Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Walked the Raccoon Trail from Panorama Point and stopped in at the visitor center. Amazing views from the trailhead. The trail itself is very well maintained and relatively easy for us (fit 54-55 yr olds). This park looks to be very well maintained by the State. (Makes one wonder if CO should manage RMNP as well!). Exhibits at the visitor center are great for kids and the rangers are very friendly. Kids will love feeding the trout too.

We love this area and it's views. From camping to simply leaf peeping or a day drive... our trips are always a great experience. The wildlife variety makes for exciting viewing and we make it a game to see who can spot the most animals or the most variety of wildlife. A few from our past trip included yak, moose, deer, and chipmunk looking squirrels? We love nature and its beauty. ♡

My family and I had a picnic these inside the park today near Round The Bend rest stop area. It had 2 picnic tables and a grill. It was a little overgrown but my mom still managed it with her walker. It was besides a beautiful brook. Very peaceful, quiet & serene. It was a gorgeous Fall Colors trip! We will definitely be back to explore more!

This is one of the most beautifully maintained state parks that I've ever visited. The trails are clean and clear, the campgrounds are very tidy, there are multiple smooth paved roads (no potholes!), and the forests are well spaced and managed. There's a ton of wildlife and fauna to see too. On just one hike I saw a moose, deer, eagles and dozens of different flowers and mushrooms. Make sure to stop by the Visitors Center as well. The staff were very friendly and helped me (a first time visitor) review a map and gave me plenty of trail tips. There's also a cute trout pond.

I've visited this park several times for day use. I've never camped overnight here. The views from Panorama Point are incredible! From there you can see the spine of the Rocky Mountains that form the Continental Divide. I hiked the entire Mule Deer Trail, which I thoroughly enjoyed. There are many nice places for picnics. There are many aspen trees for fall color. It is well worth visiting.

Not my bag in terms of hiking, but if that's your thing there are a ton of trails. Very beautiful place, good price, parking wasn't too bad. If you want to see aspens and such, you're in Denver and RMNP is too far, this is a very nice, peaceful, beautiful state park!!

We hiked the Mule Deer Trail to Panorama Point. It was a beautiful, well-maintained trail. Had a few uphill portions but nothing too strenuous. Everything was so green and there were so many aspen groves and wildflowers. The views at panorama point were amazing for two separate mountain ranges, though it was a bit overcast so I'm sure they're even better when there's clear skies. Aside of this hike, Golden Gate Canyon is a wonderful state park with hikes of all difficulty levels, great views, and lots of wildflowers.

I always come here every year! It's such a fun and beautiful place to camp. I rented a Yurt and it was clean, spacious, a little cold but I slept good and so did my girls. We went on the night tour and it was so much fun. I absolutely loved it and we got to make cup lanterns! The kids loved it! There's so much to explore, so many places to see, and so much to do, even if you just want to relax. It fulfilled all of my camping needs and the little amphitheater was full of surprises daily and nightly! The staff was so great, so friendly and absolutely helpful! The showers are free now and that was super sweet of them to do! We saw a beautiful Coopers Hawk and got lots of pictures. The kids got all their energy out and were ready to go home after staying four days. We will definitely be back again next year!! What a beautiful and peaceful place full of nature! Loved it!!

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a solidly lovely spot in Colorado--because honestly, in this state, Mother Nature doesn't really miss. There's no such thing as a bad view out here, and this park is no exception. That said, nothing here totally blew my boots off compared to some of the flashier, five-star show-off parks nearby. But there's absolutely nothing bad to say about it either. Well-maintained, peaceful, scenic. It's like the dependable friend who always shows up on time with snacks. Maybe it won't make your "Top 5 Most Life-Changing Hikes" list, but it will give you a beautiful day outdoors with zero regrets.

GGC State Park has a special place in my heart as I passed my Navigation skills class in some of the more remote areas. GGC has some amazing trails and campsites. The mountain lion loop is simple stunning with streams, wildflowers, gorgeous outcroppings , animals etc. Take the Burro trail over to windy peek for stunning views ( great lunch spot). Good facilities. Good trails

What a great gem!!! It's not crowded it has steady elevation hikes and such a great place to be to even avoid hiking crowds on weekends, most people we ran into weren't even local to Colorado. My kids and I loved it! Do take a sweater cause you do gain in elevation and it can chill up pretty quick. We loved they even had home in and hike out trails. It's going to now be one my fav places to go always.

