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Colorado State Parks
Parks > Golden Gate Canyon State Park > Park Activities

Park Activities

Backcountry Camping

Golden Gate offers 4 backcountry shelters and 20 hike-in backcountry tent sites, all approximately 1-2 miles from the nearest parking. All sites are now RESERVATION ONLY. All shelters now have bear boxes, and tent sites share a double bear box located in-between sites. Please remove all food and trash from bear boxes when you leave. FIRES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE BACKCOUNTRY!

Golden Gate Canyon State Park visitors should minimize their campfire impact by only using camping stoves with gas or liquid fuel and have an “on/off” switch. Fires damage the immediate area by leaving a burn scar, and unattended fires can get out of control resulting in large forest fires that scorch thousands of acres. Remember to trash your trash and pack out all food waste. Be considerate of other visitors who may use the site after you and leave it better than you found it.

As of January 2024, we have changed our backcountry sites from numbers to letters. Please see the following for the corresponding numbers to letters for reference:

  • Shelter 1 = A
  • Site 9 = B
  • Site 11 = C
  • Site 12 = D
  • Site 10 = E
  • Site 1 = F
  • Site 2 = G
  • Site 3 = H
  • Site 4 = I
  • Site 5 = J
  • Site 6 = K
  • Site 7 = L
  • Site 8 = M
  • Shelter 2 = N
  • Shelter 3 = O
  • Site 13 = P
  • Site 14 = Q
  • Site 15 = R
  • Site 16 = S
  • Site 19 = T
  • Site 20 = U
  • Shelter 4 = V
  • Site 18 = W
  • Site 17 = X
    (Updated: 4/11/2024 12:33 PM)

Biking

Mountain bikers can utilize trails designated for multiple use (approximately 19 miles of Golden Gate Canyon’s trails). All trails are open. Be considerate of and yield to other trail users (hikers and equestrian users).
(Updated: 4/11/2023 2:42 PM)

Cabins and Yurts

Golden Gate Canyon’s Reverend’s Ridge Campground features five cabins and two yurts. Cabins and yurts stay open all year and can be reserved online at www.cpwshop.com or by calling 1-800-244-5613. Please note there is a 2-night minimum stay in all cabins and yurts, no exceptions. For more information, check out the Cabins and Yurts page.
(Updated: 6/22/2021 1:19 PM)

Camping

Campgrounds are open from Memorial Day weekend to early October. Limited camping is available during the winter in Reverends Ridge.

There are 132 campsites in 2 campgrounds: Aspen Meadows and Reverend’s Ridge. May - October

  • Aspen Meadow offers 35 tent-only sites (no RV’s/campers, sleeping in vehicles, or rooftop tents). The campground has vault toilets.
  • Limited camping in Reverend’s Ridge Campground is available during the winter. There is no water or dump for RVs from mid October - mid May.
  • During the summer months there are 59 sites with electrical hook-ups that accommodate RV’s/campers, vehicles, rooftop tents and ground tents. In addition, there are 38 tent only sites - NO RV’s/campers are allowed in the tent only sites. However, sleeping in vehicles, sleeper vans and rooftop tents are allowed in any of the H Loop sites and I Loop sites 73-79 and 83-87.
  • Facilities at Reverend’s Ridge include flush toilets, showers, an ice machine, laundry facilities and a dump station.

Please be advised that tying off to trees is prohibited, including hammocks. Hammock straps can constrict the part of the tree which nutrients flow through and, if repeatedly done in the same part of the trunk, kill the tree. We advise planning ahead and preparing by bringing your own hammock stand or leaving the hammock at home.

Golden Gate Canyon also offers 20 backcountry tent sites and four backcountry shelters.

  • Our backcountry sites are now also available via reservation only and are all hike-in only camping. Hike-in sites are 1-2 miles from parking area.
  • No fires are allowed in the backcountry.

