Lookout Mountain

Most visitors to Lookout Mountain Park drive to the top of the mountain to explore the various trails that lead to and from the summit, but adventurous travelers can start from the bottom and climb up. The Chimney Gulch/Lookout Mountain Trail is one of the park’s most popular, offering the feel of backcountry hiking just a few minutes from downtown Golden. Once on the trails, look for elk, deer, birds, and other wildlife. At the top of the mountain, you can visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, where famous performer Buffalo Bill was laid to rest on the mountain’s summit.

Travelers can visit Lookout Mountain on a half- or full-day tour of Denver–area parks and foothills; most include roundtrip transportation to and from Denver.

• Lookout Mountain is a great spot for nature and outdoors lovers.

• Although the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave requires an admission fee, admission to the park is free.

• On the drive up, you’re likely to see cyclists in colorful training gear pushing the limits of their endurance on the narrow, winding road, so use caution.

Lookout Mountain is about 20 minutes west of Denver by road, just outside the town of Golden. Major highways lead into Golden from every direction, and visitors can also travel from Denver and Denver International Airport (DIA) to Golden via the RTD light rail using the West Rail or W lines.

Lookout Mountain Park is open year-round from dawn until dusk. Nature trails attract hikers and mountain bikers in summer, and snowshoers and cross-country skiers in winter. The Buffalo Bill Museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm in summer and from 9am to 4pm in winter.

Lookout Mountain is only a few minutes from charming downtown Golden with its wonderful restaurants, scenic views, festivals, and locally owned shops and galleries. Clear Creek runs right through town, and in summer, you may see the US Olympic kayaking team training on the whitewater. You can also take a free tour of the Coors Brewery.

Yes, it's free to hike Lookout Mountain, which has gorgeous views across the Denver skyline. The 2.3-mile (3.7-kilometer) out-and-back Lookout Mountain Trail climbs through evergreen forest to the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve at the summit. The nature center offers free, naturalist-led programs for children and adults.

Free Lookout Mountain parking is available at the Lookout Mountain Nature Center in Lookout Mountain Preserve. If you're hiking the Lookout Mountain Trail to the summit, there's free parking available near the trailhead in Windy Saddle Park. The Windy Saddle Park Trailhead is located on Lookout Mountain Road.

Dogs on leashes are welcome at Lookout Mountain Preserve, located at the summit of Lookout Mountain. You can bring your leashed pet to Windy Saddle Park, the starting point for the 2.3-mile (3.7-kilometer) out-and-back Lookout Mountain Trail. Keep them leashed throughout the scenic hike into evergreen forests.

Dress in layers when visiting Lookout Mountain. Conditions change quickly in the Colorado mountains, especially during the summer “monsoon season,” when afternoons can bring sudden thunderstorms. If you’re hiking Lookout Mountain Trail, remember that much of the path is in the shade, with patches of snow lingering into June.

Lookout Mountain Nature Center is wheelchair accessible, including its parking and restrooms. The accessible nature center offers free, naturalist-led programming for children and adults. Interactive exhibits within the nature center explore the fascinating plants and animals of the surrounding foothills ecosystem, and there’s a hands-on playroom for kids.

You can drive or hike to the top of Lookout Mountain. A paved road leads to Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center, with interactive exhibits and paths into surrounding meadows and evergreen forests. Or, you can take the 2.3-mile (3.7-kilometer) Lookout Mountain Trail from the Windy Saddle Park trailhead.