Golden Gate Canyon State Park Reviews

Our daughter and family gave us a unique Christmas gift. We spent two nights with them here in the Harmsen Guest House. They have a horse hotel there for their two horses and we went riding on the beautiful trails the two days we were there. The guest house was donated to the park. It was the former home of the founder of Jolly Ranchers Candies. Very spacious. Very beautiful. warm, nurturing environment to make memories. There is a local phone, but no Internet or cell service. we spent an hour or so touring the park visitor center as well. Very highly recommended!!

We took the Burro Trail loop and made it to the top of Windy Peak. The view from the top is amazing. Overall it took us 4.25 hours to complete the whole thing. 3.5 hours hiking and 45 minutes of being idle according to the GPS. We also had a 1600 ft altitude gain from bottom to top.

This trail is tough if you are not use to climbing. Make sure to bring food and water. It's nice to refuel at the to and enjoy the view. I drank almost all of my 2 liters from my camelback. It wasn't particularly a hot day in August either. 77 degrees when we hiked.

I would do it again for sure.

Very pretty park with numerous hiking trails, great for dogs also..nice views of Golden and the frontrange. enjoyed the day with the dogs..

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is just a short 45-minute drive from Denver, and it's so worth the trip if you want to feel like you're really in the Rockies. It's also very convenient to Golden and Boulder, and has some of the best views you'll ever lay eyes on. Panorama Point, where you can see over 100 miles of the Continental Divide and 4 Colorado 14ers while standing in one spot, is a must-visit. The Visitors Center is a great place to stop on your way into the park, as the staff is very helpful, and offers a better-than-average selection of keepsakes and souvenirs.

Lots of miles of hiking trails, both easy and intermediate. A nice visitor center that features both nature and history. And not far from a very fun town in Golden, which features four craft breweries and several good restaurants.

Do you want a clean campground with generous sites, new bathrooms, plenty of hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and all,close to Denver metro area? This is the place to go.

Golden Gate State Park is only an hour drive from the city. There is both a remote camping area and a modern facility camping area. Both are clean and well kept. Facilities include a washer and dryer and an ice machine. Showers use quarters for operation. Many great hiking and biking trails within the park. Panorama Point overlook has great views of the mountain ranges visible from the 9,000 plus ft. Elevation. Reservations needed for weekends and many busy summer weeks. Most reservations need to be made 6 months in advance for the modern camp sites for both tent and RVs.

My son and husband have enjoyed camping here but it was a great place for a day trip and a little family hiking too!

This is our favorite campground in Colorado. A group of us routinely camp here every 4th of July weekend. The campgound has electricity only, but water is available. The sites are large and more than adequate for any type of camping vehicle - from motor home to tent. On the evening of the 4th we head to Black Hawk itself for a spectacular fireworks celebration. Reservations for this campground (for weekends) need to be made 6 months ahead of time.

We did our first spring/winter cabin camping trip this year over spring break but we have cabin camped here every year for several years. Love the location quick and easy to get to, not a great place to "feel away" from it all as the cabins are in the campgrounds which are massive over the summer. There have been years where a 5th wheel is projecting a movie out side so it can take away from the peace of your campfire.

This is a great park to escape from the big city and it's one many of Denver's residents don't know about! You can do everything from fishing to rock climbing. Make sure to stop at the visitor's center before you enter the park.

Enjoy!

Pros
* Well maintained and clearly marked trails
* Interesting visitor center with helpful staff
* Fun to feed the trout in the visitor center pond. Food is provided for 25 cents.
* Bathrooms are clean
* Fun curvy roads to the park

Cons
* The easy trail is at the far end of the park
* No Cell coverage for AT&T

We've never camped at this state park, but we've been here dozens of times hiking and really love it. The hiking is all challenging, there really aren't any easy trails, I would rate most moderate to difficult for your average hiker. The fall is the prettiest time of year; the park is full of aspens and turns gold in September and October; Frasier Meadow is the classic fall hike, but you'll have trouble parking at the trailhead on a weekend.

We usually take our dog here in summer, because a lot of parks don't have water for our dog to cool off; Golden Gate Canyon has plenty, in addition to fishing ponds and rivers, the three best places with water to take your dog are: campgrounds near the rock quarry, the Forgotten Valley, and Dudes Fishing Hole. There are hikes to backcountry shelters where you can sit and have lunch. The trails go through beautiful remote forests, and you may not see anyone else for hours if you're there on a weekday.

The main visitor center has an awesome pond with big fish, for a quarter you can buy food and watch them all come for a treat. And we don't fish but it seems really popular, there are a number of stocked ponds. A nice drive through the park will take you through picnic areas, check with the ranger station to see if there's a fire ban (if not, there are grills if you like that kind of thing).

We went here after visiting the red rock amphitheater park. It was about a 50 minute drive. They have a number of different
Hiking trails, arranged by difficulty. Saw lots of people on mountain bikes too. We chose to just hike part of the Mule Deer trail due to the limited time we had. It was a great trail with some good hilly areas.

The park had plenty of parked cars in the park but the trail was not too crowded. You still felt that you were out in the woods. I would highly recommend spending the day here for the trails. The day pass was $7. Everything you would expect from a good state park.

The drive from Hwy 93 to the top of Canyon Point is worth the daily fee for the park. Hiking, fishing and mountain top views can make this a day long adventure.

We stayed in yurt #2. It was a bit of a walk to the bathrooms but not a big deal. The kids loved staying in the yurt! It was bigger than I thought! The website says it has a heater but we were informed by one ranger the gas is shut off in the summer. So we didn't have heat. The temp. got down to 50° in mid-Aug. We do a lot of tent camping too. They had great tent sites. The campground roads are paved so kids who like to scooter or play with chalk are in luck.

I was not impressed with the showers. I wore flip-flops and I've been in a lot of campground showers. They weren't clean. $1 for 4 min. I spent the first 30+ seconds trying to adjust the temp. It was painful since the nozzle was a fast, fine spray. My kids said the same thing.

Other than that, everything was great at the park. I'd go there again (either the tent sites or to the yurt). Well kept trails too!

We visited this beautiful park some years ago and found it to be thoroughly enjoyable with lots of places to hike, relax, and enjoy. The RV and campground were updated sometime back and was very comfortable and the sites were large and private with good supporting facilities.

The visitor's center is fantastic and you can't beat the panoramic overlook. But, the best part is how accessible it is for people with disabilities.

We are a family with three wheelchair users. We stayed in one of the wheelchair accessible cabins. We enjoyed the relative proximity of the park to our home, but due to its proximity to the Denver area, it was very busy. There were also fewer wheelchair accessible portions of the park for activities for my kids.

That said, the park was beautiful. It was cold and rainy during our camping trip, so it was not as enjoyable as it might be. I do like that there are accessible cabins as well as an accessible yurt so that we have the option of camping with friends who also have chair users in the family.

If you're going to go here, go very early in the morning, especially on the weekend! It costs $9 for a day pass that you need to pick up upon entry into the park.

They have plenty of hikes for all ski levels as well as ponds to go fishing. Make sure you bring a water bottle for hot days and always bring a rain jacket.

SUCH a beautiful state park. We camped up at Aspen Meadows Campground and intended to stay two nights...but only stayed one due to a huge amount of snowfall overnight! (Such is the risk you take camping in the mountains, though.) Really a beautiful park with excellent trails-my only complaint is that some of the trails are not marked well, so they can get confusing. (I'm talking about you, Snowshoe Hair trail!!!) We got a little lost, but met a few other friendly hikers who pointed us back in the right direction. Campsite was gorgeous, too. Be careful about storing food property, because bears definitely wandered through our site at night! Luckily there are bear lockers on site, which deterred them. All in all, a great trip! Can't wait to come back.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park has a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains (see photo). However, the roads are narrow and very windy! Once I even thought the road had ended but it did a 360 degree turn to my left and back up the side of a hill! You must make several turns to get to Panorama Point (where the view is) on several roads (with no signs) and even a dirt road at the end.

I guess I'm saying, it's a nice place to visit but be careful on the roads. The view is beautiful but it's the same view you can get anywhere of the Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountains look like the Rocky Mountians no matter where you see them from.

The visitor center (see photo) was small but neat and had stuffed wild animals in there (bear, etc). They even had a wooden Lincoln Logs style play area and our kids loved to play with the logs and built a beautiful log cabin (see photo). That was our daughter's favorite part! Our son's favorite part was definately the view of the Rockys.

It's beautiful yes but the drive isn't so fun!

I love driving through this park. It is very scenic. There are many roads to take and I suggest you get a map.

My husband and I went on our first hiking adventure at Golden Gate Canyon and very much enjoyed it. Being from the Midwest the altitude made it a little more difficult than expected. We took it slow, enjoyed our surroundings and were very proud when we finished.

You can see the entire continental divide from Panorama Pt. There are many trails in that area and also camping.

Nice place to hike. Visitor center small but well done. Good place when higher areas are in the clouds.

The Blue Grouse/Mule Deer trail is probably my favorite ride in the Front Range. There is ample parking by Kriley Pond.

The trail is mostly rideable with only some technical spots. The climb up from Kriley Pond to Fraser Meadows is the biggest lung-buster of the entire loop. The trail was recently rerouted a couple of years ago so the loop is almost entirely singletrack, bypassing the rocky jeep trails and the long ride on Gap Road. Riders can relax at Panorama Point with some amazing views of the Continental Divide on the well-shaded deck.

The ride back is a glorious downhill experience as the tight singletrack winds through dark pine forests then open grasslands with lots of colorful wildflowers. The trail is very narrow and deeply rutted in spots so be careful not to smash your pedals!

After a steep but short climb you'll arrive back on Blue Grouse for a final downhill romp back to your cars.

This ride is great when it's hot everywhere else around Denver. Kriley Pond is about 8,000' elevation, and the trail peaks at around 9,200', so the ride stays pretty cool.

We love to camp here because it is up in the mountains yet close to the metro area. This past summer we camped in loop E and the lots were huge! The rangers really don't bother you here very much as long as you aren't breaking any major rules. We love to go fishing at the little pond nearby! Be careful for the animals here. Ask questions about the wildlife when you check in. There are a few different ways to get to Golden Gate State Park so do your research ahead of time so you know your route. I thought I had the direction using a certain directional app. Well we ended up going the back way which turned into a dirt road going through private residential areas. I was pretty nervous but thankfully we made it!

We stayed here for two nights and loved it. The views aren't that incredible from the campgrounds, but the hiking trails more than make up for it. The restroom facilities are fantastic and the campground staff are extremely helpful. It's a beautiful drive up to the top of the trailheads and even better when you start hiking.

This is my favorite road to get to Black Hawk or Estes Park via the peak to peak hwy. It's a fun curvy road and most people on the road will pull over for a group of motorcycles! Thank you very much, us riders love you people! It usually isn't that busy and there are a few places to pass legally... (our group doesn't pass on the yellow line, we hate those riders too... give us all a bad rep). Since I checked out a few reviews here I will go camping here too!

I had a few hours in the afternoon before a business meeting so I took a drive through the park on Mountain Base Road through the park. It is a lovely winding road through meadows and hills with spectacular views of the Rockies - definitely worth a look

Golden Gate Canyon is a truly paradise for hikers and mountain bikers.
There is so many trails with great views.
Take the camera when you go there.
I recommend this place.
RomanP

First time to Colorado and too little time. Hiked parts of Raccoon and Mule Deer Trails off of Panorama Point and really enjoyed the short time. The views of the Continental Divide were amazing and these particular trails are easy to maneuver. Our stop at the visitor center to get the permit was a very good experience with a lot of great information and an extremely friendly and helpful staff. They also have a nice selection of items for sell, T's Sweat shirts, Hats, etc. with good prices. Would go back without question.

A beautiful drive from Golden on a weekday to a park that offers hiking, biking, camping, picnicking and fishing. After visiting Rocky Mountain National Park and the crowds we found a gem that we almost had to ourselves. The views of the Rockies are fantastic. They have a visitor center that provides information about the park, stuffed animals that call the area home and a trout pond were you can feed the fish. Certainly a great place to spend the day and worth the trip.

If you want to give praise to a higher being, "GOD", then stop by this park and sit and listen for at least 5 minutes. Quietly, think how all of this beauty came about, and all in one place!

The Golden Gate Canyon park is one of the most relaxing quick destinations available in Colorado. Plentiful wildlife, helpful Rangers, a darling visitors center!

Trails from easy to advanced, and of course the friendly Colorado residents.

Who could ask for anything more?