We hiked the Ralston Roost/Black Bear/Horseshoe Loop, maybe a bit over 4 miles. The views were great and there were a lot of interesting rock formations. Heading up had a lot of elevation change and it was still quite icy (especially on the way down) in April.

I came here this past weeked for some leaf peeping! I was looking for a scenic hike that wasn't too far from Denver and Golden Gate Canyon State Park came recommended. We did Racoon Trail which is a moderate 3.5-4 mile hike that's suitable for most levels, although there are some pretty steep inclines at times. In general, this park is very big so there's lots to explore. The trailhead for this particular hike is near Reverends Ridge Campground. We arrived around 11 and parking was available. We paid $9 for a day pass and started on our way. The midway point is Panorama Point which is also accessible via car and provides gorgeous sweeping views of the mountains and trees. The hike wove through the woods and I was happy there was plenty of leaves still on the trees to see! There was a good amount of people, dogs, kids, and a few bikers on the trail. That being said, everyone was respectful of distancing, wearing masks when getting close, etc. I would definitely recommend this hike if looking for a trip from the city. It tooks us a little over an hour to get here and we stopped in Golden on the way back for lunch! A lovely day trip.

We visited Golden Gate Canyon State Park the second weekend of October to see some Fall colors. The park is gorgeous with ample trails, AND, is dog friendly! I'd recommend getting to the park around 7am; we arrived at 9 and had to drive around for nearly 45 minutes to find parking. We got lucky with someone leaving and were able to hike a good chunk of the Mule Deer trail. The weather was perfect, the colors were mind-blowing, and we had an amazing hike!

Beautiful park very close to the city! There are plenty of trails, picnic spots, and views in this wonderful day use area. This large park occupies around 20 miles of road, hundreds of acres of forest, and large rock outcroppings above. Going for the fall colors is a great idea come late September. Right now, the park's aspens are fully colored out! There's greens, yellows and oranges everywhere. I would recommend looking at the map before and planning your trek. The Gap Road is a perfect start, and it leads to a great notch view. The Coyote Trail is another excellent option. There are plenty of perfect views along the trail. There's fun to be had for everyone!

Was on a camping trip and passing through on a rainy night. The man in the visitor center was extremely rude, and the campground was almost empty, but after half an hour we managed to pay for a primitive spot. We got up to the site around 5 and managed to set up camp before the next round of rain. Went to dry the sleeping bags (wet from the night before) in the laundry and get wood for a fire. Office for wood was closed, oh well. We took a walk and looked for wood. Camp host comes over with out wet gear and says we can't put sleeping bags in dryer. Also we had log longer than fire pit he says we can't burn and a hammock he tells us we can't hang because nothing can be tied to trees. We (I am with my elderly father and 2 young children, btw) make the "necessary" changes and then the park ranger comes along. Apparently he has been notified of our presence because he assumes we are from Ohio (my father is from Ohio and he registered for the site) although I have kentucky plates. My camper van is set up with the camp kitchen out and I'm in the middle of cooking dinner under the awning when he tells me I have to move it because it's not parked where it should be and he has the authorization to write me a citation. Probably the worst camping experience I have had. We packed up the tent and left. 3 of the rudest people I have ever met

Golden Gate Canyon State Park has awesome trails! Really nice area and great views. We did the Black Bear Trail it was the perfect length and not too hard. Will be back again to try more. The park wasn't too crowded and there was ample parking. Make sure you pay and get one of those registration things for your car. I did see people getting tickets.

Want something more secluded than the regular parks and trails near Denver? GG is the place for you! Its well worth the state park fee for the day or if you want to spring for an annual pass. On our most recent trip we did the Mule Deer Trail and it was stunning! Not too many people on a Wednesday and a lot of shaded areas to stop and take a break. I don't live in Colorado anymore but I will be visiting here more once we move back!

Such a beautiful hike. We had so much fun. Love the trails and the trees. There are so many different trails to take.

I stayed in cabin 5 here at this park. Me and my family were out enjoying the day, hiking and cooking some soup. A few hours later we got tired per usual. We went to bed and I found BED BUGS!!!!!! I woke up with about 20 bites and it was painful. I later found out I had an allergic reaction to them and my whole leg swelled up! I became very sad but I'm glad my family didn't get bitten up. The outdoor part was amazing! But please do not stay here unless you want tons of tiny little bugs climbing on you and sucking out your blood.

