Golden is a brewery town, a college town and a gateway to the mountains, and this finish lies just east of it, near Applewood, where Denver's western suburbs meet the foothills of the Rockies. The Coors brewery, one of the largest in the world, dominates the town, and the Colorado School of Mines sits on the hillside above. Two flat-topped mesas, North and South Table Mountain, capped with ancient lava flows, frame the view.
Buffalo Bill Cody, the showman of the Wild West, is buried on top of Lookout Mountain, above Golden, and his grave and museum attract visitors from all over the world. The road up the mountain, the Lariat Loop, is a series of tight hairpins with views over the plains and the city.
The ride you have just finished, through Golden Gate Canyon, is one of the classic short rides from Denver, a winding road through forests and meadows to a state park with views of the Continental Divide. Clear Creek Canyon, west of Golden, is another, with US 6 threading through tunnels along the creek.
The riding in the foothills is excellent, but watch for cyclists, who are numerous, and for wildlife, especially deer. In winter, ice and snow can make the canyon roads treacherous, and summer afternoon thunderstorms bring lightning and hail.
Golden itself is a pleasant small town, with a historic main street under an arch that welcomes you to Howdy Folks, a creek running through a park and plenty of fuel, food and craft breweries. Coors offers tours, and a cold glass of beer at the end of the tour is part of the deal; save it for when the bike is parked for the night.