Lynne Wright HGTV Featured Realtor Colorado Resident

Road from Golden to Golden Gate Canyon State Park (GGCSP) is curvey I've never seen before. I think there is not even quarter mile of stretch straight road. Most of the hikes in GGCSP are moderate to difficult and this park is more for serious hikers than those who go to see some easy hike natural places to relax. Do not rely on cellphones since at many spots there may not be coverage. I would not recommend any one hiking alone in this park. Ensure you've got trail maps with you and have made necessary arrangements of pickup and drop since most of the trails are not loop trails and your end point will be far from your start point. Most of the trails go through dense tree cover and I think one has good chance of spotting a bear or mountain lion if one goes for any long hike. Panorama point is a good spot however road to it has quite a steep grade (Did I read 19% grade?!! I think yes).

Love to take my RV here, love to stay multiple days. It is fairly close to were I live, it’s very peaceful and tranquil here. They keep the park very clean and the park hosts are really nice and helpful. Lots of trees and nice sights to park an RV in. Love this place.

My husband and I were visiting from Texas and wanted to do some day hiking. This park offered a variety of hikes from easy, moderate, to difficult. We chose Horseshoe trail which was a lovely quiet hike up along a stream leading to several meadows. Saw several birds and butterflies along the hike. Then we had a picnic in the North West part of the park which offered beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains.

We did a short hike up and back on Horseshoe trail before heading to the airport yesterday. The visitor center is right off the road, and offered great advice for us. The center itself has quite a bit educational items, and a nice stream fed pond area that boasts an incredible number of rainbow trout.

Be prepared to bring your own water, sunscreen, bug repellent. You can never have enough water even if you are used to the elevation.

Trails were well maintained, and marked to allow even a novice to hike in and around. We ran into a day camp hiking in with a bunch of young ones. Take your time, take breaks, and stay hydrated.

We hiked up Burro trail to Mountain Lion trail up to that Tallman Ranch. We live at sea level, so flying to Denver and immediately driving here to hike was probably a mistake. We made it, but is was definitely difficult for us. I would go back to the park, it was beautiful.

We came to this city for a reunion and chose this trail because it was spoken nicely by locals a lot and I wanted to avoid the tourists trails totally this trip !

We did the moderate Horse Shoe trail, mind you, the climbs on these at certain places are steep and you might require to stop for a good 5 minutes to catch your breath.
Other than that, its a beautiful trail surrounded by trees with very little openings.
We had walked pass a stretch where a moose was present without noticing it until being told about it by fellow trekker/hiker. We also learnt if that animal gives you a chase, its best to climb the rocks as it cannot climb that fast.

I would recommend this for first timers or those who are looking to make good of time and distance; this is the shortest one in this park, mind you, its not a loop, its till a point and you come down the same way;

Beautiful ride to the place; lots of curves and beautiful openings into the wild forest mountain ranges with a house tucked here and there; Amazing state, would love to visit here again;

We drove to Golden Gate Canyon from Denver to get some hiking in before our flight later in the day. It is easily accessible and offers a good range of hiking trails. The trails seem to be well- maintained. We stopped at the information station at the entrance first for some suggestions; the staff was very helpful. They also post the most recent wildlife sightings. One of the trails we hiked was the Raccoon loop trail which features Panorama Point. It’s about a 4 mile hike -lovely, often shaded, spectacular views of the snow-capped skyline.

I tent camped with my wife and two young kids (4 and 6) at Reverend's Ridge campsite and thought it was great. You could park next to the campsite, the camp was very clean and well maintained, the flush toilets and dishwashing sinks were nearby, and the showers and laundry were close as well. My family enjoyed the campsite and liked the nearby trails. It's also close to Denver and I-70 if you use highway 119 and the Gap Road exit (well marked on Hwy 119). I'd be careful with the trail maps, though. Some trails (Racoon for instance) say 2.2 miles but could link into other trails. Ask the park rangers for help.

It is a beautiful park. great hikes, mountain bike trails. you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. yet just 15 min up from hwy 93 in Golden.
They have party facilities, playground too. Great Place e

Beautiful park. Even if you just want to get away from the city and take a drive in the mountains, and don't care about hiking, go!.

The hiking is great, and my 10 year old daughter loved the sights.

My friend & I enjoyed the trails & views at this off the beaten path state park. Pack layers. Even in the summer, the temps drop because this park elevation ranges between 7,700 and 10,400 ft. I reserved a camping spot months in advance. This is necessary because camping spots @ Colorado State Parks fill quickly. Daily entrance fee is $7.

Twisty drive up the mountain but once at the top had nice hiking trails with a few good views. Mostly hiking in the forest but was very enjoyable

Just far enough out of town to get the mountain feeling. Tons of hiking and biking. The lady at the visitor center can be onery, but I am sure she fields some dumb questions.

We hit this early, as usual 7am or so. Self serve stickers and pay boxes. We enjoyed the vistas, trails and wildlife immensely. Did not enjoy the completely unnecessary sour attitude of the park ranger, short forty yr old with tats all over him. Would expect more from one of CO's better offerings. But in grace, we will chalk it up to a Napolean thing. Would avoid this park, and spend your time more wisely at Eldorado Canyon and in particular Rattlesnake Gulch. Enjoy the world class rock climbers there as well !!

This campground is clean, has excellent facilities, and has camping spaces whereby you have privacy but are still close enough for safety. It is nestled back in the mountains in a beautiful location yet you are 20-30 minutes to civilization for needed food and supplies, if you forget something. It is a favorite family spot!

Traveled here for the day because it was close to Denver, and had some hikes at altitude I could use to prepare for a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. I was pleasantly surprised. It was $7.00 to get in the park, and there is a ton of hiking. I went on the Raccoon, Mule Deer, and Blue Grouse trails. I also visited Panorama Point, from which you can see the continental divide, Long's Peak, and many other peaks in the distance. It was amazing. Even the drive in was beautiful.

Recommended.

This is my favorite trail of all time! I hiked it on November 11...it was peaceful, beautiful, and the exact right amount of challenge. Check out my video on YouTube by searching for Nash Potatoes Outdoor Show.

I came from Texas to get away from the heat and thoroughly enjoyed hikes on the Horseshoe and Black Bear trails. Staff at visitor center very helpful!

Truly beautiful place for hiking, with plenty of trails to choose from. The trails were not top busy, there's plenty of parking spaces with toilets.

So much to do and a great nature center. Fishing, camping, hiking and great views abound in this large and wonderful park. There is also great horseback riding and winter activities like snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Very peaceful foresty feeling. Doesn't feel close to Denver. Lots of trails, but as it is on the mountain may be too challenging for younger children. If you are traveling by RV make sure to take the Gap Rd access. From the main ranger station you cannot access the campgrounds by RV due to the grade. (4wd or car would be fine).

This is a beautiful park located within a short drive from Denver. The visitor's center is very quaint. The little fish pond located adjacent to it is a nice touch. You can get fish food out of a dispenser and feed the fish in the pond. That, in itself, is entertaining for young and young-at-heart.

There are numerous trails ranging from "easy" to "difficult". It is a nice drive up to the top with beautiful scenery if you are not into hiking. If you like to fish, you can do so in any of the ponds or streams.

There are two campgrounds in nicely wooded areas. It appeared the campgrounds mostly accommodate smaller rigs, we saw a few that you might be able to maneuver a big rig into. There are also five tiny cabins, two yurts and a guest house for rent. One of the campgrounds closes for the winter season, the other is limited and first-come only.

It is a great place to simply hang out for a couple of hours and have a picnic with a view. There are several picnic areas to choose from.

Dogs (leashed) are allowed within the park. Please be aware that cell phone service is very unreliable within the park.

My boyfriend and I were visiting some family members who were passing through CO and staying in Reverend Ridge Campground in their RV, and planned on pitching our tent on their site because the campgrounds were full. We arrived Saturday night and although both campgrounds were full, we were told a group had just left Aspen Meadows early. We drove over and snagged the site. We were lucky, I was told over the phone that the camping books up 180 days in advance. The camp host was off-duty but worked with us to accommodate us on that site. Unlike a previous review mentioned, we had a beautiful and very private site. The site was shaded and we couldn't see our neighbors, except for occasional lights or their fire. We could hear their kids and their fire, but it was not disruptive. We had a stream running behind our site, and were surrounded by trees and large boulders. The only negative was we had to carry our gear in quite a distance so it took a few trips, very tiring! But for us, also very worth it because we like the privacy. This also played into our evening because we had to lug our coolers and food back to the car late at night because of bear precautions. We were on site 35 and on the way to our site passed a couple other pretty secluded sites, but also a few very wide open sites. I would suggest researching the sites because not all were as secluded and pretty as ours. Next day we hiked Raccoon Trail loop and some of Mule Deer Trail. These were pretty and wooded, and led us to a nice view at Panorama Point. We can't wait to go back for more hiking and camping now that we know about this park!

We camped in Reverend’s Ridge Campground recently. I highly recommend this park at this time of year because of the beautiful golden aspen you can view. We came from Loveland and chose to drive the scenic peak to peak highway, which was in fact very scenic. I hiked raccoon trail in the park. This is labeled as a moderate 3.5 mike hike. It’s a great loop hike from the campground which goes past past panorama point. There are beautiful aspen and and great views. One tip I’d like to share: when hiking from the campground, you must travel approximately half mile along a trail to get to the loop; this trail is downhill fairly steeply going to the loop and therefore uphill returning. Also, the loop trail has a steep uphill grade to panorama point if you go around the loop to the left (clockwise), the return half of the loop has a less steep grade. I would recommend you go to the right when you reach the loop, then you would travel the steepest grade going downhill instead of uphill. Enjoy! I certainly did.

I hiked the Mountain Lion trail, which is a 6 mile loop around the eastern side of the park. It was a nice hike with no crowds that I enjoyed very much. They also have several ponds/lakes to fish in. None of the ponds are that big and I mostly caught 9-10 inch rainbows, but I did land a 21 inch rainbow in one of the small ponds. I camped at the Reverends Ridge campground and found the campground very well kept. There is a tent pad, fire pit and picnic table at each site and there are flush toilets at the comfort facilities.

June 2015 was the first time I had camped at Golden Gate Canyon and now that I've camped there I wonder why in 25 years of living in CO I'd never been there before. The campground is easy to get to from Denver and the surrounding area. It is clean and the facilities are in good repair. The camping spots are shaded and flat. There is plenty of space between camping spots so you do not feel that you are on top of one another. There are lots of trails to hike and the best part is there are showers. You have to pay to shower but it sure is a nice option to have. Be aware though, that the shower head sprays with such force that the spray hurts! It costs $1.00 for the first four minutes and then you can add a quarter for each additional minute. I thought I'd want to shower for 6 min. but the pain of the spray convinced me to keep my shower to just 4 min. This, however, is my only negative comment.

Very nice state park. Went on a Friday, and it wasn't very crowded (actually pretty much had the road to ourselves). Beautiful scenery, and abundant wildlife.

Not far from downtown Denver, you'll find lots of room for hiking, barbecuing, running, trail walking and biking.

A late Spring to early Fall drive to Golden Gate State Park is scenic and worth the trip for auto, motorcycle and bicycle. Note that on nice days, you may experience a lot of bicycle traffic on the two lane road. We frequently enjoy a commute up to Gilpin county and through the state park. There are opportunities to see and experience various wildlife in the area. The road can get crowded. There is opportunity for fishing, picture taking, hiking and soaking up the sun. During the week (M-Th) may be your best bet for the lighter traffic.

Didn’t do any hiking but drove up to Panorama Point which was gorgeous; then stopped at the pond with my dog. The park was pretty empty peoplewise. I didn’t even see a park ranger. Went a week ago and the aspens were still bright in some patches!

Enjoyed greatly the Hiking on trails, with beautiful, special nature views, of Mountains, and Meadows, and streams and wild flowers.
Please, see the remains of twin bay barns that stood on Hugh C. McCammons
1000 acre Mountain Ranch, from the year of 1863, on the trail.
Hugh C. McCammons, was a hard working pioneer, who came to the range in 1863, to live and to work in Golden, Colorado, who built his Homestead here.
History and Beauty and Nature, on these beautiful trails.
Enjoyed Bootleg Bottom Trail, Ole Barn Knoll, Mule Deer Trails.
I went from my home town, (out of state) of traffic, of noise, of new home construction, of chaos, of pollution, of views of buildings, to the views of beautiful creeks, beautiful
mountains, wildflowers, meadows, and coniferous forests.
Thank you, Colorado !!
Life Changing, for me !!
First visit to Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
Wear Hiking Boots, or good, ankle supporting shoes or sneakers, with non slip surfaces, on bottoms, of foot wear.
Enjoy, this beautiful State Park !!

