5 Things To Do in Golden This Shoulder Season
When summer is over but your favourite winter activities aren’t quite here, the mountains don’t hide away, so why should you?
September, October and November make up Golden’s fall shoulder season, aka, the perfect time for your getaway to be surrounded by red, orange, gold – and less crowds.
Whether you can’t resist a cozy cafe morning or a crisp day exploring in the great outdoors, here are 5 ways to embrace the shoulder season in Golden.
- Café hop
Because, it isn’t fall until you’ve had that first sip of a seasonal latte.
Hop off the beaten path (or, Trans-Canada Highway) and discover locally-owned cafes in Golden that will leave you lost for words.
From Ethos Cafe to Wandering Fern, Double Black and more, you can always count on a coffee that’s brewed to perfection – only made better with a mouthwatering baked treat.
Take your pick from delicious cakes and cookies, flaky pastries and satisfying sourdough breads. You’ll taste the freshness in every bite.
Click here to explore our guide to restaurants and cafés in Golden.
- Mountain biking
Whether you’re just getting started or you can’t get enough of mountain biking, there’s a trail for every rider here.
And with the milder temperatures and fewer crowds that shoulder season brings, it’s a great time of year to earn a few extra laps.
Golden’s adaptive trails and the Moonraker system are the place for beginners, or those looking to warm up their biking legs, to start.
When you’re ready to take things up a gear, the CBT and Mountain Shadows trail systems are sure to satisfy your craving for adrenaline-fuelled adventures.
- Explore the parks
Psst… did you know that Golden is surrounded by the unique beauty of 6 national parks?
Its close proximity to endless trails means you can enjoy a longer sleep in while still being able to get a headstart on other trail users.
Take a drive in any direction and before you know it, you’ll be at a trailhead ready for an unforgettable adventure. It’s the perfect base to explore beyond.
Explore our trail guides to plan your outdoor itinerary, and remember to recreate responsibly:
Clean all organic material from boots, bikes, gear, pets and vehicle.
Drain and Dry your gear before entering & leaving the recreation site.
Stay on designated trails.
- Larch hiking
Ask any Canadian Rockies local what they love the most about fall, and you’re sure to hear the word larch.
And when you’re hiking through a forest of these vividly-orange deciduous conifer trees on a crisp, fall day – you’ll understand.
Plus, since Golden typically experiences a longer fall than most neighbouring mountain towns, you could be lucky enough to enjoy the larches for longer.
Here are a few hiking trails where you can catch a glimpse:
- Diana Lake (Radium Hot Springs)
- Floe Lake (Kootenay National Park)
- Pedley Pass (Kootenay National Park)
- Rockbound Lake (Banff National Park)
- Taylor Lake (Banff National Park)
- Adventure into the night
Shorter days mean late sunrises, early sunsets and making the most of the daylight in between.
But when the sun goes down, Golden offers endless ways to be entertained.
Explore the local dining scene, then decide if you’ll spend your evening at a bowling alley, the cinema, a brewery or dancing the night away to live music.
With milder weather and lesser crowds, Golden is the perfect mountain town to maximize your time outdoors before winter sets in.
Let this blog and our fall itinerary planner inspire your next adventure, and book your shoulder season trip today