The Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a must visit for every visitor to Colorado, who is looking for an adventure that goes beyond the ubiquitous sight-seeing and souvenir shopping. Spread over 14,000 acres of breathtaking beauty, the park provides plenty of action for visitors with a host of outdoor activities to experience.
Hiking and horse-back riding aficionados will revel in the scenic trials which cover verdant forestlands and rocky outcrops. With 12 marked trails, each named after an animal, you can foray into the Black Bear, the Burro or even the Horse-shoe trail. If you happen to be in Colorado for the winter, you can even go cross-country skiing or snow-tubing on acres of pristine snow. And if you're the more gutsy kind, you can even hunt in the Jefferson County portion of the park which is especially cordoned-off for enthusiasts.
For those of you who like to experience the wilderness, in all its plentitude, you can camp at any of the 55 walk-in tent sites. The Rifleman Phillips Ground which is located at 8,800 feet above sea level allows visitors to go rustic with hand pumps and no electricity. You can even choose to bring your trailer to the Reverend's Ridge Campsite. Or if it's authentic, no-frills camping experience you are after, then the back county shelters are the perfect alternative for you. With three-sided wooden structures that are built in the Appalachian Trail-hut tradition, you can revel in the unique experience of being at one with nature, surrounded by the lush pine-covered groves. Or if you prefer the nomad experience, then you can opt for the Mongolian-style round tents, with only circular skylights and windows for light and ventilation, called Yurts.
You can even picnic in the scenic Red Barn Group Picnic area, which also leads to several hiking trails. The Columbine Meeting room makes for an innovative venue to host any meetings or conferences that you have lined up.
You can spend all day the Golden Gate Canyon State Park and end up discovering that there's still plenty you haven't seen or experienced yet. To ensure that you make the most of your visit, the park is open from 5 am to 10 pm everyday.
For further information, you can call the Golden Gate Canyon State Park at 303-582-3707.
The Golden Gate Canyon State Park
92 Crawford Gulch Road
Golden, CO 80403
