(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Interestingly, all of the trails at Golden Gate Canyon State Park are named after an animal. road and drive for about 13 miles to the park. Follow this road to the intersection with Gap road and turn right onto it. Golden Gate Canyon State Park ranges in elevation from 7,600 feet to 10,400 feet above sea level. But the beauty present in the park during winter time should not be underestimated. There's no cell phone service. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. We started at Panorama Point instead of the campsite which I think took 2 miles off the hike, but it was still a trek for someone getting back into hiking. 2,232' Up Required fields are marked *, Many people choose a different trail to access Panorama Point like the. Some people don’t enjoy dogs. A dog can act as a kind of guide that motivates you to keep pushing forward. It is a 2.8-mile loop with an out-and-back option of hiking over to Slough Pond. In the winter, the park is great for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and ice skating. As you start your climb, you’ll see aspen trees everywhere so this is yet another great trail in Golden Gate Canyon State Park for fall color viewing. The trail boasts panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, glades of aspen trees, wildflowers, and seasonal brooks. All sites require reservation and a Colorado State Parks Pass. • Great trail! This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Many artists appreciate the park for its inspiring beauty. Because it’s short and has a variety of scenery, the Racoon Loop makes for an enjoyable hike for families. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. These are ideal for hosting a large party or special event like a wedding. Unless you are in shape, hiking the entire distance would certainly be a challenge. What’s particularly attractive about this area is that it experiences the extremes of the seasons. Towards the end of the trail, you’ll pass by the “Dude’s Fishing Hole”, and from here on out, is actually the hardest part of the whole hike. Lastly, the park offers guided hikes that provide visitors with fascinating information about the history of the park. During this time, parts of the park might be icy and slippery. Canyon State Park: from the city of Golden, take Highway 93 north We suggest packing lots of dried fruit and nuts. Without the proper gear, some of the trails would be impossible to traverse in the winter. Would highly recommend for a scenic hike in the fall. Looking for a great trail in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Colorado? Golden Gate Canyon State Park covers 12,000 acres of land. Really beautiful views. Much of the trail follows alongside a seasonal creek that runs through the main valley. Also, some of these trails are for hikers only, and some are multiple use; (hiking, mountain biking, and horses.) Blue Grouse Trail in Golden Gate Canyon State Park is another short hike of easy to moderate difficulty. It’s a bit of a trek to get there, and you do have to pay a $9 park pass to get in so come prepared. The Park Visitor Center is open Daily 9:00am to 4:00pm. Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a 12,000 acre Colorado State Park situated only 30 miles from Denver. The Horseshoe trail follows along a stream and is a fairly good climb for maybe ¾ of the length of the trail until it levels out near Frazer Meadow. Turn left on that Trail head parking areas are easily accessible from the main roads in the park. In this article, we discuss the difficulty of these trails in depth. If you go right you will be on the mountain lion trail which adds an extra 1.5-2 miles. Golden Gate is full of seasonal creeks and wildflowers, as well as promontories that open out to … maps of Golden Gate Canyon State Park, (including hiking trails), so Yes, on a 6′ leash. Here’s a closer look at the Golden Gate Canyon State Park and how to plan your next getaway there, whether you’re seeking an easy staycation from Denver or you’re craving a full Colorado camping experience. Proceed for a short ways until you see the sign for Frazer Meadow and turn left into the small parking area. But before you reach the end of this Golden Gate Canyon State Park trail, you'll get a treat. From here, you can either go on to other trails, or go back the way you came. Department also regularly hosts many classes, festivals, and events in the area, many of which are geared towards children. Like so many of the hikes in Golden Gate, the Beaver Loop offers a beautiful panorama of distant, snow-capped mountains in the west. A viewing area has been set up there, along with a chart telling you the names of the various mountain peaks. • Keep following the road and eventually, you’ll come to the remains of an old homestead. Many visitors want to know the difficulty of these trails before traveling to the park. At one point, there will be a fork in the road and you want to follow the left fork. Another great destination hike, the way up to Windy Peak combines a few trails to create a loop hike with a spur trail leading to the top of Windy Peak. These were only opened to the public in 2008. What’s great about this park is it’s not too big. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'colorado_hiking_vacations_com-leader-1','ezslot_1',126,'0','0']));This trail starts out going down hill for a short while and at one point, you’ll see the remains of two old buildings. 21.3 km You can bring dogs on the trail if they are on a leash. Others are moderately difficult. 363.59 m Down, Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Visiting the park during warmer months is more reliable. Explore this page to get familiar with several hike options and the camping facilities available in the Park. It covers a much shorter distance, which might be ideal for some hikers. Then you'll come out of the forest and into an area filled with meadows and aspen trees. The trail had some traffic with hikers and mountain bikers, but almost everyone was wearing a mask as we approached. Dry. The trail itself, tends to be narrow, so watch you step. Then it flattens out again for a short while before you begin your uphill climb. Picnicking is also a popular activity in the park, as there are over 100 picnic sites.