Lariat Loop National Scenic Byway
Lariat Loop National Scenic Byway
4.5
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4.5
118 reviews
Excellent
74
Very good
37
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
2
houstonnative47
Missouri City, TX1,041 contributions
Oct 2019
This whole Lariat Loop is only 40 miles long. We picked it up in Evergreen, drove up Lariat Mountain Road all the way to Golden. We stopped at Lookout Mountain for great views of Golden and Denver areas and then down to Golden. The road to Golden was downhill all the way while twisting and turning and trying to avoid bicyclists too.
Written 27 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard A
Kernersville395 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
My wife and I took this loop while visiting the area.
Very nice drive. Lots to see. Takes you thru some quaint town.
Allow time to stop and enjoy all the trip has to offer.
Nice way to spend a day
Very nice drive. Lots to see. Takes you thru some quaint town.
Allow time to stop and enjoy all the trip has to offer.
Nice way to spend a day
Written 25 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul S
Marion1,513 contributions
May 2018 • Family
The Lariat Loop is named because if you trace it out on a map of Colorado it looks like the open end of a cowboy's rope just before the knot tightens over the neck of a steer. The best known part is from hwy 6 in Golden up the side of Lookout Mountain past Buffalo Bill's grave and museum to I-70 at Genessee. The route continues on to Evergeen and then down scenic Bear Creek Canyon past Kittredge (home of former senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart) to Morrison and back past Red Rocks to Golden. Don't expect to drive the 40 miles in 45 minutes. It takes longer to drive on mountain roads and there are lots of trails, museums, shops, and restaurants to explore along the way. For some ideas, check listings on this site under Lakewood, Golden, Evergreen, and Morrison. The entire route is paved and well maintained and you do not need four wheel drive, high clearance, or any special driving skills to compete the loop. If you are from the Southwest and are hesitant to make the drive, I can assure you it is easier than the drive of about the same length over Mingus Mountain from Jerome to Prescott, AZ north of Phoenix.
Written 17 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ray S
Brea, CA1,161 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
I got the brochure at the visitors' center. Looked interesting so off we went.
The map is pretty useless and don't expect to see but 2 -3 signs to help you along the way. We got off track. The map is a pictorial, a piece of art, not a map. It calls itself an "illustration". Here is the stupidest part..... the stops are not in numerical order! 1 is next 12, 7 is next to 11, 3 is next to 10. So you can't see them in numerical order. I asked about this in the visitors' center. Here is how they got to this mess.
ALPHABETIZE the landmarks and points of interest. Number them 1 to 18. Find them on the map and put the number there. Who wants to see things in alpha order?
Really need to re-do the map. If you have lots of time, and don't mind getting lost, go for it. We got off track so we finally picked a place on the map and asked the GPS to get us there. We missed a couple of stops. (We're not dumb, I get around LA every day and had a graduate degree.)
Pack a meal, maybe a sleeping bag before starting out.
The map is pretty useless and don't expect to see but 2 -3 signs to help you along the way. We got off track. The map is a pictorial, a piece of art, not a map. It calls itself an "illustration". Here is the stupidest part..... the stops are not in numerical order! 1 is next 12, 7 is next to 11, 3 is next to 10. So you can't see them in numerical order. I asked about this in the visitors' center. Here is how they got to this mess.
ALPHABETIZE the landmarks and points of interest. Number them 1 to 18. Find them on the map and put the number there. Who wants to see things in alpha order?
Really need to re-do the map. If you have lots of time, and don't mind getting lost, go for it. We got off track so we finally picked a place on the map and asked the GPS to get us there. We missed a couple of stops. (We're not dumb, I get around LA every day and had a graduate degree.)
Pack a meal, maybe a sleeping bag before starting out.
Written 16 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rusurucan
Folsom, LA130 contributions
Sept 2013 • Couples
I read this in many vacation guides and was also told by people at the Welcome Center that this was a good scenic ride......Well in FACT it is NOT! The roads are not marked, there are no signs, the ones they do have are so small if you blink you miss them. We road around for an hour lost only to happen upon and roadway called "Clear Creek Canyon". Thats worth every minute. Its absolutely gorgeous views and lots of scenery!
Stay clear of the Lariat Loop and head on over to Clear Creek Canyon instead, you won't be dissatisfied!!
Stay clear of the Lariat Loop and head on over to Clear Creek Canyon instead, you won't be dissatisfied!!
Written 23 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jydeoo
Lagos, Nigeria2,311 contributions
May 2021 • Friends
We pass though here in our way to the Red Rocks Park and the views of Atlanta city as well as the mountains is simply breathtaking.
I recommend a drive through here, including a couple of stops to take in the scenery.
I recommend a drive through here, including a couple of stops to take in the scenery.
Written 1 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James S
Evergreen, CO119 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Whether, you want to do the short 5 mile Lariat Trail from Golden to Buffalo Bill's Museum and graveyard or the complete 40 mile trip, this is a great way to see some wonderful scenery and attractions. Take your choice of places in Golden( Coors Brewery, shops and restaurants), Buffalo Bill's museum, Genesee/Lookout Mountain overlook, a side trip to Evergreen and the lake or fabulous Red Rocks and into Morrison, this journey has it all.
Written 4 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MovingStates
Indiana61 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
I took the kids on a half day trip around Lariat Loop while staying in Denver. We just took our time and meandered. We stopped at Red Rocks Ampitheater and walked around, Dino Ridge, ate lunch in Morrison, icecream in Evergreen, stopped at random river pull off, climbed around Lookout Mountain, and stopped at Buffalo Bills.
We only had 1 day free while we were on this trip. I felt like the Lariat Loop gave us a good introduction to the mountains, fabulous scenery, and great places to hop out and explore.
We only had 1 day free while we were on this trip. I felt like the Lariat Loop gave us a good introduction to the mountains, fabulous scenery, and great places to hop out and explore.
Written 5 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike G
Littleton, CO94 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
Incredible views of the mountains and the city lights. If you just follow the loop you'll get a great exposure to our area. If you poke around you can share our communities. Golden, Morrison, Evergreen, Bergen Park, Kitteridge are all nice with good food offerings. The extended
Written 26 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim S
Clearwater, FL876 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
, We took the Byway from the top of Lookout Mountain to the Discovery Center at Dinosaur Ridge, Rte 93. There are several lovely small towns along the way including multiple hiking trails and fishing streams. We spotted a couple mule deer at one pull-off. We also visited the Red Rocks Amphitheatre along the way.
Written 15 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Which leg of the loop is more scenic ? From Golden to evergreen or from evergreen to Morrison?
Written 13 June 2018
They both have spectacular views. Morrison to Evergreen, up Hwy 74 is probably more fascinating. Watch for the "kissing bears" rock formation on the left side of the road, going up. Going up and down on I-70 is spectacular mostly because of the view when you get to the top of Vernon Canyon and see the panoramic view of the Rockies and the Continental Divide. Going down you get to see the panorama of the plains that then stretch to the Mississippi River. Use a lower gear and don't burn out your breaks, which can be embarrassing and or deadly.
Written 14 June 2018
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