Lariat Trail Scenic Mountain Drive
Jefferson County
Officially opened in 1913, Lariat Trail was the first of several scenic drives constructed as part of Denver’s mountain park system. Beginning in Golden, where two 35-foot high stone pylons mark the entry, the drive connects with Floyd Hill Road at the top of Mount Vernon Canyon.
Lariat Trail Scenic Drive view at the Beaver Brook Trail during the 1980s.
Early designs were by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and the survey and final layout was prepared by Saco R. DeBoer, Denver’s noted landscape architect of the period. William Williams, sometimes referred to as Cement Bill, served as construction superintendent. Six overlooks are located along the drive as it switches back and forth up the steep side of Lookout Mountain. Listed under Denver Mountain Parks and the Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks Resources Multiple Property Submissions.