Lookout Mountain Road

Golden, Colorado · Golden → Buffalo Bill's Grave turnoff

Intense3.4 mi10 min1,000 ft climbHigh point ≈ 7,300 ftOne way

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The drive

Lookout Mountain Road leaves Golden at 19th Street and climbs the east face of Lookout Mountain on a string of hairpin turns. It is the Lariat Trail, part of the Lariat Loop Scenic Byway, and CDOT calls it a spectacular feat of engineering. The drive is only 3.4 miles but gains about 1,000 feet, to around 7,300 feet.

It ends at the turnoff for the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. Views look back over Golden and out across the plains.

The road is narrow and the turns are tight, so it's slow going even for a short drive.

Along the way

Golden (19th Street)
Buffalo Bill's Grave turnoff

Elevation

1,000 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 7,300 ft

GoldenBuffalo Bill's Grave turnoff

Curves

Twisty most of the way

mi 0–4

GoldenBuffalo Bill's Grave turnoff

GentleHairpins

Good to know

Part of the road closes to cars at night. Jefferson County has gated a 4.1-mile stretch, from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise in the warm months, and 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. in winter. Cyclists and pedestrians can still use it.
The road's gates have not always opened and closed on schedule, so don't count on night access.
It is busy with cyclists, especially on weekends.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check CDOT Lariat Loop Scenic Byway.

Questions about this drive

How long does Lookout Mountain Road take to drive?

Golden to the Buffalo Bill Grave turnoff on Lookout Mountain Road is 3.4 miles and takes about 10 min.

Is Lookout Mountain Road closed at night?

Part of it is. Jefferson County closes a 4.1-mile stretch to cars overnight, from an hour after sunset to an hour before sunrise in the warm months. Cyclists and walkers can still use it.

How twisty is Lookout Mountain Road?

Lookout Mountain Road is rated Intense, with hairpin turns most of the way up from Golden.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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