We had a miserable experience staying in a cabin last fall. We brought our own bedding as directed, but the cots had BED BUGS.

This state park has something for every visitor. A wide variety of trails for all levels, beautiful drives, plenty of wildlife, fishing & trails. The camping sites (tent & electric) & day use areas are very well maintained. As well as the public restroom & shower facilities. The staff & rangers are full of knowledge and willing to visit with visitors. If you have kids there is a Jr. Ranger program! Each section of the park is like visiting different areas. Our family visits this park regularly and learn or see something new each time.

This has always been my go to State Park near Denver for a hike, drive or even overnight. Something for everyone, well laid out with good signage too. I have camped there in the past, but this time drove from Denver for a day trip and hike. There are lots of hikes there too. we did a 8 mile loop with some great photo ops along the way also.

Lots of Coloradoans and some tourists too, a little less crowded because it was a week day. $7 to get in.

The staff at the visitor centre were really helpful and friendly and gave me a good idea of where to go. I had a great walk on a very nice day - felt a combination of altitude and jet lag as it was my first day in Colorado. Drove up to the view point at 9000 ft recommended by the volunteers at the visitor centre - great views of the Rockies

What a great place !! We walked the Bridge and we thought was impossible to be there at that level...one of the Best place I saw in Colorado.

We've taken pieces of this trail for hikes and picnics. There is something for every one on one of this park's trails.

Stopped by to visit and it hasn't changed in 35 years. The view from Panorama Point is always beautiful it was the place my wife and I got married 35 years ago in August. Went down to Bridge Creek trailhead and listened to the creek flowing by at a picnic table. Be sure to bring a camera, and if you like to hike bring the necessary equipment. The trails are pretty and are identified as "moderate, difficult etc," on the maps.

My husband and I bought our first RV after retiring 3 years ago. This was supposed to be a "maiden" trip, however, other things got in the way and 15,000 miles later we headed up to Golden Gate for two nights in the mountains.

45 minutes from home, what a precious gift we have in our "backyard." We stayed in the Reverend's Ridge. The sites are spaced with plenty of room in between each one. Well water is available close by, as well as bathrooms and showers. There is also a place to wash dishes if needed.

We took a hike on the trail to Panorama Point. Beautiful fields of pine trees, aspens, columbines and many more wild flowers. We went during the week, so the place was not at all over crowded, even though most of the campsites were occupied.

We will continue to visit and stay at this beautiful place.

This park is in my backyard and I never get tired of it - especially in the fall. Abundance of wildlife. Nice camping facilities and a nice centrally location to explore.

Just a lovely place to hike and be out in nature. Wish they would do a better job with the toilets at the trailheads though, for a state park it's pretty lame.

The weather was cold and windy when we visited the park while on a drive around Colorado to see fall colors .. however, it was absolutely beautiful.
The welcome center is full of things to explore and the fish pond was a hit with my kids. We drove around the perimeter on Mountain Base Road and stumbled upon one of the most beautiful overlooks we've found so far.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is very special place. Everyone should go here and have an amazing time.

Stayed here because parks near nf were booked. Sites were wooded and nice. Not too much hiking without driving to trailhead first. Need to go into north entrance or it's a confusing route. It snowed on us in sept! Service excellent

These hiking trails are never crowded, seems like few locals know about this gem of a park

Beautiful mountain area! The Park is huge with lots of trails from challenging to easy! Plenty of picnic areas that are not overly crowded! Don't forget your camera!!

Drove up for the day, paid my entrance fee and then drove up to highest lookout point, got out and took my wife and dog for a nice 4 mile hike, went past an old log cabin that was fun to imagine living there in the old days.

The roads to the cabins and to our #2 yurt door were plowed/shoveled. The yurt inside was clean. The propane and baseboard heat were great. We were nice and warm. The bathroom facility was clean and also heated which really surprised us for the beginning of February. We were able to get water and wood whenever we wanted. We were the only people in the yurt and cabin area but the ranger was available if we needed him. We hiked and went snow shoeing which was perfect because we had fresh snow. The stay and experience was wonderful!

I love this state park and the only reason I give it 4/5 stars is that it is EXTREMELY overused! (and the trail signs could use some work)

30 minutes from the western suburbs, Golden Gate has unspoiled open space, picturesque hiking trails, a breathtaking view from Panorama Point, wildlife, hot running showers, yurts, cabins, and clean campsites. If possible, go on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Fall camping is excellent--some of the best aspen views in the state and you will have the park to yourself.

A great place to spend the day or longer. The fall colors were at their peak and this park has plenty of places to take a look. Plenty of trails if you like. The trout at the visitor center are enough to make any fisherman drool.

You don't have to venture very far from Denver to enjoy the scenery the park has to offer. Great place to camp, hike, bike, relax, take a drive, or just get away from it all. Absolutely beautiful!

The bus took ud to the visitor's center, which has some good explanatory stuff. There was a list of 'critters' seen recently; we saw none of these...GThe pond adjascent to the ranger dtation had lotsd of trout...no fishing allowed. We went up onto the mountsin for a picnic lunch. Spectacular views.

I love hiking and camping in Golden Gate. It's not too far of a drive from the city, but you can feel like you're far from civilization. They have some great views of all of Denver and the Metro area, or you can stay up in the mountians and never see the city.

Graet area off the beaten path. Great Elk calling at right time of year. Great wildflowers in spring/summer.

This is a wonderful State Park. There is a good visitor centre where you can feed the fish in the pond outside. There are lots of trails of differing levels of difficulty through beautiful pine and aspen forests with alpine meadows. No doubt if you visit at the right time of year the flowers would be spectacular. There is a drive along steep roads to access a stunning panoramic view point if you don't want to walk all the way.

This is a gorgeous state park. It is especially beautiful in the fall when the Aspens are changing colors. I have done the Raccoon Trail and the Burro Trail (with a Windy Mt offshoot and some parts of the Mountain Lion Trail as add ons to the route). The rangers at the headquarters are lovely and will give you advice on what hikes to do based on the time of year and level of difficulty you desire. The drive in and out of the park is quite fun with lots of winding mountain roads.

The panoramic views available at Golden Gate Canyon State Park make it a destination worth visiting and enjoying. I've been here a half-dozen times and I'm impressed every time. Bring a picnic and find a good spot with a view. It won't be hard to find.

Great state park, Cost was only $10 for a day pass and well worth it. Numerous trails as well as an extensive road system that takes you around the park. Views are astounding. Well worth the trip. We enjoyed hiking a couple of trails and seeing the fall foliage. Just a short drive north of Black Hawk.

the only negative of the trip is it is about 13 miles outside of Golden but once up there great place for a family easy hike and great scenery. The Aspens are just starting to change so late September it will be spectacular.

Beautiful area just minutes from Denver. Make sure you stop and take in the views at Panorama Point and hike on the trails near there. Plenty of roads to take a scenic drive through the beauty of Colorado.

I visited the park in April during a spring snow storm. The ranger at the visitors center was very helpful with maps, brochures, and guidance on camping and exploring. There were several notes posted of the wildlife that had been seen recently. I was able to drive to see the camping areas to pick out a great spot for later in the summer. The location is good for anyone that wants to be in the woods but close enough to town if you want a day to explore there. If you are in Denver, stop by to see the amazing views of this great park.

Lots of historic buildings and great hiking trails. Also several campgrounds. The bootleggers cabin is really cool as well as the Anderson ranch.

We camped here for 4 nights in June. We used this place as our home base for seeing the sites around CO. We wanted to be in the mountains, but close enough that we could do some other things. We were about an hour from Denver and about 30 minutes from Golden. We stayed in loop B, site 20. It is a large pull through site. We have a pop up and could have put 2 pop ups on the driveway it was so long. It took a little thought, but we figured out where to park so that we could use our awning too (trees close to drive). We loved having the electric, since we had been in National parks for the last week with no electric. Our site had a large picnic table....and I mean large. We had fires in the fire ring a couple nights. The bathrooms were close and always seemed clean. The dishwashing station was at the bathroom. We took showers at the shower house near the front of the loop. Showers cost a dollar (they have change machines in the restroom). You get 5 minutes. Each additional quarter you add will get you another minute. The showers were clean also. We did laundry one night at the shower house. It also requires quarters. I think it was like 1.75 per load to wash and another 1.75 to dry. We were warned to be bear safe at check in. I don't think they have near the problem with bears here though as we saw several grills left out and coolers left out. We were very careful though. I sure don't want a bear in my pop up camper! Loop B is wooded with tall pines and there were even wildflowers on our site. We didn't see any wildlife in the loop.

In the park we saw deer, chipmunks, bunnies and 2 bobcats. We were thrilled to see the bobcats. We drove the Mountain Base road when we weren't pulling the camper. It was a thrill in itself. 19% grade. That is where we saw the bobcats. We checked out Panorama Point which was beautiful. The trees in front of the viewing deck are getting tall and interfered with my picture - but it was still worth stopping there. We didn't have a chance to do the other trails on this trip, but we would like to return someday.

This is a beautiful park with great camping close to Golden, CO. Don't miss it.

Although the weather was not our friend on the 4th of July weekend, the facilities at the campground were great. They offer cabins and yurts for rent but you have to reserve early. Camp sites a plenty but they too need a reservation early in the season. This site gives you the feeling of being out in nature without a long drive from Denver.

Immediately off 46 and almost a majority of the way down to where the foothills end, this park winds up a canyon, has fishing lakes, cabins, camping areas. Lots to explore.

This was recommended by some locals who knew we weren't into a long car trip for a day hike. We just loved it! There are lots of trails to choose from. We started out at Panorama Point where there are great scenic photo opportunities from the several decks. From there, we took the Raccoon trail west towards Reverend Ridge campground. The trail is steep and somewhat rocky with exposed tree roots. By the time we reached the cutoff for Reverend Ridge, we were in need of restrooms so we decided to not take the complete loop on Raccoon back to Panorama, and instead we took the road from Reverend Ridge back to same time and energy. The problem is that the puny park maps that you get at the park entrance don't give you enough detail to negotiate your way through the campground and find the road. We ended up wasting a lot of time at Reverend Ridge since the place was virtually deserted on a weekday in mid September. My advice is to get detailed maps before you go anywhere in this park (that holds true in general).

Pretty campground about an hour outside of Golden/Denver area. This campground does have some electrical hookups but not water at campsites. The campground is in a separate area from the Official Visitors Center and I was not the only camper that had difficulty finding the campground after hours. Hwy 119 which leads to the campground was closed due to an accident and gps lead me around for 2 additional hours to get there. Give Golden Gate Canyon a try.Happy camping.

Fabulous campground that's close to Boulder & Denver, yet feels as if you're in the middle of the wilderness. Stays here in Loop E with a trailer; electric, no water or sewer.

HUGE camp site, with loads of healthy (!) pine trees, a pad for the picnic bench, and generous fire ring. Closest "town" is Nederland, where you'll find grocery, beer/wine, bistros, etc.

Staff is very professional and friendly. Overall, an excellent escape from the Denver metroplex!

We followed the Burro trail up to Windy Peak and had a great time. Wear hiking boots and pack layers: at times it was cold and they don't call it Windy Peak for nothing. Perfect day hike with views of the surrounding mountains. If you have Yaktrax, you won't regret packing them!

This place is no big shakes. Like most state parks its over regulated and hs too many rules. The hiking is okay. To many other great places to go nearby

The observation deck at Golden Gate Canyon State Park is well hidden. First visit to this area of the park was in the 1960's. It sits back a few miles from the main highway through the area between Nederland and Central City, CO. Although we had visited the area several different years, we had not been to the park. We decided that we would like to take it in again. We asked everyone we saw for a couple days, including the Chamber of Commerce in Nederland, where the observation deck of the park was located. No one knew. Finally Googled it, got the phone number and called. They reported it is 10 miles from Nederland - took 18 minutes to get there. I know most go to the park to camp or hike. When we want to camp or hike, we know where the areas with a lot less people. For scenery viewing there is a great observation deck., One can stand on the observation deck in the park and see the eastern slope of the Colorado Rockies from North of Estes Park to south of Berthoud Pass.

Close to town but worlds away. Have lived here for years and don’t know how I missed this nearby gem. Ample hiking & camping facilities without the drag of I-70. Surprising elevation gain in short distance.

This is an awesome place, just west of Golden about 13 miles. Excellent trails for all levels of difficulty. Very well marked trails. Great visitor center with helpful staff. Great views. Plan to return.