Stunningly gorgeous, especially as fall is coming on. We did raccoon trail, off panorama peak. Really pretty, but busy on a Saturday. Parking was a struggle to find, even at 9am (which I thought was early enough but apparently not). Definetly get here way early for parking and slower trails. Self pay and dogs are allowed on the trail. Be careful for the bicyclists, and the roads are narrow with lots of switch backs.

I had absolutely no idea such a beautiful park was hidden here in the town of Golden but I'm happy because now I know. I did some research before so I was aware of the $8 fee to explore the park but if you have the State Park pass, you can use that to get in as well. There are so many trails to choose but I went with the Black Bear Trail that was about 4 miles roundtrip give or take. This trail was very well maintained with the terrain varying from smooth to rocky with some stairs and rocks to climb which was real nice to switch up the pace. The trails are typically marked so be sure to keep an eye out to make sure you are staying on track. Eventually you gain enough elevation to reach an epic view of Mount Evans and the Canyon. The view alone was worth it especially during the fall time overlooking to Colorado foliage. Beautiful park!

Beautiful state park! We have the annual state park pass for the Cherry Creek state park, so we were able to skip the growing line at the front and move along. I would advise getting there early. We arrived around 9:30AM and there was still plenty of parking available. Once our hike was over around noon, the park was packed, and all lots were full, and roads/parking lots was mayhem. The hiking was easily marked and we knew where we were at all times, and the views are amazing, especially when the leaves start to change color!

We booked the Red Barn Group Picnic Area for our small, causal wedding. The price was very hard to beat, especially for a summer wedding in Colorado. It was about $210 for the entire day (10 am to 10 pm). We had to book it 6 months to the day in advance. When checking in the day of, the park staff at the visitor center was really nice and helpful. She allowed us to check in a little earlier so we could begin decorating. A park ranger checked in with us in the morning and went over some basic rules, we didn't see or hear from them much after that- we had a small crowd and didn't cause issues. They did drive by a couple of times- but nothing more. There is a lot of versatility with the location and perfect for a causal outdoor wedding. Our only complaint was that the bathrooms could have been a little cleaner, but they are public park bathrooms so we weren't expecting much. I love the visitor center, staff has always been nice and there is a lot of information and educational items available for guests. The small store is cute to get some souvenirs. The trout pond is fun to look at and feeding the fish is a plus.There are plenty of hiking trails, camping options and lakes to fish at. Highly recommend this park!

BED BUGS!! I booked a cabin last summer, as I've done in the past and after plans changing, it ended up being just myself, a single mother with two younger kids. We got there at night d/t trying to wrangle and pack everything myself but were SO relieved to finally get there and settle in. The cabins are pretty primal but do have electricity/heat. I unpacked 4 days of groceries/bedding/activities/gear/clothes for all of us and tucked ourselves in and started dreaming about how we would spend the next day in the park... only to realize I was very itchy and being bitten by BED BUGS. Upon closer inspection, they were in the beds, but mainly crawling in the cracks on the walls. Hundreds. Both kids and myself had bites all over us. I abandoned all of the bedding I brought, along with most other items I brought in and loaded up my children at 2am to flee from the infestation! I obsessed for weeks, worried I brought some of them home and spent hundreds of dollars on laundering/re-laundering/bombing/steaming/pest control on every single thing. I contacted the office multiple times over several months and was promised a full refund. That NEVER came. This 4hr stay ended up costing me hundreds and hundreds of dollars and my sanity. Please check THOROUGHLY before ever staying here! I always do. But it was nighttime and dark in the cabin. Cabin #3. BED BUGS BEWARE!!!!!

We went to Golden Gate in the fall and it was beautiful. The drive through the park was gorgeous with all of the beautiful foliage. The leaves were yellow and the park was not too crowded. We had our 4 small children with us so we parked near a picnic bench, had lunch, and let them explore the area around us which included a lot of rocks to climb and small trails to explore. The views all over the park were so beautiful. We can't wait to visit again!

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.

