Get in the Loop!

EXPLORE THE LARIAT LOOP SCENIC & HISTORIC BYWAY

Learn About The Loop

Did you know … the trail (now known as Lookout Mountain Road) was built in 1913 by a man the locals called “Cement Bill”? It has quite an entertaining and interesting history, not the least of which is that when the City of Denver owed Bill money for his work on the road, he put up a blockade at the Golden entrance. He let in all travelers except those with Denver license plates—until the City finally paid him!

Don’t miss the Bison Overlook at exit 254. There’s a parking lot to pull into to take pictures of the high mountain peaks to the west. There may be a bison herd nearby. If so, you can’t miss them!

THE LARIAT LOOP® SCENIC & HISTORIC BYWAY provides a multigenerational excursion that retraces the motoring adventures of the 1920s on a 40-mile winding stretch through the foothills between Golden, Morrison and Evergreen. Explore the historic sites, scenic stops and fun attractions at your own pace. Best of all, whether you’re squeezing in a few stops in an hour or making a full day of it, exploring the Lariat Loop Byway is free!

Before you head out, grab a to -go coffee, breakfast or lunch in downtown Golden, which offers a wide variety of cafés, coffee shops, food halls and restaurants. Don’t forget to grab a photo under the famous Golden Welcome Arch!

Did you know …

The History Of The Loop

From 1915 to the 1920s, Denver developed and promoted the Lariat Trail Scenic Mountain Drive ascending Lookout Mountain and the Bear Creek Canyon Scenic Mountain Drive as part of several “scenic circles” designed to help Coloradans experience the mountains in proximity to the Denver Metropolitan area.

Originally, the Lariat Loop Byway (today billed as “40 Miles of Western Adventure”), provided early automobile access to the Denver Mountain Parks system, and later, to Jefferson County Open Space parks. In 1976, the roadways of the Byway were designated to the National Register of Historic Places.

1 Boettcher Mansion

Jeffco.us/Boettcher-Mansion

Tour this 100+-year-old gem where historic authenticity meets modern amenities inside the Lookout Mountain Nature Preserve. Built in 1917, the former Lorraine Lodge was donated to Jefferson County in the 1970s and in 1984, the Arts and Crafts estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2 Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave BuffaloBill.org

Browse collections of antique firearms, Native American artifacts, items used by Buffalo Bill Cody and his grave atop Lookout Mountain. See Sitting Bull’s bow and arrows, Buffalo Bill’s show outfits and Frederick Remington’s “Portrait of a Ranch Hand.”

3 Colorado Railroad Museum ColoradoRailroadMuseum.org

Experience history with this collection of over 100 narrow- and standardgauge steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars and cabooses. Also, see the exhibit galleries, renowned library, Roundhouse restoration facility and working turntable, plus the Depot General Store.

4 Golden Historic Downtown VisitGolden.com

Historic Downtown Golden dates back to the early 1850s when the first settlers came looking for gold. Visit the museums, take the selfguided walking tours, shop, dine and stay without ever leaving downtown.

5 Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center

Jeffco.us/1281/Lookout-Mountain-Preserveand-Nature-Cen

Commune with nature at this 100-acre park’s interactive exhibits, hands-on discovery room and observation room, programs and trails. Jeffco Open Space Educators offer programs throughout the year covering the county’s wildlife, plants, history and more.

6 Miner’s Alley Playhouse MinersAlley.com

Enjoy an award-winning production —musicals, comedy, improv, concerts and theater—at this professional theatre in downtown

Did you know the Lariat Loop® Byway is named after the Lariat Trail, five miles of zig-zagging road climbing the front of Lookout Mountain to Buffalo Bill’s Museum and Grave?

Did you know … the list of prestigious awards for Miners Alley Playhouse includes several Henry Awards and Marlowe Awards?

Golden. The performances have been acknowledged by Denver Westword and True West for excellence in community theater. Watch for the early 2023 move into the former Meyer Hardware building, where the playhouse blossoms into the new Miners Alley Performing Arts Center.

7 Mother Cabrini Shrine

MotherCabriniShrine.org

Walk the gardens, marvel at the art and architecture, explore the museum and browse the gift shop at this sacred site. The Shrine offers retreat facilities and daily mass and is open every day for visitors and pilgrims to pray, explore and visit.

8 Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum

RMQM.org

Explore the scope of quilting, from bedcoverings of the 1800s to contemporary art pieces. The museum hosts quarterly exhibits, tailored tours and programs for adults and youth. The Sandra Dallas Library contains over 6,500 volumes featuring out-of-print literature, technique resources, historic patterns and research documents.

9 Dinosaur Ridge

DinoRidge.org

This indoor/outdoor museum features fossils from the Cretaceous and Jurassic Periods, first studied and named during the Bone Wars of 1877. An esteemed panel of paleontologists ranked Dinosaur Ridge as the No. 1 dinosaur track site in America for the variety and accessibility of fossilized tracks open to visitors. •

Directions from Downtown Golden via Washington Ave.

• Head southeast on Washington Ave. toward 13th St.

• Turn right (west) onto 19th St.

• At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on 19th St.

• Turn right to stay on 19th St.

• Enter a residential neighborhood. Stay on the main road driving between two stone pillars and up Mt. Zion (with the “M”.) *

• Continue onto Lookout Mountain Road.

How long does it take?

Allow about 2-3 hours to enjoy the Lariat Loop byway, depending on how many stops you make. Ensure you have plenty of gas, as stops along the loop are limited.

How high is Lookout Mountain? The highest point on Lookout Mountain is 7,500 feet.

Learn more: Pick up a Lariat Loop brochure at the Golden Visitors & Information Center or visit LariatLoop.org.