The trails and the nature are great there. You can take dogs with you, campground was great. It can get very hot in the summer.

Good hiking location with lots of trails. Not as busy as some other places so you can have some alone time. Has some really nice camp sites as well which are spread out and near fishing and hiking areas.

You might think you'll never get there from Hwy 93, but just hang on. When you do, you'll have plenty to see!

Have been going to this State Park since 1972 and while it's changed it's still a great place to escape the summer heat within an hour of Denver. Well marked trails and beautiful views.

Golden Gate State Park also rents out cabins and yurts in addition to camping. It is a wonderful place to go in the off season when there are very few or no campers. Try snow shoeing or cross country skiing from outside the door of your cabin. Dogs are welcome

This place is so nice. Great areas to hike and have a family picnic. The visitor center is very welcoming and has some interesting facts.

This is a gorgeous place, close to Golden , that makes you feel lost in nature. There is a good variety of camping areas including yurts and cabins. The mountain bike trails and hiking trails take you through all sorts of terrain. I love going to see the changing aspens trees in this expansive park. If you camp here you be will a short drive from Blackhawk and a half hour drive to downtown Golden or Nederland.

Overall this place is beautiful. However there is an old saying about the devil being in the details.
That old saw is certainly true regarding the campground with the name that won’t quit.

So which details fail, let’s start with the campground’s map. It is bereft of two significant features for any camping adventure: location of potable water and the location of the restrooms.

Trust me if it is your first time at a large camping venue you will need this information. Leaving this info out of their map seems a stupendous error.

Specifically we were in loop D of Reverend’s Ridge and the only foot access we could find to a restroom forced us to walk through another campsite (fortunately it was a vacant site). That does not make sense.

As far as water outlets I checked with 4 other campers our first morning here, none of them knew where to find water.

Beautiful place but they need to clean up these two large problems. We frequently use state parks in CO and haven’t run into this problem before.

We took the 3,5 mile moderate hike through some of the most breathtaking views ever. We went on September 30th which was the perfect time to view the aspens changing colors. We took a picnic lunch and this is the best hike I have ever been on. Lots of folks brought their dogs along which was fun. The trails are wide enough for mountain bikers as well.

The ranger was very helpful. I appreciated her eagerness to set us on the right path to a great hike. We went up to panorama point saw some great views, hiked racoon trail which was very shady. We then drove back down the mountain a bit to the next hiking area and had a lovely hike through the meadow with flowers everywhere. The second part was sunny though, we should have done it first.

We come here with our community hiking group about twice a year. Though it's higher than Denver or Boulder it can get pretty warm in July and August so we tend to hike before and after that. There are some excellent wild flower hikes. Trails are well marked and they have a convenient fold-out trail map. The visitor center is staffed with friendly, knowledgeable people (and has excellent bathrooms). Do stop by and purchase the day pass; they check cars at the trail heads and ticket offenders. And, they need the funds to maintain those excellent trails.

We were able to go yesterday and see
more of the fall colors. The drive is beautiful. We have4 and 18 month old. we arrived around 2pm, it was well spent 2.5 hr. We first went to Kriley pond because my 4 year old like to practice fishing and we went to the Panorama Point. It was a breath taking view and you can see more aspen.We drove all around the park and it was really beautiful.

This was a wonderful short day trip for us, that would have been even shorter if we didn't get confused by the road in front of the very educational visitor's center, and ended up going the wrong way. It turns out that you have to actually get off the main road to Panorama Point to get to the visitor's and fee center--but you then have to remember to turn left then right to get back on the road. It is a very steep grade (19%), so downshifting instead of braking is a must. But it is a relatively short and beautiful drive--supposedly the woods where you can fish, camp and hike are full of bear, mountain lions, moose and elk, but we saw nothing more than a trout. The Panorama point is a boardwalk-like built-up pavilion with a breathtaking panorama of the mountains. You can hike there, as well. There are posters pointing out what mountains you are viewing in the distance. We went to the park the more scenic way, then exited and went through Central City to take the fast and direct Central City Parkway back to I-70. I would recommend that route.

Quaint nature area, actually camped in it a day later at high altitude. Certainly worth a trip, especially when you come from an area where there are no mountains (Florida).

We did about 10 miles here the other weekend, and really enjoyed it. We did one of the more strenuous hikes and were rewarded with fairly empty trails. Whenever we doubled up on a moderate or easy route, they were quite crowded. But, we did start at noon and the parking was hairy. I recommend going early.

If you are short on time in the Denver area, this is a great drive out, then return via Clear Creek. We only had a couple of hours, but it sure did seem like we got a taste of the Rockies.

We did a 4 mile hike (round-trip) to the Panorama look-out for some great mountain views. The trail was a little challenging for some who hadn't done aerobic exercise in while. Some grades were around 45 degrees but then leveled off. Crisp fall mountain air was wonderful. It can get crowded in the parking lot on weekend days so we arrived at 9:00 am and had plenty of parking but it was full when we got back 2 hours later.

Clean and safe camping for families. Gorgeous hikes (well marked) throughout. Worthy of day trip to hike and views or weekend camping. Bet it's spectacular when aspens are turning.

Fall leaves were good, nice little lakes for fishing

Very definitely a family friendly place - especially in summer - within easy driving distance of Denver. There are spectacular mountain views in all seasons and at all times of the day and night (camping permitted). Visit their website for advance information, fees and events.

Lots of wildlife. Friendly staff. Close to Denver lots of fresh air, cooler temperatures, nice campgrounds and plenty of picnic locations. Mountain Base Road and Panorama Point are must thing to drive and check out the view

Tried my hand at rock hounding here and ended up just driving around marveling at the historic sights and stunning vistas.

Stayed in July 2021 in Aspen Meadows, site 9. Beautiful site tucked a few feet back in woods (need to walk items about 40 feet from vehicle). Aspen Meadows located in higher elevation compared to other areas in park. Only concern was site 9 was right on top of site 8 and the bear food storage containers were both on site 8, which was uncomfortable at night putting items away given you have to push hard (and loud) to close the door of these containers. We were so close to site #8, I noticed we and our neighbors tended to face opposite ways just to give ourselves a sense of privacy. Poor design by state, but good rating reflects beauty of area.

This park is easily accessible, great hiking paths, and good scenery, although they instruct not to have dogs on the paths or run wild, this is Colorado and dog owners are rude and disobey every leach law and clean up law in existence

Beautiful park close to Denver. The canyon can get pretty crowded on weekends during the summer so leave early if you are coming up then. Be careful of the many bikes that also travel the canyon. The park has good picnicking places and hiking trails. Being in the foothills plan for any kind of weather change.

Came up with the family for a long weekend to get away from the heat of Denver and all the BS from work. It was fantastic. Great hiking trails for beginners as well as seasoned hikers. The best part was the cell service was horrible. Not so great for the kids, but it forced us to play games and talk and just have fun again. Highly recommend it. Great time and only 30 minutes from Denver.

Beautiful drive, staff/volunteers at the visitor center were awesome full of life and information. We want to try camping here sometime.

Spent two nights at Aspen Meadow Campground and hiked the surrounding trails. Beautiful area. Be sure to bring everything you need as the nearest place to shop is pretty far down the mountain.

There are many excellent hiking trails and many ponds for fishing. The information center is very helpful and has excellent maps and the rangers are very knowledgeable.

From our Days Inn hotel on W Colfax (close to Golden) it was only a 30 minute drive up to the park. Wow, those cyclists that ride that winding road up there must be in excellent shape! We stopped at the visitor center and got some great advice to hike the Burro trail. We were there on a Saturday so knew it could get busy and she directed us to a trail that wasn't crowded at all. We started off around 9:30am and ended up doing a combination of Mountain Lion and Burro up to Windy Peak. We loved every minute of it and for a $7 park entrance fee it felt like it was almost free! There were a variety of trails of different lengths and difficulties so there is a trail for anyone that wants to hike.

One of our favorite parks to go for a day hike. Close to west Denver. Lots of trails to choose from.

This was our first visit to the park and we thought it was well worth the time to visit. The visitors center was really nothing to see but the park itself was beautiful.

The drive is about 45 minutes from Denver by the time you get through traffic etc. The day parking pass was cheap and that was our only expense. They had maps available at the welcome center and many different trails to choose from based on difficulty and length. Many different picnic/fishing areas. Our hiking trail was clear with beautiful scenic views when we got to the top. We saw a few other people on the trial but overall not crowded which was nice. Wish we had more time to drive through the entire park.

We were told by the information booth in Nederland that there were absolutely no campgrounds with hot showers anywhere near. Since we had driven all night from Ohio, hot showers were important to us. Our first night in the area was spent at a hotel because of this. A local informed us of this state park with showers/ We drove up after a day of hiking and were pleasantly surprised. I would say this is one of the nicest state park campgrounds I have visited. The sites were neat and tidy with a great level area for tents. Restrooms and showers were clean and maintained and the campgrounds were quiet and beautiful. Overall, a very pleasant experience!

Visitors center is very educational for something so small. Ranger programs are interesting and fun. Lots of open space so you can enjoy a picnic without going far from your car or hike several miles to get away from it all.

Great little place to go camping or just picnicing, I have always caught fish at these ponds. Close to town makes this another great day trip place.

Although it is tough to get into the campgrounds, we were lucky enough to spend 10 days here in our RV. There are only electrical hook-ups, but there is also a "sanitation station" to dump and to get fresh water. Book 6 months in advance or you probably won't get in. Lots of Colorado people here because it's an easy drive from the larger cities. Nearby Nederland is a fun town.

I don't intend to scare anybody away from visiting Golden Gate Canyon State Park, a serene mountain escape 30 miles west of Denver, Colorado. Located northwest of Golden, the 11,998-acre Front Range park has over 150 campsites, 100 picnic sites, 36 miles of hiking trails, 22 miles of horseback riding paths and enough beautiful scenery to exhaust any photographer. But take it from someone who has been there. There are some things to watch for--or watch out for. Pack a jacket and dress in layers because the temperatures can change quickly at the higher altitude. Beware of mountain lions. Reserve a campsite far in advance. Don't set campfires. Now you can enjoy your trip. Hike the popular Mountain Lion Trail, a 6.8-mile loop that is moderately difficult but worth its rocks in scenic beauty. Drive to Panoramic Point Scenic Outlook and take pictures of the surrounding area, including the Continental Divide. There is so much to see and do in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, including hiking, biking, birding, camping, fishing, backpacking, horseback riding, rock climbing, hunting, wildlife viewing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating. Or, if you aren't so energetic, you can just enjoy the scenery and breath the crisp, fresh, fall mountain air. Look for deer, elk, moose and black bears. But beware of mountain lions.

This park has lots of great places to picnic, hike, go on a scenic drive, or to just relax in a beautiful place.

Aspen Meadows campground has 35 sites and is for tent only campers. Not a single site has shade over the tent pad or picnic table. The sites are all literally on top of one another which in my mind defeats the purpose of camping. My tent site was literally ten feet away from my neighbors pad and the park rangers are like nazis and insist that you must use the pad site to set up your tent. Although I had asked the park host if I could set up my tent in another location that was close to my designated site and was granted permission, the park rangers wandered over to my site right at dusk and interrupted our dinner and told me to move my tent to the pad provided immediately. The park is beautiful but forget about camping there.

Close to Denver, yet far enough away that you feel like you're truly in the mountains - we had a great hike with our three dogs. The view of Denver is spectacular, or you prefer to pretend you're nowhere near the big city, just turn your back for wonderful mountain views. There are many trails to choose from, and the elevation is low enough that we were still able to see aspens changing - loved it!

There are a number of challenging, and not so challenging trails at the park. One of the trails allows you to see the ruins of an old log cabin. The views are wonderful. The beginning of the trail is one of the difficult parts. It goes uphill quickly.

We just drove up and back, but it was an enjoyable drive, with nice scenery. Lots of cyclists and a little scary passing them at times.

Really amazed that this is so close to Denver and Golden. Expected very arid conditions, but it is heavily wooded with all kinds of plants and trees. Extensive hiking and fishing, lots of trailheads with bathrooms - very well-laid out. BUT be careful trusting hiking distances given on park maps and signs. We went to do what was supposed to be a 4.5 mile loop and it turned out to be almost 7 miles! Someone has really dropped the ball when it comes to the info on the main map they hand out and post everywhere. Common sense doesn't apply a lot when it comes to distances and elevation gain info. A loop is a loop - unless somebody has a magical teleportation machine, they're not going to start the hike at some intersection that is already well away from the trailhead.