Golden Gate Canyon has been on my must hike list for a while now. So when Kristin M and I were seeking a place to soak up Mother Nature on a Wednesday off I knew just the place! ++ Being part of the Colorado State Park system, you can either use your State Park Pass to get in; or if you have yet to affix it to your windshield (like me) it's just a mere $7 day use fee to get in! Yay! ++ They have an amazing visitors center complete with pond and fish food dispenser! ++ Sooo many hikes to be taken! We opted for Black Bear Trail which, had we continued, would've been roughly 2.25 miles with a decent elevation gain and an epic view from Ralston Roost of both Mount Evans and Golden Gate Canyon. ++ Leashed dogs ARE welcome on the trails. My little pup had a great time on her first hike! ++ If you plan ahead early enough, you're able to rent a cabin or a yurt IN the park! Talk about a great way to make the most of the weekend. +/- Signage is a bit confusing. We had to reference the map at the trailhead multiple times to make sure the trail we were taking was heading to the destination we were interested in. -- Since we were there on weekday parking was not a concern. However, on a busy weekend, I could see the more limited parking proving difficult for visitors. Safe to say I will be back to check out even more of Golden Gate Canyon! #optoutside **Pro Tip: The many aspen groves make fall leaf-peeping something special to see at Golden Gate Canyon! Def a must on every autumn chaser's (like me) list!!

Every year on Mother's Day, I do a solo hike as a way to find "a room of my own" (to paraphrase Virginia Woolf). This year, I chose Golden Gate Canyon State Park, as I had never been here before, but always wanted to go. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful hike. I will definitely return, probably with kids, but maybe by myself again. I chose to do the 9.1 mile Mule Deer Trail, which led up to Panorama Point. Then I looped around the Horseshoe Trail to check out a few of the backcountry camping sites. It was a good, long hike with lots of great scenery. And fairly quiet too, for a holiday weekend! My state park pass hasn't arrived yet, so I needed to go to the Visitor Center to get a day pass. It was $8 and the park rangers there were very nice. It's a cute little Visitor Center, which would be fun to take kiddos when they get hot or worn out from hiking. There's plenty of parking and picnic spots available, plus campgrounds and backcountry sites. Since it's close to Denver, it probably gets filled up pretty quickly, especially on weekends. The best part about this park, aside from the scenery, was the very clearly marked trails. There is no confusion at all. It's easy to do a long hike, trail run, bike, or snowshoe without getting lost or turned around. Sometimes, you just want to do your 6 mile run and then go home, not have that 6 mile run turn into 6 miles of running and then 4 additional miles of walking because you took a wrong turn. As always, please keep our parks clean - pack your stuff in and out. Use the garbage cans and bathrooms. Everyone I saw out on the trails that day seemed pretty respectful, so THANK YOU.

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 wonderful state park! Only got to spend 1 night and I regret not scheduling more time here! We spent a night in reverends ridge campgrounds, $36 for electrical hookup spot, and it was right next to well maintained and clean bathrooms that had showers! They even had a laundry building with vending machines. The park ranger came by in the evening to make sure we were aware of the incoming winter weather and we appreciated the heads up/wellness check. There are so many amazing trails in this park with plenty of markers and signs to help you stay on track. Lots of moose sightings were reported by our camping neighbors and we even saw a bear at a safe distance. Good chance you'll see some wildlife here! The visitor center was clean and had lots of nice info about the park. I love that this park allows dogs on the trails unlike the national park system. This park is a must visit if you are exploring Colorado!

We're spoiled with state parks in Colorado, but this is one of the best. In addition to the miles and miles of gorgeous hiking, you can camp or rent one of their cabins, yurts, or guest houses for a group. You can also bring out your mountain bike, trail run, rock climb, go horseback riding, fish, and - during certain seasons - even hunt. For the indoor "camping," you'll definitely need to book in advance as these can fill up early on. I also recommend getting to the trailhead early if you're driving in. I hiked Burro trail to Windy Peak last week, and there were already a couple other cars there when I pulled in around 7:30am. It was completely full when I returned to my car around 1pm. Come in with your state park pass, or purchase your daily pass at the entrance, as there aren't places to purchase at each individual trailhead.