For more information, visit the Camping page.
(Updated: 10/19/2023 8:52 AM)

Dog-friendly

Dogs are welcome on all trails and campgrounds in the park as long as:

  • They are on a six-foot or shorter leash at all times
  • Their waste is properly disposed of

Being a courteous and responsible pet owner can help you keep wildlife wild and be considerate of other visitors. Local wildlife is easily disturbed by out-of-control pets, so keep them on a leash. Your pet may also be very friendly when it meets other people or pets, but remember that other person or pet may not like being approached by your pet or could even be aggressive towards your pet.
(Updated: 4/12/2023 9:09 AM)

Education Programs

Campfire presentations and Kids Programs are scheduled at Reverend’s Ridge Campground on weekends during the summer. Please call the campground office for programs and event dates at (303) 642-3856. Campfire and education programs cover a wide variety of topics including, trees, wildlife, Leave No Trace, and area history.
(Updated: 4/12/2023 9:13 AM)

Fishing

Fishing is permitted in any stream or pond at Golden Gate Canyon State Park with the exception of the Visitor Center Show Pond. The daily bag limit at Golden Gate Canyon is four fish. There is an ADA-accessible fishing pier at Kriley Pond. The Park’s ponds include Kriley, Slough, Dude’s Fishing Hole, Forgotten Valley and Ranch Ponds. Ponds are stocked regularly during the spring and summer. A Colorado fishing license is required as well as a daily or annual vehicle pass. All Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations apply. A map of the fishing areas is available from the Maps and Directions page.

Learn more about how you can practice Leave No Trace while fishing HERE.
(Updated: 4/12/2023 9:13 AM)

Group Camping

Group Campgrounds are open Memorial Day weekend through October. The Works Ranch Cabin and group camping area can accommodate up to 30 people. The site has a cabin that houses 6 and 2 high-use tent pads that can accommodate 24 tent campers. An outdoor eating area, fireplace, grills, vault toilets, and water spigot are on site.

Rifleman Phillips Group Campground is available for groups of up to 75 people. This campground is for tent campers only.

These campgrounds are closed during the winter months.

Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance, so please plan accordingly. To reserve, call 1-800-244-5613 or visit www.cpwshop.com.
(Updated: 6/22/2021 1:30 PM)

Hiking

All trails are open for hiking year-round, unless otherwise posted. For more information on trails, visit the Trails page. Dogs are permitted on all trails, but they must be on a 6-foot leash at all times. Please clean up after your pets. See above for information on why dogs are required to be on leash at all times.
(Updated: 4/12/2023 9:14 AM)

Horseback Riding

Horseback riders can utilize trails designated for multiple use (approximately 19 miles of Golden Gate Canyon’s trails). Nott Creek, Kriley Overlook and the entrance to Aspen Meadow Campground offer parking for horse trailers. For more information, visit the Trails page.
(Updated: 11/19/2019 9:32 AM)

Hunting

Hunting is allowed on the Jefferson County portion of the park the Tuesday after Labor Day through the Friday prior to Memorial Day. Per regulation, hunters must make a reservation through cpwshop.com. Reservations can be made up to 14 days in advance and are limited to 15 hunters per day. All hunting reservations made, regardless of species are valid for one day only. All Colorado Parks & Wildlife and Golden Gate Canyon State Park rules and regulations apply. Hunting is NEVER permitted in the Gilpin County side of the park.

A raffle is held on August 1 each year to hunt elk on the Green Ranch Property. Submit an application by 5 pm on July 31 and learn more about hunting on Green Ranch.
(Updated: 8/1/2024 8:26 AM)

Picnicking

There are 125 scenic picnic sites throughout the park. Several are located along Ralston Creek on Crawford Gulch Road and along Mountain Base Road at Ole’ Barn Knoll and Bootleg Bottom. Many picnic sites are identified on the park map, available from the Maps and Directions page. Sites are available on a first come, first served basis and include a table and charcoal grills for cooking. ADA-accessible picnic tables are located at Kriley Pond, Bootleg Bottom, Panorama Point and Bridge Creek. Large groups can reserve the Red Barn Group Picnic Area. For more information on group picnic areas, visit the Group Facilities page. Remember to practice Leave No Trace by picking up all trash and waste, keeping all grills and fires attended at all times, fully extinguishing grills and fires when finished, and being respectful of other park visitors.
(Updated: 4/12/2023 9:14 AM)

Rock Climbing

Golden Gate Canyon does not monitor or maintain climbing areas for rock-fall or safety of routes for fixed hardware and makes no representations or warranties regarding the safety, reliability, or suitability for use of any fixed anchors or other hardware currently existing or installed in the future. Multiple climbing opportunities can be found throughout the park. Access to these areas requires hiking into the backcountry. It is unlawful to place fixed or permanent climbing hardware without a permit obtained by the park manager. Please refer to www.mountainproject.com for detailed route information.

Learn more from REI’s Leave No Trace Ethics for Rock Climbing page.
(Updated: 4/27/2023 10:23 AM)