I completely understand why this trail is considered difficult. I’m fit and if still took about 4.5 hours to complete the 8 mile loop. The views were breathtaking and afterwards we treated ourselves to dinner in Golden. Don’t hike this trail alone.

It had snowed the previous two days and there was about 7-9 inches on the ground. The roads were good and we took the long slow ride back to Denver. The scenery is beautiful and we were anticipating wildlife - but didn't see anything. Great for a short trip!

This park is full of beauty around every turn. There are so many great hikes throughout. I plan to fish there this spring. There are also some great spots right off the road for picnics and grilling. This park would be a great place to take your out of town guests for a drive.

This is a wonderful place for locals as well as visitors. Out-of-state visitors who are unable to visit the mountains can enjoy an outdoor experience here. The foothill altitude is not as difficult to handle compared to the mountains. The roads are easier to navigate as well. Locals can appreciate the convenient location with multiple entrance points and trails with varying degrees of difficulty.

The trail map is available online. During visitor hours, the information building is staffed and provides plenty of additional materials. Visitors need to familiarize themselves with the native wildlife (lions, coyotes, red foxes, bears, etc.) and common sense precautions. The building is conveniently located near the entrance to the park.

The trails are well marked and maintained. Colorful wildflowers flourish in the spring and summer months.The trail map delineates the level of difficulty as well as the type of trail. Be aware that some trails are used by horses. Yes, watch your step.

In addition to hiking trails, check out the Panoramic Point in the northern part of the park. The park is also the home to several different historical buildings worth investigating. Many are close to the road. The park brochure provides the locations.

This state park is just a short drive from Golden, or Boulder but it feels like you are way up in the mountains. A great park to drive through for pretty views and breathe in the fresh pine tree smell. There are also many trails for hiking of all levels. Our dog had a great time navigating the trails and finding pine cones on our hike. We did find an old water pump drinking fountain but it is best to bring your own bottle to stay hydrated.

I dare anyone visiting this park to try to sit and watch the sunset. All the way.
At 730, while we tried to sit and enjoy the sunset and the beauty as we had been walking all day. Two local cars would NOT STOP harassing us to leave. One jeep with a life is good tag on the back and a truck. The two white security trucks had already come and checked our tags and collected payment and left for the night. The park CLOSES AT TEN PM.
After eight we were already feeling like we stepped into SERIOUS GANG ACTIVITY.
As we went to the car and prepared to leave we realized we were being followed.
Past Nederland five miles away.
All the way down the mountain nearly to BOULDER.
Same two vehicles followed us, tailgating us dangerous down the sloping mountain road.
I DARE YOU TO TRY AND WATCH A SUNSET AT GOLDEN CANYON STATE PARK.
See what the locals do...because it wont be the state park officials.
There is a section of private property snack in the middle of the public park property on the map
GOD KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE HIDING.
TRY IT
I DARE YOU

There are lots of aspen here-cant wait to go back in a few weeks. It is beautiful. There are some really nice hiking trails and picnic spots. A real nice park not too far at all from Denver.

This is a wonderfully maintained park with tons of opportunity for solitude while hiking or backcountry camping. All skill levels can find wonderful things to do here. Camping, fishing, hiking, nature watching, aspens, cookouts, scenic drives. The rangers are knowledgable and friendly. I have been here over a dozen times and it is consistent. A total win.

Great place to go to see the fall colors and do a few hikes.

If you're in the general area, the park is definitely worth a visit.

My husband and I camped in Loop J of Reverend's Ridge. The tent sites are nicely spread out so that, even when we had neighbors, we still felt we had some privacy. There are flush toilets between Loop I and Loop J with sinks and electrical outlets. There's also a dish washing station there, but it's low hurt my back. A little up the road is the shower house, laundry room, and vending machines. The dish washing station there is much nicer.

The one thing I hated about this park was the showers. They're coin-operated (a quarter a minute), and the nozzle feels like it's power-washing my skin. Too much pressure in too fine a stream. Plus, the water doesn't seem to stay warm for long. I showered twice during my stay; the first time taught me not to shower at night. Way too cold.

As for the views, they are quite lovely. Several mountaintops and plenty of beautiful Aspen trees nearby. The Panorama Overview can be driven to or hiked to, but it's definitely worth seeing. The hiking trails range from moderate to difficult with a lot of uphills.

Golden Gate Canyon Road is curvy and a bit daunting for drivers lacking experience with mountain roads. The Reverend's Ridge campgrounds are, thankfully, within easy distance of 119, which can take you to Nederland, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Boulder.

Would definitely go back again for more hiking. Loved the light snow dusting with the sun beating down

This state park is well worth the visit, There are hiking and biking trails for every experience level.

I love driving up into the canyon, nice visitor center, I just wish sometime I would see the wildlife!!! I always feed the fish though at the visitor center. The colors are so pretty in the fall. I don't know about a fee, for some of the access I think yes. But not just to get to the visitor center.

Near Denver and Golden, with lots of great hikes, views and picnic places

Great date park. Always enjoy fishing at small ponds in park. Great seeing youngsters catch a trout or two and see them light up with the experience. Hey the adults also catch the spirit too.

What a beautiful drive only 30 minutes outside of Denver. Great traisl and hiking. Love the campground. Great for tent campers or RV's.

Not spectacular, but a nice drive from Golden and doesn't take up the whole day.

Reverends Ridge is a great place to camp! Wheelchair accessible and well laid out sites. Our very favorite place to get away from it all close to home.

Started our hike at 7:30am on Saturday morning. The first section of trail was steeper than anticipated and fairly rocky. Once it evens out the hike is more enjoyable. The views were lovely, and we enjoyed a break on the porch swing at Tallman Ranch. We didn't see anyone on the way up, but passed about 7 or 8 couples on the way down. Definitely a nice challenge for a couple beginners.

I JUST GOT BACK FROM CAMPING AT GOLDEN GATE. I've been going there for 5 yrs. straight. The Rangers coulnd't have been nicer with the hail storm we had on 7/19th. I would recommed anyone to go there. I specifically love the are and it's great for hiking.

We recently spent 3 days camping and hiking at Golden Gate state park. We came here about 25 years ago, and remembered it as an amazing campground, with beautiful sites. Upon our return, we found this to still be true.
We are tent campers, and have found it difficult to find water and electricity for tent campers, and also have restrooms and showers. Golden Gate offers all these things, along with beautiful campsites. You will find relative privacy, while enjoying water and restrooms within short walking distance.
I did find that during our stay, the restrooms were not as well maintained as I would have expected, with several showers (women) out of order, and toilet paper in some facilities missing.
The raccoon trail via panorama point was our favorite trail. It was scenic, and challenging enough for flat landers trying to adjust to both the elevation and terrain. There were some detours along the trail to keep hikers from entering a raptor's (Goshawk, I believe) nesting area, but the trail was well marked with no question how to proceed.
We booked our site well in advance on Reserve America. Upon arrival, we found that the description on their reserve site was not accurate. In our case, a tent pad was missing, making our first night rather uncomfortable. We had some assistance from the friendly, helpful staff at the ranger station, and were able to utilize our space differently. Next time I will NOT rely on Reserve America, and phone directly to the park to confirm any campsite descriptions.
This is definitely a sought after campground, as there was no availability at Reverend's Ridge in the foreseeable future. A wonderful place for all types of campers.

Near Denver. Has some nice hiking trails but is not suitable for most RV's.
A fishing pond, nice places for picnics.

We took out-of-town friends up to hike during a recent visit. Did the Horseshoe trail and it was great. We also stopped at the continental divide overlook for a quick peek (it was cloudy, so the view wasn't amazing that day).

This is a wonderful place to motorcycle through or tour in your car.

Good place to escape city crowds. Totally undeveloped park, make your own entertainment. Big enough for a leisurely drive in the country and you can walk all day without seeing a soul. Bring your own water, there's no facilities. We usually drive this way when we take the Peak to Peak route.

We love to camp there whenever possible. The campgrounds are level and there are electric hookups. The bathrooms and showers are modern and very clean. The views from the park are beautiful, with panoramic views of the continental divide. There are many good hiking trails as well. The ranger talks at night are usually informative and fun. One of our favorite parks in Colorado!

This is a beautiful state park with great amenities.

My husband and I finally took our two daughters for a drive through Golden Gate Canyon State Park a couple weeks ago. We live so close yet had never ventured in. This place is beautiful! We didn't actually even spend time hiking around too much as this was more a "scouting" visit. We are definitely going to make several trips back to the park to spend time exploring.

Really beautiful hike. Trails are well marked and scenery is beautiful . We planned on a 5 mike hike but ended up doing close to 8 miles . Trail is moderate and crosses a pretty stream several times, There are well kept bridges. Make sure you make it to the lake!

Great views and lots of campsites. It can fill up on the weekends during the summer. Try a weekday for a quieter experience or go online to reserveamerica.com and book a site early. Beautiful place to hike and enjoy the views!

We were in G.G.C.S.P just a week ago. We were greeted by a volunteer at the Reverend's Ridge Visitor Center who was very knowledgeable about the area; what to see, where to go, the best times to go there, etc. We drove 1 day to Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park. This is quite a tiresome drive as you are going along mountain roads, so may not be the best place to use as a base to the National park. The campground was only 1/4-1/3 full during the week. Weekends get very full. There are nice hiking trails-challenging for those of us who don't live at those elevations! Spacious sites, tent pads, bathroom/shower/dish-washing/laundry building. Showers are $1.00, in quarters, for 4 min.

This was our first time visiting Golden Gate Canyon and we were not disappointed. This is a beautiful park with lots of excellent hiking trails for all abilities. The fall colors on the aspen trees were incredible. The park felt very far removed from civilization but was not too far from Golden and Denver. We camped at site 35 at the Aspen Meadows campground. The site was very secluded and tranquil. The other sites at Aspen Meadows appeared very nice too. There was a little bit of an uphill walk from the parking area to the site but it really wasn't too bad. I can not wait to return.

Semi-private tent only camping is available in Aspen Meadows. The campsites provide a raised gravel bed and plenty of shade trees. There are several moderate hiking trails from the campground, that generally are along well-graded fire roads. We took the Snowshoe Hare hike to Dude's Fishing Hole, a catch and release pond. We also took the 2.5 mi Buffalo Trail from Rifleman's Group Compound, a bit further down Gap Rd., through Forgotten Valley to a restored settler's house and pond. The views from Panorama Point, west on Gap Rd. of the central ridge of the Rockies are gorgeous and there is a 3.5 mi loop on the Raccoon Trail there.

We and another couple took our 36 foot fifth wheel here for a six day camping trip. Our campsite was beautiful with lots of trees. The campground itself was exceptionally clean and had campsites to accommodate all types of RVs. There are even several yurts to rent. We are already planning to come back next year for a longer trip.

This park is lovely but be careful because not all of the trails are well marked.

We went to Golden gate state park for a day trip to the mountains. We first went to the visitors center and enjoyed being there. They have a lot of mounted animals, bear, beaver,elk,owls,and many more. They also have a place where people leave notes on what they saw in the park, where they saw it, what day and time.
We have an annual pass but if you don't and want to get one they were $8.00
We went to a pond there and saw 4 trout caught within an hour. There are several ponds in the park.
We then decided to go hiking, there are many hiking trails all throughout the park. They also have remote camping and in the future we will go camping there. The mountains are green now from the rain and snow this year. We saw fragrant wild roses and wild flowers and even mushrooms. We went for a short hike about 2 miles. There was a nice breeze and many Aspen's, A very enjoyable time. We did not bring a picnic lunch with us but there are many areas with tables and grills set aside for picnics.

I hike there almost every summer. It is beautiful place for hiking and picnic.
You must pay about $7.00 for the park, but it is well worth it.

Golden Gate Canyon park is great for a close by Denver park to get to with great views of the Front Range including Denver and multiple hiking trails to choose from. They have done a great job maintaining the parks and trails and it is worth the adventure to get out of the city and explore. Within 1 hour from Denver you can be off on a hiking trail and away from the nuts of the big city. As always, remember to pack out what you pack in and respect the parks, trail and nature that is there for our enjoyment.

I reviewed this place 3 years ago and I have to leave another one about the signage. You can tell somebody TRIED to create an accurate and comprehensive set of signs on the trails, but fell well short of that goal. Some places have signs every 30 feet that are completely redundant. Other places where a sign is vital, like a trail intersection, have nothing at all. In many places, they have posted the main park map on big boards. Problem is, one of the colors of ink used to denote trails has faded completely in the sun and is literally invisible. So you can't see those trails or what their names are! We actually got temporarily lost and had to backtrack up a very steep hill our last time out because of the poor directions. I recommend you bring your own maps!