I visited this state park a few weeks ago for the first time since moving out to CO. The goal was for my group and I to hike the Panorama Point Trail, however, the road leading up to the trail was closed for the season. I was a little bummed since there hasn't been much of a winter here at all, part of me had hoped that this road would in fact be open. The road closure is of course no fault of the State Park, in fact, it's my poor planning that's to blame since I didn't consult the state park website before trekking out there - lesson learned! Also, make sure to bring exact change (duh - it's a state park that requires an entrance fee) for self-service parking as there is no attendant in this specific parking area, or, the alternative is a $27 parking ticket, another lesson learned! :) Although we didn't end up doing the Panorama Point Trail, we parked at near Krylie Pond Trailhead road and hopped on the Blue Grouse to Mule Deer trail. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed the scenery. We started out early in the morning and missed the afternoon crowds. Will definitely be returning to this park again in the future with a state park pass or exact change!

Lots of ponds for fishing and good hiking trails. Parking pass needed. $7 daily parking pass. Or $70 annual parking pass. We got our daily pass in the parking lot at Kriley Pond on rt #46. Put cash in an envelope and insert into payment box; put the sticky note parking pass inside your car's windshield. We fished at Slough Pond. Few picnic tables and bare bones bathroom building. We then drove to Bridge Creek trail head/parking lot (bathroom there too) and took Burro Trail to Mountain Lion Trail. Difficult trails--mostly uphill, no flat terrain. Tip: Burro Trail for hikers only, but there were a handful of mountain bikers--beware because they fly down the trail very fast. We ended our hike up at Tallman Ranch (historic homestead) in Forgotten Valley. Bring your fishing poles, there's a beautiful serene pond stocked with trout. Heads up: no cell phone service in the park Fun day of hiking and fishing!

I highly recommend, a great family park for some RV or Tent Camping! Quiet, relaxing and lots of hiking trails. The bathrooms are clean and there's even a sink area to wash your dishes (If you're tent camping). The camping spots are huge with a picnic table, fire pit and tent spot. The RV parking is long enough to fit a 21ft RV, truck and 2 full size cars. The best part, this state park is only an hour away from Denver!

The park has miles of unique trails, so e with sweeping views of the Rockies. Summer brings picture-worth's wildflowers. I know some of the staff and they are the nicest and most dedicated people I know.

Just a shout out to CO State Parks for the most customer-unfriendly campground management I've experienced in the western US. Here is what happened: My wife and I were on a long multi state road trip, found the park on a map and decided to camp there as a stop over. Arrived 6 pm ish on a drizzly, 45 degree afternoon and saw lots of empty campsites. Parked at the check in office to do whatever it takes to get a campsite for the night. Not so fast... the only way to obtain a campsite there (according to the posted notices and a desk jockey type park ranger we asked) is to use a designated 40 year old pay phone and reserve it over the phone...no cell signal there. OK we tried. Luckily it is a toll free call. The phone was so shoddy the person at the other end could not understand anything. So we gave up and found a hotel. There were sheriff vehicles prowling around and I have no doubt we would have been fined heavily if we had just camped in an empty site and paid in the morning. Thanks, CO State Parks! FYI the system for late arrivals at every other state I've camped in is intensely user friendly...usually involving an envelope with cash dropped in a slot.

This park is scenic, thoughtfully laid out, and - most importantly - staffed by caring, professional people. For example, the restrooms are cleaned three times a day. They're spotless. The views, the trails, and the RV and tent sites are all impressive. I especially enjoyed Raccoon Trail with my young dog. I can't wait to return! Kudos to CPWD in general and to GGCSP in particular.

The views!!!! Such a beautiful state park. We were short on time so we had to skip hiking and drove to Panorama Overlook where we were absolutely mesmerized by the beauty of the Rockies. I cannot wait to return to explore this state park further.

Great beauty, hiking, views, and moments to embrace... spent the day in the park and will be back. Panorama Point has some great views and nice little hikes nearby (Raccoon, Mule Deer) and a campground down the hill that I'd like to check out when it's warmer. Side note - could have done without the sarcastic park ranger near Ralston Roost parking area on Xmas Day - hope her day got better. Reading other reviews and wondering if customer service needs some attention.

Amazing trails that are maintained well and beautiful views of the continental divide! Lots of camping, picnic tables, and space to enjoy the outdoors. There are a lot of aspen trees so this would be perfect in the fall! I also enjoyed the historic landmarks/buildings along the Mule Deer/Coyote trail. I've done a lot of hiking and this was one of my favorites!

