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The Lariat Loop® Byway is a 40-mile route where you can retrace the motoring adventures of the early 1920s and experience the thrill of foothills exploration at the dawn of the Age of Motorcars. Colorado’s first gateways to the mountains still have sharp curves, winding roads, spectacular views, and waysides to refresh and delight the traveler.
This byway is a combination of two historic routes: the Lariat Trail Scenic Mountain Drive ascending Lookout Mountain and the Bear Creek Canyon Scenic Mountain Drive. In combination, these routes were part of several of the “scenic circles” developed and promoted by Denver in 1915-1920s to help Coloradans experience the mountains in proximity to the Denver Metropolitan area. These roadways were designated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
The Lariat Loop® Byway provided early automobile access to the Denver Mountain Parks system and, later, to Jefferson Co. Open Space parks. Today, the Lariat Loop® Scenic & Historic Byway continues to serve this purpose, carrying visitors along the same routes as in the early days of Colorado tourism.
The Lariat Loop® Byway takes its name from the historic LARIAT TRAIL, a 5-mile road from Golden up the front of Lookout Mountain to Buffalo Bill’s Museum and Grave. The Lariat Trail was built by “Cement Bill” in 1913.
Lariat Loop Heritage Alliance formed in 1999, filed as a non-profit in 2001.
More than 30 local, county, and state partners, public and private came together to form the Alliance.
The Lariat Loop was designated Colorado’s sixth heritage area in 2000. At the time the Lariat Loop included:
The Lariat Loop was designated Colorado’s 24th Scenic Byway in 2002.
Major Project Milestones
In 2009, the Lariat Loop was designated as a National Scenic Byway.
Lariat Loop Heritage Alliance formed in 1999, filed as a non-profit in 2001.
More than 30 local, county, and state partners, public and private came together to form the Alliance.
The Lariat Loop was designated Colorado’s sixth heritage area in 2000. At the time the Lariat Loop included:
The Lariat Loop was designated Colorado’s 24th Scenic Byway in 2002.
Major Project Milestones
In 2009, the Lariat Loop was designated as a National Scenic Byway.
Explore the Lariat Loop through Historic Postcards. Images courtesy of Jefferson County Archives.
Take a video tour of Lariat Loop Scenic Byway – then go to our Stops page to plan your next scenic Colorado getaway!
Click the brochure image to see more.
Photos for the 2018 Brochure/Map courtesy of our local affiliates, partners, members and photographer David Lieberman. Reproduction of any portion is strictly prohibited without the express consent of Smart Marketing, LLC. ©2018
Home Hero image courtesy of Kent Kanouse.