golden, Colorado is a 30 min drive from Denver, best visited May-September or December-March (ski). Like a mini Boulder, cheaper and older. Top things to do: Coors Brewery Tour, Clear Creek Whitewater Park, Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave. Where to eat: The Sherpa House, Briar Common Brewery + Grill, Golden Bakery. Stay at Table Mountain Inn or The Golden Hotel.
83
of 100
Escape score
Worth the drive on its own
A short drive for what you get.
- Drive
- 30 min from Denver
- Best window
- May-September or December-March (ski)
- Typical stay
- ~$157/night
Escape score: what there is to do and eat (40%), typical weekend lodging cost (30%), drive time (25%), rounding (5%). Computed from our own guide data, never from paid placement.
Why here
Golden is a town of 20,000 at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, 15 miles west of Denver. It was the territorial capital of Colorado from 1862 to 1867, before Denver took the title. The Coors Brewery, the largest single-site brewery in the world, opened here in 1873 and is still the largest employer. Clear Creek runs through downtown, with white-water play parks, and the Colorado School of Mines campus sits on the hill. Buffalo Bill Cody is buried on Lookout Mountain above town.
Golden is the closest real mountain town to Denver, 30 minutes west, and it has more history per block than any town on the Front Range. It was the territorial capital before Denver took it in 1867, the Colorado School of Mines, founded in 1874, is one of the top engineering schools in the country, and the Coors Brewery, opened in 1873, is the largest single-site brewery in the world and still the town's biggest employer. Clear Creek runs through downtown, with an engineered white-water play park that you can watch from a patio, and the Lariat Loop, the 1910s scenic road, climbs Lookout Mountain to Buffalo Bill's grave. The town is the closest thing Denver has to a walkable mountain downtown.
A weekend in Golden is a creek-and-brewery weekend. Tour Coors, walk or kayak the Clear Creek white-water park, drive the Lariat Loop to Buffalo Bill's grave, and eat at the Sherpa House. Come May through September, or December through March for the ski traffic-free quiet. The Coors tour fills two weeks ahead, book early.
The plan
48 hours in Golden
Same town, two different weekends. Pick the arrival that matches your Friday.
Friday, on arrival
Check inTable Mountain Inn
From ~$180/night
Boutique hotel on Washington Avenue. 30 rooms, a great restaurant (The Buffalo Rose), and walking distance to everything. The only hotel in downtown G...
Leave Denver after work: the 30 min drive lands you here in the evening.
Friday night
Dinner, then the main streetThe Sherpa House
Sherpa food in a 1906 building. The momos (dumplings), the dal bhat, and the yak curry are the moves. Garden patio. A Denver institution worth the dri...
Eat first and walk it off after. Most small-town kitchens stop seating by 9.
Saturday morning
First stopCoors Brewery Tour
Free. The largest single-site brewery in the world. 30-minute self-guided tour plus 3 free tastings. Reserve 2+ weeks ahead at the Coors website. 18+...
Saturday midday
LunchBriar Common Brewery + Grill
Craft beer and a seasonal menu on Washington Avenue. The IPA, the poutine, and the seasonal flatbread are the orders. Walk-in friendly, big patio.
Saturday afternoon
Second stopClear Creek Whitewater Park
Free. A 1/4-mile engineered white-water course in the middle of town. Watch kayakers or try it yourself (rentals at Golden River Sports, $50/day). Bes...
Saturday night
DinnerGolden Bakery
Breakfast and lunch. The cinnamon rolls and the breakfast burritos are the moves. The line goes out the door on weekends.
Sunday morning
Last stop, then homeBuffalo Bill Museum & Grave
$6. The grave of Buffalo Bill Cody, on Lookout Mountain, 1,200 feet above town. The museum covers his Wild West show. The view of the plains is the re...
30 min back to Denver still leaves you the afternoon.
Timings are a suggestion, not a schedule. Shift the whole plan by how late you leave.
The Basecamp
Where to stay in Golden
Table Mountain Inn
Boutique hotel on Washington Avenue. 30 rooms, a great restaurant (The Buffalo Rose), and walking distance to everything. The only hotel in downtown Golden.
The Golden Hotel
1906 hotel, restored. 20 rooms, a rooftop pool, and a balcony view of the creek. Walk to Coors and the whitewater park.