There are tons of hiking trails and camping areas and picnic spots, so you can spend a lot of time there. Beautiful scenery.

I had a great time there the last week of May. If you go around then make sure you pack warm clothes, we got snow!

A great mix of challenging and moderate hiking. View at trailheads are amazing, 180 degree view of snowcapped mountains. We went in October and saw snow on the trails, a little icy.

Only complaint is the lack of signs in certain places.

Lots of hiking,fishing,picnics,wildlife and a great place to get away from the big city.They keep it up also.Deer ,elk,turkey,fish ,bear and 1 hour away! They stock the ponds often for kids and adults.

When you plan a trip to this park, not only should you plan extra time for the long winding roads, you also need to get there early. When were looking for a place to camp on a recent road trip in the Denver area, we had an unexpected delay getting tires at a Discount Tire center north of Denver. That put us several hours behind our planned schedule. When we arrived at the Visitor Center at Golden Gate, we learned that it closes at 4:30 pm and we could not get the camp-site we had planned on. They even had the bathrooms locked up, as they were inside the center. Poor planning on my part, but if you are going there, you need to know this.

While snowshoeing on trail, loose dog snuck up behind me and jumped on my back. Used citronella spray. Owner appeared, threatened to kill me, and charged me. He left my windshield in parking lot smeared with mud, spit and snot. Had to wash car with bleach due to Coronavirus possible contamination.
Park Manager II, Alyssa Gillmore, says if I don’t like it I should go to another park.
Over 24 hours since assault and Park authorities have still not contacted me. I sent in photos and left several messages.
Besides these 2 felonies, with no response, I encounter several other loose dogs, well away from owners. Park seems to do little, if anything, to enforce their own regulations. It’s easier for them to tell user, who is a taxpayer, to go to another park.
If your wary of loose strange dogs roaming the trails, stay away from this place!

We love this campsite. We stayed in Reverend's Ridge camp ground. The bathrooms are flush, and for a small fee, you can shower if needed. Perfect space for kids. Hiking is beautiful.

I live at the bottom of the Canyon and this park is at the top ... I just love it. A great place to hike year-round. I've seen all sorts of wildlife too ... including Lynx (very rare here in Colorado ...).

Colorado Artisan Buddy Townsend Home Studio, Sheep Mountain Overlook Gallery is just down the road from Golden Gate Canyon State Park. A must see State Park for all of the wildlife and beautiful natural scenes, Colorado is one of the most breathe taking, God inspiring, natural beauty one can experience in this life here on earth!

It was a short drive from Denver, you are close to the Red Rocks, too. The views are amazing and you can see lots of wildlife if you are lucky!

Lots of great hiking trails! We did a 3 mile loop (raccoon trail) that was moderate (ups and downs but not too steep.) gorgeous views especially at panorama point. Had a picnic at the top. They have porta potties at the top as well as picnic tables. Highly recommend!

Golden Gate Canyon park is a wonderful place. It's got all sorts of great hiking trails. Only 45 minutes from Denver it's easily accessible.

We highly recommend this park. It's not nearly as heavily used, and much closer to Golden than the National Park. We saw tons of wildlife on the Horseshoe Trail, one of few moderately challenging hikes. It led to a high meadow and the old Frazer homestead site.

We stayed here because we left for our trip earlier than expected and needed a place to camp until we went to MT.
Positives- Spacious campsites, helpful staff and Rangers, clean, beautiful views! Hiking trails were great also.
Negatives-
1. no water hook up at the Electric campsites. But there is ample access to water in each loop.
2. You have to pay for a shower. $1 for minutes and each quarter added after that adds 1 more minute.
But for $20 a night, I'm not complaining!

If I had not visited Eldorado Canyon State Park (ECSP) the day before, I would have probably been more impressed with Golden Gate Canyon State Park. It has truly magnificent views from Panorama Point that you don't want to miss. The young woman at the visitor center wasn't nearly as helpful in recommending trails or things to see in the park as had the person I had encountered at ECSP. I hiked the Racoon Trail, a 2.5 mile loop with about 500 foot ascent. I started and ended at Panorama Point, and the trail offered additional views of the distant snow covered mountains. Other than that, the trail was not that varied or interesting. There are numerous other trails, but the person at the visitor center offered very little information about them except that some are very difficult. Also, as the other trail I wanted to hike went through the middle of the area that allows hunting and this was hunting season, I was hesitant to hike it. The park is very large and spread out, and there is very little to guide you as to what to do or see other than Panorama Point. If you have time, the park is well worth it. But, if you're in the Denver area and have time for only one state park, I'd recommend ECSP.

This is a great spot for hiking, picnicking, or camping. It is easily accessible and a beautiful area that seems well maintained. It is a windy drive up, but it's worth it once you arrive especially knowing it isn't really that far from Denver.

I have been hiking here for years so I can give the lowdown.
Donkey - 2 miles. No water on trail. 1 mile up and 1 mile down (not exact). This is a good trail to hike to see what kind of shape you are in. Most of the 'up' is in the sun and the 'down' is in the shade. There is a shelter up on top.
Burro - 4 miles. You hike to the top of Windy Peak. This is a good thigh burner and lung buster. In the spring, there is water along the creek before you start up Windy Peak. That's it. You will hit the same stream on your way back.
Mountain Lion - 6 miles. This is the longest trail and my favorite. You can combine others to make longer. This gives you everything. Open, grassy areas; hike along the stream (backside of Windy Peak); lung buster to Windy Peak; gradual downhill to the cabin/ pond and back to trail head. Plenty of water along trail - mostly in Spring and early Summer
You can bring your dog but keep on a lead since the rangers walk the trail. I have never seen anything larger than a ground squirrel. In the fall, they allow hunting back along Mtn Lion area. I will not hike there once hunting season starts. I decided that when I pulled up to my trailhead and a hunter was taking out his cross bow! I don't camp here either; too many croutons. (camping trailers/ motorhomes, etc..)Other than that - ENJOY!
In regards to the post about residents should not have to pay...how do you think are parks are maintained? $70 is a steal for what you get in return.

This is probably my favorite state park and Colorado has a number of good ones. The mountain biking here gets my highest marks. It can be an epic effort if you do all the trails in one ride. There's lots of climbing and lots of descending. Some just easy smooth brown ribbon and other stuff very rocky, steep and technical. There's amazing views in places like Panorama Point. And there's times you're so far in you feel like you're nowhere near civilization. But you're really never that far from an intersection or parking area.

The camping here is really good too. I've camped individually and also in the group campgrounds, but never at the primitive backcountry sites. There's water and bathrooms at the campgrounds but not at the backcountry sites.

I know there's fishing but I've never participated. It seems like this would be the one thing I would not do here as it's usually very busy on summer weekends.

Did I mention it's only a 30 minute drive from Golden? Really close and high enough to escape the heat on a hot summer day.

I have a Colorado State Park pass so if I find myself driving on highway 119 from Boulder and Nederland heading towards Blackhawk, I often drive through the park to drive back towards Golden and highway 93 to go home. I probably go through the park 20 times a year during different seasons just to view the beautiful countryside landscape scenery.

If you are in the Denver area and want to find a nearby park with a great view of the Aspens when they begin turning to fall colors, this is your place. Just head west on 6th Avenue which will turn towards the north and becomes highway 93, and look for the Golden Gate Canyon State Park sign on the west side of the road just north of Golden. Follow the road up into the foothills and stop at the center and view more information about the park. There's a small "pond" nearby where you can feed the many trout with pellets you can buy at the center for a quarter.

The roads are hilly with clean restrooms and pull-offs at convenient locations where you can take pictures of the majestic Rocky Mountains in the distance. Great place to take photos most any time of the year and they seem to keep the roads cleared of snow pretty well in the winter. If you go in the fall you will probably find herds of deer and especially Elk right off the road that don't mind posing for pictures. Just don't approach them on foot (especially the Elk) unless you have your running shoes on.

We were here for a wedding reception. The family rented the "barns" and there was lots of seating, very clean, quiet and safe. What a great place to gather...

Close to Denver but doesn't feel close. Great forest, nice & quiet...very peaceful. Took 2 kids, ages 2 & 6 for 7 days & absolutely loved it. The kids had a great time playing in the dirt and the forest. We drove to Nederland a couple of days to ride the Carousel of Happiness which was totally worth it. There is also a great playground there with a fishing pond. It is only a 10 minute drive and gorgeous. We stayed at Reverend Ridge, loop J. All spots were awesome with bathroom (flush toilets) close by. There are also showers, laundry, ice and dishwashing facilities available nearby. I love primitive camping but this was much better with little kids and still extremely peaceful and relaxing.

Awesome campground - laundry, dish washing sink, vending machines, and hot showers all available when you are camping out. The Reverend's Ridge campground was very well maintained, clean, and I will stay there again when in the Denver area.

We loved it so much that we decided to get an annual park pass! There are many trails to choose from moderate to extreme. I have seen many benches and picnic tables to enjoy as you take a break or have lunch.
They even have an area to ice skate in the winter!
The visitor center has much to see and helpful employees.
My son enjoyed feeding the fish.
A young man came in all scratched up from a fall and they took very good care of him!
I still have much exploring to do, but love what I've seen so far.

If you are towing a towing a large trailer, or a trailer using an under powered car, stay away from route SH 46 when going to the camp ground! Waze took us the wrong way!

I went here Sept 2016 with my 13 foot Scamp being towed by my 2014 Kia up the above mentioned road... It wasn't fun!

This park is beautiful, and the trails are excellent! When we were here the campground and park weren't really that busy! The only reason this park looses a start is because the loop were were staying in although very nice, had a bathroom that was fairly far away. A bathroom that although very clean was one bathroom shared between two loops.

We saw what a believe were weed gypsies, which would be people that go to Colorado simply to smoke pot... They didn't really have that
"camping look", which people that camp will know what I am talking about... The town of Neederland, CO, which is about 15 minutes back down the mountain has about 3 or 4 weed dispensaries..

There is also a neat little Casino town in the opposite direction called Black Hawk, Colorado that has neat little Casino hotels. We went there for dinner the first night we pulled in.

I have a video of this, but I don't think TripAdvisor will let me post it, so if you want to see it, Go to Google and Type "The Suburban Hippie Photographer" and click the youtube link to my channel, and once there look for the "Western Trip 2016-Part II" video to see some of the trails and some of the town of Neederland!

Of course, it's the one closest to me, as well. It's high enough in altitude to escape the summer heat. The trails are uphill and rocky, none are flat that I know of. So, it's a workout. And, it's beautiful. Whether you are going through the trees or reaching a vista, it's just a beautiful place. There are hummingbirds, and sightings of lots of other creatures. Panorama Point can either be driven to, or hiked. Camping must be booked 6 months in advance, from what I've been told. The camp grounds are very nice, and I hope to stay there sometime.

We hiked the Beaver Trail to the shelter which afforded a view of snow-covered Rockies to the west. It was only about 40 minutes from Denver via a very scenic road.

I didn't think such a view was possible - I thought it was just cooked up in Hollywood movies of the GC, but yes it is possible. Incredible experience.

Fish the little ponds for trout, bobbers, worms or power bait. Stocked.

We went thru on our way to black hawk. Such a beautiful ride. Great over looks and trails. Really a beautiful park

On a recent Backpacking trip to Capitol Peak, myself and 3 buddies stayed in a Yurt on our way out of town. This is a beautiful campsite and the Yurt was very nice. However do not expect phone service. They do have a pay phone but it does not work well. Nice rest rooms with a pay to use shower. great fire pit and grille area.
We liked it so much we stayed again on the way back to Denver , but got a cabin instead because Yurts were booked. Cabins are just as nice

There are some nicer canyon drives through the foothills of the Rockies (i.e., US route 6), but what awaits once you arrive at Golden Gate State Park will not disappoint. The state park -- perhaps the foothill's best -- is located in a nice wooded valley. The folks at the visitor center are friendly and helpful. They can direct you to picnic areas or hikes. But for me, the highlight was Panorama Point. As mentioned by others, this is a drive that is a bit unsettling; signage could be better (a common fault in Colorado), the road twists and turns, the last half mile is dirt (although very wide); it's far from the most tortuous drive you'll take in the region, but care is advised, though virtually any car can make the climb. What awaits is a spectacular view of the front range from directly across from Rollins Pass. They need to cut down a few more trees that have begun obstructing part of the view, but there's still lots to see. I was there when the aspens were a brilliant yellow. To give you an idea of how great a view this is -- I was there during the height of the fire season, and a fire crew was there on lookout due to the broad perspective of the valley.