While the south offers a coastal lifestyle I love, I have transformed from a pina colada drinking-palm tree loving-bikini wearing-Floridian to a four-wheel driving-campfire making-IPA drinking-cutoff shorts wearing-tent camping-Coloradan...and I LOVE it. No joke. Over the weekend, my parents, boyfriend and I spent a few days in Golden Gate Canyon State Park at the Columbine Campground, located right above Central City. I absolutely love this area of the state, as it's one of the areas that aren't on fire currently, and the fact that it's close to town, yet creates a far away feel. Our campsite was nestled back into the "tent camping" area, which allowed us to have first come, first serve when picking spots, without needing a reservation. We chose the one in the far back, so other campers weren't too close to us, which was perfect, as this place fills up for sure! Also: -Trails are perfect for hiking or 4 wheeling. -Close to town, if you're in a gambling mood! -Bathrooms!! While I enjoy peeing-in-the-woods camping, I have to admit, having a bathroom near by, is nice :) -Campfires galore! -Adorable pond for fishing! What a fabulous weekend with fabulous company :)

Since last weekend was supposed to be the peak time to check out the fall colors in the high country, our family packed into the Subaru and headed to Golden Gate Canyon to check it out. This place is such a hidden gem. It only takes about 30-45 minutes to get there, and a day pass is only $6. The Visitor's Center has a trout pound that is really fun for the kids, and once in the park, Panorama Point is a can't miss attraction with over 100 miles of the Continental Divide to ogle and photograph. The pine beetles haven't hit this area, and it is absolutely resplendent with color. In less than four hours we managed to drive there, visit the Visitor's Center twice, take a 30-minute mini-hike, take about 150 pictures, and get back home. I would totally recommend it for anyone wanting to get out of town without totally wanting to GET OUT OF TOWN, if that makes sense. It's a fantastic park! The only word of warning I'll throw out there is the roads are REALLY curvy going into the park just west of Golden, and if you're at all worried about car sickness, make sure you're sitting in the front seat.

What a hidden gem in my own backyard. We were new to Colorado last year and never really went into this state park. I think we ignored it because it's close and not in the mountains. Not this year! We finally booked a night to camp here and it was wonderful. We camped in the Aspen Meadows campground. The drive in from the park entrance was breath taking. Winding up and around these beautiful foothills with views of the front range. The mountains in the distance were still snow capped when we drove through making it even more magnificent. Our site was near a stream which the dog loved and provided the relaxing sound of a running stream throughout our night. On the other side of our site was a forested rocky area which the dog and I also loved climbing around on. We were right next to the Snowshoe Hare Trail which led us to Dude's Fishing Hole, a beautiful little relaxing lake offering great scenery. We climbed around with the dog on some rocks and in the trees. There were families scattered around skipping rocks, picnicking or fishing, it was so peaceful! As we were packing up in the morning a couple rangers came around and offered us maps. They were so sweet and provided us with lots of helpful information. On the drive to Aspen Meadows you pass Panorama Point. We could have hiked from our campsite but we had a Red Rocks show to get to and decided not to. But we did park and get out to enjoy the panoramic views. Can't wait for our next trip, we're extending it to three days and plan to explore much more of the park on foot!

This is a great place to visit if you are looking for a great hike, camping, picnic or just want to be outdoors. There are several trails and areas to visit. Beautiful sites and especially nice with the small spots of snow on the ground. There are moderate and difficult trails and a great exercise for basic hiker. It can be a little rough at times but very exciting. The only downfall would have to be the parking in some of the areas and the visitor center workers was not as friendly as I expected. I truly recommend visiting the place for a nice outing or something different to do.

Golden Gate State Park is an absolutely gorgeous place to view golden aspen leaves in October. It's only 30-40 minutes from Denver, and parking is only $6 per day. There are lots of trails for a scenic hike. We did the Raccoon Trail at the top of the mountain, and got a splendid view of the Continental Divide from Panorama Point. Other scenic trails that were recommended to us were the Horseshoe Trail that goes to Frazer Meadow and John Frazer's barn, as well as the Beaver Trail where you brush shoulder with aspen every step of the hike. There are more than 125 picnic areas in the park, and some of them are nestled right in the middle of a golden aspen forest -- can't beat that view for an autumn picnic! One thing I do have to warn you about is the tremendous amount of horse poop along some trails. They are HUGE. How these softballs come out still amazes me; all I have to say is "ouch." I thought the dog poop situation around my apartment is bad, but the horses put the dogs to shame. Anyway, you've been warned.