Holiday Inn Express Golden
A modern hotel near the COORS campus and a short walk to downtown, with a pool and free breakfast. The reliable base near Clear Creek.
What to do
Coors Brewery Tour
Free. The largest single-site brewery in the world. 30-minute self-guided tour plus 3 free tastings. Reserve 2+ weeks ahead at the Coors website. 18+ only, bring ID.
Learn more ↗
Clear Creek Whitewater Park
Free. A 1/4-mile engineered white-water course in the middle of town. Watch kayakers or try it yourself (rentals at Golden River Sports, $50/day). Best run May-July.
Learn more ↗
Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave
$6. The grave of Buffalo Bill Cody, on Lookout Mountain, 1,200 feet above town. The museum covers his Wild West show. The view of the plains is the reason to come.
Learn more ↗Pack for Golden
Trail & waterfall kit
Curated for waterfalls, trails, and summit days in Golden.
Lightweight hiking daypack
Room for layers, snacks, and the camera, without weighing you down.
See price on Amazon →Insulated water bottle
Cold water past the last switchback, hot coffee at the overlook.
See price on Amazon →Waterproof hiking boots
Grippy and dry through creek crossings and muddy gorge trails.
See price on Amazon →Rechargeable headlamp
For early trailheads and that one hike that ran long.
See price on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, book2escape earns from qualifying purchases.
Where to eat
The Sherpa House
Sherpa food in a 1906 building. The momos (dumplings), the dal bhat, and the yak curry are the moves. Garden patio. A Denver institution worth the drive.
Briar Common Brewery + Grill
Craft beer and a seasonal menu on Washington Avenue. The IPA, the poutine, and the seasonal flatbread are the orders. Walk-in friendly, big patio.
Golden Bakery
Breakfast and lunch. The cinnamon rolls and the breakfast burritos are the moves. The line goes out the door on weekends.
Most reviewed on Yelp
The most-reviewed restaurants in Golden. A solid indicator of where locals actually eat.
Simms Steakhouse
Steakhouse
Bono's Italian Restaurant
Italian
El Dorado Mexican Restaurant
Mexican
Review counts and ratings are curated from Yelp and may change over time.
Go even deeper
Side trips near Golden
Once you've settled into Golden, these nearby towns are close enough to fold into the same weekend without moving your basecamp.
10 min from Golden
Morrison
10 minutes south, the red-rock town at the entrance to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, with a tiny downtown of cafes and a dinosaur ridge.
30 min from Golden
Idaho Springs
30 minutes west on I-70, an 1859 gold-rush town with a mine tour, hot springs, and the closest mountain-dining stop on the way up.
On the calendar
Coming up in Golden
Events happening in town, refreshed weekly.
Refreshed weekly
Nov 7
Super Cruise Saturday at Golden Outpost
Golden · Golden Outpost
This community gathering features cold drinks, local vendors, food trucks, and live music. It provides a laid-back weekend afternoon to enjoy the historic downtown scene and local Colorado flavors.
Getting there
Drive logistics
From Denver, take US-6 West or I-70 West to Exit 256. ~15 miles, about 30 minutes. Coors tour reservations fill 2+ weeks ahead. The drive up Lookout Mountain (Lariat Loop) is one of the best in Colorado.
Drive time
30 min
Best time
May-September or December-March (ski)
Questions & Answers
Golden weekend FAQ
Golden is about 15 miles west of Denver, roughly 30 minutes via US-6 West or I-70 West to Exit 256.
Yes. The Coors Brewery tour is free, including 3 tastings. Reserve 2+ weeks ahead at the Coors website, 18+ only, bring ID.
Yes. Late September and early October turn the hillsides gold along the Lariat Loop drive up Lookout Mountain, the Coors tour is indoors on crisp days, and Clear Creek is still warm enough for a September kayak session. It is the easiest fall-color escape from Denver, 30 minutes from downtown.
Yes. At just 30 minutes, Golden is the closest mountain-town weekend from Denver, with Clear Creek through downtown, Coors tours, and trail access to the foothills, easy as a 1- or 2-night trip.
Walk or tube Clear Creek through downtown, tour the Coors brewery, hike North Table Mountain, and drive 10 minutes to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for a show or a sunrise.
The Dispatch
Next weekend, in your inbox
One underrated town every week, with the same 48-hour plan you just read. Starting with somewhere near Denver.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.