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Living in Golden

Living in Golden combines all the best aspects of life in Colorado

Colorado School of Mines puts you in the heart of Golden, Colorado, where your college experience extends well beyond campus. This historic mountain town combines an active downtown with incredible access to the outdoors, all just 15 miles from Denver.

Between classes, you can grab coffee or dinner downtown, explore local shops, hike or bike trails that begin minutes from campus, or head to Clear Creek for kayaking and tubing. On weekends, the mountains are within easy reach, with skiing, climbing, camping and countless other Colorado adventures nearby. And when you want the energy of a bigger city, downtown Denver is easily accessible by car, bus or light rail.

Golden also puts you at the center of some of the technologies shaping the future. The region is emerging as a major hub for energy and quantum innovation, with the National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden and Mines’ Quantum Commons 15 minutes away in nearby Arvada, connecting research, industry and the next generation of scientists and quantum engineers.

Why Mines Students Love Golden, Colorado

Mines student with a scooter in front of the Welcome to Golden sign
The benefits of living in Golden

Living in Golden means you don’t have to choose between a college town, a major metro area and the outdoors. You get all three. Spend your day learning and working alongside people tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges, then hit a trail, meet friends downtown or head into Denver for a concert, game or night out.

It’s a place where you can live the Colorado lifestyle while building connections and gaining experiences that can help launch your career. Whether your next step takes you into energy, quantum, aerospace, technology or another rapidly changing field, Golden is an incredible place to start.

Local Attractions Outdoor Adventures Denver
24 miles of interconnected trails
300+ days of sunshine per year
20,571 residents
#16 College towns with the best public transportation

Local Attractions

Three people having a conversation over menus at an outdoor café under colorful umbrellas on a sunny day.
Red Rocks amphitheater empty at sunset with curved wooden benches and a large red rock formation in the background.

RED ROCKS PARK AND AMPHITHEATRE: Carved into rock in neighboring Morrison, Red Rocks plays host to international acts as one of the best outdoor concert venues in the world. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is open to the public from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset every day of the year. Visitors can explore the hiking trails around the park, work out in the amphitheatre, visit the park museum or the trading store, or enjoy a meal at the Ship Rock Grille. In addition to concerts, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre hosts movie nights, yoga on the rocks, and fitness and specialty events throughout the year.

Cyclists ride through a street in Golden under a

Community Events

Festivals

Resources

Two golden retrievers looking at each other, one has red lipstick kisses on its face, and a puppy golden retriever is between both during the Goldens in Golden 2026 event
Bar counter with three different beers and plates of food, with beer taps and industrial-style hanging lights in the background.
Two Mines students wearing Mines volunteer shirts working together outside looking at plants

Outdoor Adventureland

Sitting in the foothills, Golden serves as the gateway to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and is a prime location for outdoor enthusiasts.

A few of the many outdoor adventures accessible from Golden:

  • Hiking
  • Biking
  • Backpacking
  • Climbing
  • Rafting
  • Skiing
Cyclists ride through a street in Golden under a
Biking

Golden has been named a bicycle-friendly community by the League of American Cyclists, receiving its silver award for implementing a “complete streets” policy. In addition to 24 miles of trails (which connect to an extensive network throughout the county and beyond), the city also operates its own bike-share system, the Golden Bike Library, and a park exclusively for mountain biking.

Explore Jefferson County Trails

Two people hiking on a dirt trail surrounded by trees and mountains under a partly cloudy sky.
Hiking

Golden offers a multitude of trails that provide a variety of experiences and difficulty levels, from the gentle Clear Creek Trail to the North Table Mountain Trail, which has an elevation gain of 400 feet from the south.

Learn more about hiking in Golden

Clear Creek river flowing through autumn trees with yellow and green leaves, set against a dry mountain under a bright blue sky.

Clear Creek, a quarter-mile-long whitewater park, runs through the heart of Golden and is popular with anglers, paddlers, tubers, sun worshippers, runners, bikers, dog walkers—everyone, really.

Explore Golden parks, trails and open space map

Mascot Blaster wearing
Skiing

Golden’s location in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains means students have convenient access to world-class skiing. Eldora, for example, is just 58 minutes away.

Denver

This capital of Colorado—also known as the Mile High City—is a diverse, modern metropolis with a flourishing arts and cultural community, a well-established music scene, numerous professional sports teams, world-class dining and everything else that big-city living has to offer.

Getting There

Downtown Denver is just 15 miles away from campus, a trip that can take as little as 20 minutes by car.

No wheels? No problem. RTD’s West Rail Line runs from the Jefferson County Government Center station in Golden to Denver Union Station every 15 minutes. To get from campus to the station, students can use FlexRide bus service, which runs every 15 minutes on weekdays and can also be booked online or by phone.

Even better, students can ride RTD light rail and buses for free using their university-provided RTD pass.

RTD’s Route 16 West Colfax bus travels regularly from Golden to downtown Denver as well, while Zipcars and ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are also available in Golden.

Historic Denver Union Station building facade with a large clock and bright orange

Arts and Culture

Music

Denver Music Venues

Coors Field baseball stadium under a dramatic cloudy sky during a daytime game with players on the field and fans in the stands.

Sports