Golden Gate: near and great
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a number of great facilities with fishing, camping, picnicking, trails and more, in the Denver area (Cherry Creek and Chatfield reservoirs and Barr Lake, among others). But there are times when you might want to enjoy a more secluded setting.
Many believe they have to drive hours into the mountains to find such a place. That’s not the case.
Lauren Sanford, from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, expounded on the virtues of such a location just a half hour from Denver, Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
Within minutes of turning on Golden Gate Canyon Road, you feel like you have left civilization and are truly in the wilderness. The vast, tree-covered area of the park and the adjoining forest land offer a wealth of outdoor opportunities. If you are enjoying a day trip, there are 125 picnic areas throughout the park and miles of trails, including 19 miles of multiuse trails to accommodate not only hiking but mountain biking and horseback riding.
Golden Gate Canyon Park also features some hike-in areas for rock climbing. Wildlife viewing features elk, turkey, bobcat and a moose that makes regular appearances by the road. While I would not consider it a fishing destination, the park has several ponds that provide ample opportunity to wet a line. Some of them are regularly stocked with catchable rainbow trout, and it’s a great place to take a kid fishing. Other ponds are stocked with panfish and catfish, with some hikein ponds stocked with brown trout.
If you are looking for a longer stay, there is an almost endless variety of camping opportunities. Two campgrounds offer 135 sites with facilities including flush toilets and hookups. There are another 20 hike-in, backcountry sites and three backcountry shelters with one open side for a different experience. In addition, there are six camper cabins and two Yurts that each sleep six people and have heat and electricity. The park also features the Harmsen Ranch guest house with four queen beds and a full kitchen.
More than 12,000 acres of dense forest, rocky peaks and aspen-rimmed meadows laced with miles of trails await the hiker, horseback rider, mountain biker and winter sports enthusiast at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. It offers views from the Panorama Point scenic overlook, where visitors can see 100 miles of the Continental Divide. Winter will find visitors cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, ice fishing and ice skating.
Additional information on the park can be found on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.