Beautiful park, well maintained trails, locals clean up what tourist leave behind. The rest of us sincerely appreciate the collective support. Please keep your poop in your sac, you know who you are.

Went cabin camping here this weekend and had a great time! We got an unexpected winter storm, so the weather wasn't particularly pleasant. But, the propane heater in the cabin worked quite well, no chance of getting cold in the cabin. The snow did cover the fire pit & bbq, so we opted to use the plug in grill that we brought. They will allow you to cook indoors with appropriate devices when there are adverse weather conditions. We used the plug in grill on the covered patio and it was just fine. Inside the cabins there are 2 sets of bunk beds, one twin size and one full size. There is also a table and chairs and a countertop with cabinet underneath for food storage. The 4 of us were very comfortable and had plenty of room for all our stuff and our large coolers of drinks, inside. Yes, there are outlets. So, bring the iPod. Because of the weather, we ended up watching a few movies on the laptop. The cabins are $60/night plus the ridiculous Reserve America booking fee (which you cannot get around, I have tried, these guys are worse than ticketmaster). My only complaint would be the proximity of the cabin to the bathroom and to the parking. We were in cabin #2 and had to haul our stuff up a hill from the car (plug in grills are heavy!). And, its a pretty icy, cold hike to the bathrooms in the dark (especially after having watched a scary movie in the cabin). It would be really nice if there were at least a couple of pit toilets near the cabins, rather than just the flush type at the visitor center. Also, that is where the only water is, so byo gallon jugs or be prepared to hike.

Nope. Nope. Nope. If you're in a big rig. You can check in around 4:30 and find the office already closed with no instructions for late arrivals. Except a sign that says you can just stay in the parking lot. Because that's really where you want to spend the night and your money anyway, right? Super small pull-thrus with low hanging tree branches make it tough to get situated once you find your spot without the help of...anything. No water hookups but there are showers nearby. For a mere $1 you can get a 4 minute shower. So bring quarters. Go ahead and speak to the head honcho about all this and also about how your neighbors had 3 big dogs off leash milling around your camper door and watch him not give a rats a$$ about it. You can also leave a day early and not get any kind of refund. The best part? The beautiful, scenic drive when you leave.

We love to hike, this one was fun! Beautiful and worth it. We didn't take the kids, but they would have loved it, there was so much to see.

I've camped in an RV and gone hiking on the Raccoon Trail. I recommend both. Really nice wooded campground with ample space between sites. No fires while we were there due to drought but I think you can have them now. Be advised when you enter the campground you may have to loop twice if you don't turn left and go clockwise through because of the direction the site numbers are posted. Ole Barn Knoll has a gorgeous meadow of aspens right now! And Panorama Point can be driven to if you aren't up to hiking from Reverends Ridge.

Love this park. It's vast and diverse. There are moose black bear and mountain lion. The campground was clean and well kept. The trails are very well marked and maintained. I wish there was a bigger lake but the peace and quiet are tranquil enough. The entire park smells of pine and the breeze through the aspens is really something to experience!

We hadn't planned to go to this park, but due to RMNP being closed because of fires, we had a day open to add in some other sights. After eating lunch in Golden at Bob's Atomic Burgers (5 stars), we took the long winding road up to the park. The drive was full of beautiful scenery; however, if you get car sick, I would suggest passing on this one. The visitor center was helpful; they had water and clean restrooms. The park has some of the most beautiful views in Colorado. We took some of our best pictures of our trip here. Our family enjoyed our time at Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

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

It's no surprise that almost everyone gave the best reviews of this 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 ride to the top. 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 look out 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 very 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 he 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.

Yelp won't let me edit my review, but I meant to say that GGSP is solidly in category 2, not 4. It's swanky. :)

4th of july, we have to get out of the house before the evening bbq, right. Go to golden gate canyon. There were so few people it was amazing. I love this park. It is not that far from denver, and it is remote at the same time. This time we did a loop that consist of the coyote trail, deer mule and elk trail (about 7 miles) and it was amazing. It does go up and down like mad, but you see so many different landscapes, meadows, pine forest, aspen forest, rocks everywhere. AND there are still a lot of wild flowers so it is time to go. The rancher house is worth visiting. They will give you maps and info on where to go depending on your time and level of difficulty. They also have a list of animal sighting.