Hike the Golden Cliffs Trail

From here, you can choose a few different hiking paths. This out-and-back trek starts at the trailhead up and to the left. Along the way you'll pass a bench dedicated to Craig Luebben — a writer, photographer and climbing guide. At this point, you probably haven't even broken a sweat yet. It's time to continue on.

Keep following the trail along the bottom of the mountain until you reach a rock stairway. This is about 1.5 miles in. Climb up slowly and carefully. The rocks here are round and roll very easily, and don't forget — you have 500 ft. of elevation gain.

Once at the top, it's best to make some sort of marker so you can easily find your way back.

At the top, follow the social trail (not as well traveled) along the top of the mountain. In about .5 miles, you'll reach the Golden Cliffs. It's here that you can stop, have a snack and enjoy the panorama views.

If you're feeling like you need to track some more miles, you can continue on past the Golden Cliffs and out toward the longer North Table loop (6-8 miles).

After pausing at the Golden Cliffs, head back toward your marker, and descend the rocky trail back to your car.

Getting there: The trailhead is located off of Peery Parkway. When coming from downtown Golden, hang a right at 1st Street and travel down toward the trailhead.