How long is the Lariat Loop?

FHWA lists it at 40 miles and CDOT estimates two hours of driving. Some sources say 36 or 42 miles, depending on where the loop is measured.

Why is it called the Lariat Loop?

The name comes from the Lariat Trail, the five-mile road from Golden up Lookout Mountain, and from the lasso shape of the loop. The byway combines two historic drives that Denver built between 1912 and 1914 for its mountain parks.

Is part of it closed at night?

Yes. CDOT notes a night closure on a portion of Lookout Mountain Road, so plan the climb for daytime.

Can I drive it in an EV?

Yes. Colorado recognizes it as an Electric Byway, with two Level 3 stations just off I-70 and Level 2 stations in Golden and Morrison.

Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway Road Trip: The Complete Route Guide

The Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway is a 40-mile loop in the foothills west of Denver, connecting Golden, Evergreen, and Morrison. It is one of 13 America’s Byways in Colorado.

Denver built the roads between 1912 and 1914 to bring residents and tourists to its new mountain parks system. Two of them, the Lariat Trail Scenic Mountain Drive and the Bear Creek Canyon Scenic Mountain Drive, are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Lariat loop has about three dozen historic sites. It covers Buffalo Bill’s grave, Red Rocks Park, Dinosaur Ridge, and small towns that kept their old main streets, and it is easy to drive in an afternoon.

Route Details: Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway

Mile markers below are my estimates, counted counterclockwise from Golden.

Golden (0 miles)

Golden is the usual start, and the Colorado Railroad Museum sits at the foot of North Table Mountain with more than 60 locomotives and cars on 12 acres. The MillerCoors brewery offers tours just outside town. Golden has Level 2 chargers.

Lariat Loop Trail and Lookout Mountain (5 miles)

From 19th Street, Lookout Mountain Road switchbacks up the five-mile Lariat Trail, with views back over Golden and the plains. A night closure applies to part of the road.

Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave (8 miles)

At the top, the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave has exhibits of Buffalo Bill Cody’s belongings, Wild West show posters, Native American artifacts, and antique firearms. The Pahaska Tepee gift shop is nearby, and the Lookout Mountain Park open space has 1.5 miles of trails.

Genesee Mountain Park (14 miles)

Genesee Mountain Park has a buffalo overlook where you can see Denver’s herd of about 40 bison. It is one of the best wildlife stops on the loop.

Evergreen (20 miles)

Evergreen is a mountain town with a small downtown, Evergreen Lake, and Hiwan Heritage Park. The Boettcher Mansion on Lookout Mountain is another historic stop in the area.

Bear Creek Canyon (25 miles)

Bear Creek Road drops from Evergreen through a narrow canyon, past several Jefferson County open space parks. This is the Bear Creek Canyon Scenic Mountain Drive, the loop’s south entrance.

Morrison and Red Rocks (32 miles)

Morrison is a small town with a mountain backdrop. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, once called the Garden of the Angels, is just north, and its sandstone steps and concerts draw visitors year-round.

Dinosaur Ridge (36 miles)

Dinosaur Ridge is on the Dakota Hogback near Morrison, an outdoor museum with dinosaur tracks and fossils still in the rock. It is one of the loop’s most distinctive stops.