Great close to Denver camping, the view from Panorama point is one of the best no hike views around. Mountain bike Lion clockwise, run it counter clockwise.

Golden Gate is a nice place for a picnic, fishing, and camping! We are fortunate to live nearby, but still enjoy popping over for an afternoon visit. Definitely stop by the observation point for some great views of the Indian Peaks and the Continental Divide!

This park has beautiful scenery and great trails. When I went in September 2015, the aspen trees were gorgeous. Great scenic views!

We had a good walk on clear and clean trails. The visitor center is worth popping in to for a walk through and has good ablution facilities. Not much wildlife to be seen but lovely scenery.

We visited here in early November 2016. The weather was still great then and we picked a fantastic day. We hiked the Raccoon trail which is a 2.5 trail loop, rated moderate. It takes you through Panorama Point then back to the Reverend Ridge Campground parking area. We are new to Colorado, and glad we didn't choose a more difficult trail--"moderate" probably qualifies as "difficult" for Flatlanders! Views all along the trail are just amazing. The leaves had dropped by the time of our visit, but I can only imagine that the foliage in the fall is nothing short of incredible. Many other trail options are available and lots of small parking areas/pullouts from which you can hit different trails. There are several areas available for fishing. Highly recommend a visit to Golden Gate Canyon.

This 4.5 mile hike is a good workout if done clockwise, but you want to go early in the day during the summer before it gets too warm. I highly recommend a hiking stick for the steep sections. It's one of those uphill both ways kinds of trails, but goes through a variety of eco zones. There is an optional 1.4 mile round trip side trail to Windy Peak.

beautiful area, lots of hiking trails, great area to see fall colors with lots of aspen trees. very close to downtown golden, where there is lots to do. local area is full of interesting things to do, old mines, casinos close by. Very close to the epicenter of gold mining in the 1800's so there is alot to see and do.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is beautiful! The mountains are gorgeous and we came when the trees were just starting to change color, which was even better. We came with a young child and it was perfectly fine. Lots of good sites for camping. We tent camped on the Conifer Loop and it was really nice because it was removed. All in all, a wonderful place to visit with good hiking too!

I think this park is a hidden treasure. It is only about 45 minutes from Denver but, feels a world away. They have wonderful small fishing lakes that are perfect for young kids- we even caught a few trout! There are some easy hikes but also some strenuous and challenging ones. The camping area is nice and wooded and the sites are not too close together. The best part of this park is that it is close enough to escape for a few hours but, spacious enough to stay for a few days.

This is a great State Park for Locals or for visitors from out of town. Visited this past weekend for Mothers Day's with the family.

Stop by the Visitors Center and pay $7.00 per day for your park pass and you can picnic, fish, hike anywhere in the park.

There are several picnic areas through the park.

This is minor mountain driving, so no big mountain passes, so if your from out of state you will be fine. There are some curves to be careful around, but your in the mountains.

The park has several options. Hiking trails, Ponds for fishing, Picnic Areas. I would strongly recommend stopping by the visitors center first, and getting a map and the guides at the center are very helpful if you tell them what your plans are they will give you great advice.

From Denver Maybe a 45 Minute Drive to the visitors center.

This is also a hidden gem to drive through in mid to late September when the Aspens Change. This has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in Colorado in the early fall when the Aspens Change. Everyone goes to the million dollar highway deep in the mountains, but you can take a 45 minute drive up here and see views worth a million dollars. Again this would be for the early fall. Mid September to late September.

Great Park, and we visit here often.

Highly recommend this state park for the mountain feel, and to avoid I-70 traffic.

The wedding and reception were at the Red Barn site at the park. The leaves were turning yellow and the sunlight on them made the setting almost magical. The reception area with sheltered picnic tables would be good, even on a rainy day, although people seated outside would have to squeeze into the barn. After sunset, the temperature drops quickly, so a warm wrap or jacket is necessary.

This was our 2nd camping trip to this park which we only discovered this year - close driving distance and avoiding I70 which is a nightmare anymore getting to the mountains. We have a popup trailer, the sites are easy to manuveur with natural tree shade at every location, super clean bathroom and shower facilities, access to water and recycle trash....we did the Panorama Point hike using the Raccoon Trail, the maps are not clear as far as signage which one camp host described as "crap" - access the hike behind the main checkin office, take the trail & turn immediately right when "Panorama Point" sign indicates - follow to small valley dip where more signs will state " Panorama Point" or "Gap Road" - take the Gap Road for less of an incline (although challenging in many spots) to the top or take the other for an uphill climb that will challenge - worth the climb to beautiful views at the top - there is also an access road for those who are unable to make the climb so you can just drive up to view. Overall, the friendliest people at this site, they did warn us specifically about bear sightings so take heed - pack your trash and any food and lock it up in your vehicle at night. We'll be back again in the spring!

We had a wonderful day in the park . We drove to the lookout point .did a little hiking. There are lots of picnic tables available all through the park. We stopped to watch the people fishing at the lake. Very relaxing and not too crowded. Then we went down to golden and had dinner at woody's pizza. Walked around town abit .spend night at a choice hotel off of 6th .felt like we were out of town but really only a 30 min drive from home

This park is beautiful! It is a bit of a drive to the nearest town....but just a few miles away is a cute little place to eat call "Last Shot". Food was excellent and perfect for a night away from cooking at our campsite.
Loop A or B are great for rv's and popups.
Enjoy the cool weather for it over 10,000 feet

Really lovely hikes with a variety of difficulty and lower elevation. Trails are good for mountain bikers or hikers.

Easy, scenic hikes reasonably close to Denver. There are a number of different trails that are rated according to their difficulty.

Quick trip near Denver. Beautiful Vistas, Great Hikes, Spring Flowers. Really nice Staff at Visitor Center with helpful information on things to do. Can't wait to come back!

What a treasure that we have here in Denver. GGC is so close, but once you are there it feels as if you have gotten away. The camping is great. We have back packed here many times. It is difficult to get camping reservations so plan far in advance.

The visitor center there is very informative. Lots of trout in their pond too. I love to fish in several ponds in the park. Great scenery, one time I even saw a bear.

if outdoor activities are your thing then you will love Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Lots of hiking, rock climbing, and ice climbing.

We had a wonderful time at this park. It's a less crowded alternative to Rocky Mountain National Park. Pleasant hiking trails of varying difficulty, interesting historic ruins of early settlers, and breathtaking views make this park a must-see.

You follow a windy road from Golden up a mountain and eventually reach this picturesque location. Views are breathtaking and there are some great hiking trails. Depending on your energy level you can take on an easy hike or a truly taxing one. The campground was lovely. Very large sites each with a large table and fire/grill. They are well spaced so you get a degree of privacy.

There are regular events at the small amphitheater. Fun for kids and amusing for adults. Mountain man Possum Bob provides light relief. They also sell logs at the store which you need for fires as nights are cold even in June.

The camp has a large wash room where you can do laundry and dishes. The bathrooms are large, clean and there are plenty of showers. However, a combination of hard water and high pressure means the shower blasts out pellets of water. It's like being bombarded by hail. It's painful and unpleasant. The shower is the one thing that goes against this amazing park.

There is camping here, but also a nice state park for visiting on a day trip. Some neat walking paths, and of course very scenic. Close to Denver area which is nice.

Golden Gate State Park is situated west of Golden, Colorado. It has winter activities like "tree cutting" the first weekend in December and great areas to snowshoe if you are interested in seeing the hills and valleys via snowshoes. The Park staff are friendly and really try to assist you in what is available and where in the park. In the Summer there are campsites for both tents and trailers. A great escape from the Denver metro area that is only 40 minutes away. From the tops of the mountains in Golden Gate State Park you can see out onto the plains in places and can also see the back higher mountain range peaks. Not overly crowded and is a peaceful location to hike.

Live on mountain west of the park. A beautiful place and a variety of ways to camp and moderate trails.

There are so many beautiful areas to see here. Hikes for every ability and age. We hiked up to a beautiful lake then did another hike that had lots of rocks. We packed a lunch and sat on a giant rock with an Amazing view to eat.

The campgrounds and yerts look very cool... we didn't stay there but it's now on our bucket list!

We were trying to get acclimated to the altitude so we decided to spend some time hiking in this park which is close to Denver. The ranger at the visitor center was very helpful and she suggested a great hike to help us get acclimated. There are several excellent hikes in varying degrees of difficulty. It is well worth the drive from Denver to spend some time here.

One of the more spacious and beautiful RV campgrounds we've found in Colorado. Nice hiking trails directly accessible from the campground.

There are so many different areas and elevations in Golden Gate, you feel as though you are in more than one park. Multitudes of hiking trails from ultra easy to expert hiker. Easy and abundant places to park. Lakes to fish in, areas to picnic in, many areas where you can have solitude even though the park is filled with people.

A friend and I hiked the trail for a bit and then, since I am an artist, I found a place to paint and spend a couple hours studying the beautiful vistas. I found it beautiful. It was a warm day and there were a handful of other people on the trail. But it wasn't overly busy.

I'm a novice "State Park Visitor" but Golden Gate Canyon State Park gave me a glimpse of everything. I have two small children but we all enjoyed the ride up to Panorama Point. We were able to enjoy great views without the hike. The drive was scenic and I was able to get enough of the mountains without staying overnight. HUGE temperature change, so make sure you bring sweatshirts.

Helpful staff at Visitor's Center with a nature center and good facilities helped us plan a perfect day. This park is expansive so make sure to get a trail map and ask for suggestions. Due to our limited time, we headed straight to Panorama Point. Breathtaking views of the snow-capped range are captivating. From there, we headed to Rifleman Phillips parking and Forgotten Valley/Buffalo trailhead. As hikers looking for a moderate level hike, this was a good start. A beautiful creek along side the trail down to Forgotten Valley. We took the next fork at Mountain Lion trail and headed up the switchbacks to Windy Peak. The views from the Peak were a definite treat though after the Panorama Point, it was not the same but worth it to look down from whence you came. If hiking in May, be prepared to hike in snow and dress for potential rain & snow showers- We were lucky to catch the sunny part of the day though as we left, snow pellets were falling. A good challenging hike with outstanding views, scenery and a short drive from Golden, CO. ENJOY!

You can find Golden Gate State Park day-hike recommendations in any book of front range hiking trails. It's an easy drive from Denver or Boulder but we've never found it crowded. Dogs on leash are allowed. On our last hike there, in early summer, we counted over 20 kinds of wildflowers on an easy two-hour loop hike.

We went to Golden Gate Canyon State Park over Labor Day and had a great time! The views are amazing. The road that goes through the park can get a little busy at times, but that's to be expected. There are lots of places for hiking, photos and fishing. The stream that runs through the park is beautiful and has many access points.

we have been coming here since 1979 in a tent with children to now 23 visits later retired in our rv. Best park in Colorado in our opinion. Cabins are nice great tent and tv sites. No matter what season the park is beautiful.

Gorgeous (especially in the fall). Many picnic areas, several "easy" hikes, every turn in the road is a "Kodak Moment". We visit annually.

This is a very nice state park with plenty of attractive mountain trails. There are plenty of picturesque spots, so bring your camera. The park can be very busy on weekends, so a weekday stop is your best bet if possible.

So close to town, folks forget is there! Never too crowded and always clean facilities

The Welcome Visitor Center has a lovely trout pond and children can buy food to feed the fish....there's a short little informational trail around the pond, and a shaded picnic area in the back. Lots and lots of hiking trails, tent camping and one camping area with electrical hookups for rvs. very nicely maintained area....with a gorgeous panoramic view that begs to be photographed. And dogs on leashes are welcome everywhere :-) There is a $7 fee to use the park....

It may just be our luck but we have visited Colorado dozens of times and find that the almost daily rain causes a damper on our fun. So, this year we spent 4 days at this state park and had 4 days of rain. The truth is that in the summer months, it rains almost every day in the mountains. This park is off the beaten path and that is one reason we chose to stop here. Just 20 miles or so from Denver and it is quiet and not too crowded. You'll have to make your own fun and that is easy if you like the outdoors. It will be quite a while before we go back. The campground was clean and nice but rather expensive for a state park.

I would give this a 4.5. It is a State Park so amenities are not as good as would be ideal but to be expected. Still that is why I didn’t rate 5. We loved our time here!! A nice location between Denver and rocky mt natl park. And certainly better amentities than the National park. The visitor Center folks were all incredible proud locals with lots of great info to share! We sighted a moose, enjoyed Aspen Meadows campground with a meadow facing site. The ridge facing sites will be a little easier to get to and set up with beautiful views but the meadow facing site (11, 13, 14) felt more private. The many hiking trials were great and beautiful! And as tent campers we could go to Reverends Ridge camping area for showers.

We go ever year. Just an hour from Denver, but it feels much further. They have great car camping and short backpacking sites. Very relaxing getaway.

We just hiked the Mountain Lion Trail today - a 6.5 mile trail in Golden a Canyon a State Park. My husband and I agree that this is one of the most enjoyable hikes we've ever done. The trail takes you beside a stream, through beautiful wildflower meadows, in pine forest and if you wish to WindyPoint where you can see the Great Divide and several of Colorado's "fourteeners". This spur will add another mile to the trail but is well worth it. The hike was moderately difficult but had so much variety it was over almost too quickly. Highly, highly recommend this trail. The attendant at the Visitors' centre was very helpful.

We camped at Reverend's Ridge campground for the weekend. Lots of lodgepole pines, paved roads, clean bathrooms (with flush toilets). Seemed very family oriented - no loud late nights. They had some very interesting/enjoyable programs at the amphitheater - one on wolves and one on bears. Lots of nice hiking trails. Campsites not super private, but they never are....easy drive from Denver. We will go again (make reservations early - they fill up fast).

Good tent pad, good table. Beautiful area with hiking. Nice with the kids with clean bathroom, showers, washer, dryer, sink to clean dishes on site.

Only compliant, showers spray water out like needles - painful for the kids.

Nice park but camping sites are very close together. Facilities look clean and well maintained. Only shame is that they didn't make the site just a little bigger.

This trail is well maintained and in and out of the shade in the summer. Frazer Meadow is a great place to stop and take a break and eat a snack before heading back down. Parking spots are limited so be early

From panorama views to hiking the trails, there is much beauty to enjoy in this park. If you are not sure about where to go, the visitors center offers friendly advice. Nature photography abounds here!

Very nice Visitors Center employee warned me about venturing up Base Mountain Road to Panoramic Point. She suggested backtracking a bit to Highway 119 might be a better option. 20% grades are not a problem for an F350 diesel FX4, but sharp turns - these big trucks do not turn on a dime - with oncoming passenger cars . . . 119 it was. We drove thru Reverend’s Ridge campground. There were sites that would accommodate our 35’ fifth wheel but we’d definitely need to be careful. And reserve very carefully.

The park is absolutely beautiful. You have many options of hikes to try and all are varied for length and skill level. We did the Racoon/Mule Deer trail and part of the Coyote trail. It was really an amazing place to hike. I can not wait to go again and try other trails. They are well maintained and safe. Don't forget to stop and buy a day pass on your way in. The park rangers were out and checking cars to make sure they had one.

We've gone to the park many times and live close. Views/trails are great etc etc. We usually stay in the cabins/yurts with friends, and will continue to go back. However, the bathrooms at Reverends Ridge are abysmal. The cleaning chart on the bathroom door shows they clean once a week or so, and clearly we were at the end of that cycle, and it shows. Bathrooms were running out of TP. Floors are caked with dirt...old dirt, as in it hadn't been mopped in some time...likely longer than a week. The TP is on one of those padlocked, archaic devices that wont allow the TP to roll, and it's the cheapest, thinnest paper available. When will someone realize if they buy better TP people will use less of it?? When will people realize that the few bad campers who steal some TP dont really require the archaic padlocked rolls that run out and you cannot stock enough for guests use? Certainly not ideal for the fees they charge for the cabins. Combined with a daily parks pass, it's hardly an inexpensive night away.

We stayed at Reverend's Ridge in a tent for 1 night. The silence was amazing! There are some great hikes as well. The next morning we got up and did a nice 6 mile trip up to Panorama Point and around. Book your sites in advance and enjoy some quiet time in the mountains!

We were looking for a hike close to Denver and was very happy to find this park. The trails were well groomed and not too crowded. We hiked a moderate trail that had some elevation and was very comfortable for most people. Make sure you go to the overlook at Panorama Point, no matter the weather its beautiful

It's no surprise that almost everyone gave the best reviews of the park. Driving up to the park gave me goosebumps. I fell in love with it right away. Hubby's niece was nice enough to take me and her pet dog for hiking. We had a nice car ride to the top near the start of the trail. On the way to the destination we saw a few houses here and there and I wondered who live here. We then stopped at the visitor center to pickup more info and ask questions. We got the map and decided to take the raccoon trail. Driving to the raccoon trail was another amazing experience. We decided to not drive up to the panoramic view but instead walk the trail up to the panoramic view or they call the point lookout? Hiking to the point lookout was a bit of a challenge for me because I'm not a hiker and the altitude killed me a bit but I kept going and the dog kept coming to me to make sure I was ok. I'm a fit woman. This had to be the altitude (not attitude). Once we arrived at the top I was so happy and glad we made it. The panoramic view was amazing but I thought the middle part of our hike was the best view, somewhere right in the middle of the raccoon trail. So yes, try this trail because it's moderate and you can do it! It's good for the body and also for the mind. While you're up there make sure to start writing a book. I bet they come here to collect some ideas.

Wonderful time. We enjoyed the fun. The rangers were friendly and helpful. Drive to White Ranch was beautiful.

Great place to go hiking! I carried a toddler in a backpack, so the trails we chose weren't too hard, but still challenging and the views were spectacular.

Nice trails with good views. Relatively close to Golden but parking at trail head can fill up quickly in summer.

Such a great park for hikes. The fall colors are amazing! Hikes rated for every accessibility. Easy drive and great views.

I’ve been to Colorado many, many times but have never ventured into this area. The views of the Continental Divide from Panorama Point are amazing. Our hike on the Racoon trail afforded us a sighting of a large bull moose. Otherwise, the park itself is mostly a place to set up camp and hangout. Not a lot of destination hikes or attractions, but everywhere we went, there were signs reminding us that there were daily fees that needed to be paid. Even though I had paid my daily fees, this seemed a bit greedy, unnecessary, and became a standing joke. “I wonder if this is a fee area?” The campground is very clean and well run, although seems very loud and echoey in the evening. It wasn’t even crowded. I can’t imagine the noise on a busy weekend! The biggest drawback were the showers. There’s only one shower building for the entire large campground. There were 6 showers in the men’s room, but 3 were out of order. This creates quite a demand for the remaining 3. 4 quarters will get you 4 minutes of shower time, which, in itself, is not bad. However, it takes 1 minute to get warm, stays warm for 1 minute, the quickly turns icy cold for your remaining 2 minutes. I even put in 4 more quarters before my time was up, thinking that would give me more time as the sign said. NOPE! It still shut off at 4 minutes. The next morning, I was prepared. I turned the shower on to warm up while I undressed, lathered and shampooed, and used my 1 minute of warm water to rinse. When the water turned icy, I just shut it off. For a park so concerned that you’ve paid your fees, you’d think they’d be concerned to give you what you paid for. Wait, what am I thinking! It’s state government.

First visit to this state park and absolutely loved it!! All levels of hiking available for everyone.... We hiked from Bridge Creek to the Forgotten Valley.... Maybe 3 miles round trip tops... Beautiful scenery and visited a historical farmstead right next to a small pond!! I highly recommend visiting this park... So close to Denver and Golden!! A must see!!

Cabins are lit by two bare bulbs hanging from the ceiling. Tip: Bring a little table lamp from home and increase cabin coziness by 50%.

It's a beautiful place, nestled in the foothills, not too far from town. Nice visitor center, good fishing, great views. We were married at Panorama Point and it was beautiful.

This is one of my new favorite places in the area. TONS of trails for any level, some of the most beautiful meadows and Aspen stands you'll find in this part of Colorado.

Went on a couple of 4 mile hikes. Was really enjoyable. Mountain bikers were very cordial and easy to share trail with. Didn't particularly like the trails when you could hear constant road noise as you hiked higher.

We hiked the Burro trail. Beautiful views, challenging hike. Fun for all. We had our kids (14 and 11) with us along with the family dog (3.5). Total mileage was just over 5 but there was 2400 feet of elevation. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a day trip from the Denver metro area.

Almost all of the Colorado State Parks are great. I can't attest to the fact that all are great only because I haven't had a chance to visit all of them yet. Golden Gate Canyon, however, is one of my favorite state parks due to its beauty, the scenic views, and its relative proximity to the Arvada area. I never get tired of visiting Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Be sure to catch the views from Panorama Point.

This park is close to Denver yet such a contrast to the busy city. We rented a cabin for our family and loved it. The cabin had a propane heater for cool nights. Good shower facility. Lots of places to hike and explore!

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a real jewel for camping and hiking. Only about an hour's drive from Denver and just gorgeous. There are 2 campgrounds, one for tents only and one for RVs, camper trailers, etc. We took our camper trailer up there and had a great stay. The campground is well laid out so you are not elbow to elbow with your neighbor, and the sites are nicely wooded. Bath and shower facilities are clean and nice. Lots of the sites have elec plug-in (no sewer or water available) so it was perfect for us. Didn't have to run the generator to make toast in the morning! There is a beautiful hiking trail right out of the campground up to Panorama Point (actually downhill from the campground and then uphill later on.) The view from Panorama Point is breathtaking! It was nice and cool in the evening due to its elevation.

Do yourself a favor and go hiking in GGCSP - take the Raccoon trail and see the amazing views of the snow capped peaks. Start at Panorama Point at 9k feet and enjoy incredible scenery!

I love Golden Gate. So many trails, fishing, and views you cant go wrong. We love it and go every year. The rangers are awesome!!!!

Golden Gate Canyon is a regular destination for me throughout the year. Reverend's Ridge Campgound is on the north end of the Park and is a very nice campground. There are numerous loops for RV camping, plenty of comfortable, roomy tent sites with good separation as well as cabins and yurts. This campground offers restrooms, showers, washing facilities and vending machines.

The park is clean with plenty of hiking/biking/horse trails. There are no trails listed on the park map as easy, and I agree with that omission. There are a number of moderate trails available and they are really enjoyable trails to hike. There is fishing available adjacent to the Park. Day Use fees are nominal. Park Staff is helpful and friendly. The Park is only about 15 minutes north of Black Hawk/Central City for gambling and dining. There is a small Market on the West side of the Park.

It does help to investigate the Park a bit before arriving to know which entrance is best and where things are located. RVs and Oversize Vehicles are not allowed on Mountain Base Road due to steep grades and sharp curves. There is another entrance for these vehicles to reach the rest of the Park.

You can't beat Golden Gate Canyon State Park for a great place to hike, bike, camp and more.

My teenage son and I hiked from Horseshoe Trailhead to Dudes Pond on a Saturday afternoon during July 4 weekend. We enjoyed Horseshoe, Muledeer and Snowshoe Hare trails through the park. We encountered only a few other hiking parties during our walk. Maps with well marked and well maintained trails throughout were much appreciated. The Frazier meadow area was beautiful. Many types of wildflowers throughout the trail system. Although there was a steady downpour of rain upon our return hike to the trail head, we enjoyed this experience. Dudes Pond is a small body of water with fish visible, but not interested in our bait, unfortunately. Campers in Aspen Meadow campgrounds were friendly, but loud. Would recommend avoiding this camping area in the future. Will definitely return to investigate other trails here.

Everyone can enjoy the trails, whenever you are experienced hiker or not. Better prepare a good hiking shoes.

Was in Estes Park for the Elk Festival end of Sept, and went to drive through the park - majestic views, and so many people pulled over watching the herd of Elk whose men were bugling and sparring over the females. Very exciting!

My wife and I visited twice during our 3 day stay in the area. It had snowed about 2 feet just a couple of days before our arrival. There was at times on the trail, about a foot or so of snow to make your way through. And also with some sun, parts of the trail were a stream of melting snow. 1 thing it was not, was muddy. On may 22nd we started our hiking at the Horseshoe trailhead. A nice small parking lot with a fairly new restroom. We made a big loop, taking the Horseshoe trail out until we connected with the Black Bear trail and made our way back. It was not an easy hike for us, especially with the amount of snow, and sometimes slush to work through. However, it was still a beautiful hike and in the end, had quite a bit of fun. We used trekking poles and I really cannot imagine hiking on those trails without them. I would love to hike the trails when they are snow free, to really see what we had been walking through and a bit less of a struggle hiking. On May 23rd we parked at the Reverends Ridge campground office area and did the loop hike from there, including Panorama point. That too was a bit of a challenge for us with all of the snow, but like the day before, it was a beautiful hike and in the end, a lot of fun for us. We did get our 2 days of parking passes ahead of time from the Visitors Center when we made our way to the area, heading to Blackhawk. I would love to return to the area.