Entry No. 224 — the Denver file — filed under: homestead
Historic Tallman Homestead
Located in the secluded 'Forgotten Valley' of Golden Gate Canyon State Park, this historic homestead was established in the late 1870s by Swedish immigrant Anders Tallman. Four generations of the Tallman family lived on the remote ranch, which now features a preserved ranch house, chicken house, and stables. Today, hikers can explore the peaceful, abandoned structures and sit on the front porch overlooking a scenic, spring-fed trout pond.
The story
In the late 1870s, while nearby Black Hawk and Central City were noisy, dirt-choked gold-rush hubs, Swedish immigrant Anders Tallman retreated into a quiet hollow along Nott Creek. He hauled a discarded single-room schoolhouse into the valley, tacked on a kitchen and a front porch, and established a homestead in a pocket so secluded locals called it Forgotten Valley.
Four generations of the Tallman family lived here off the grid, expanding the log cabin and putting up timber stables and a chicken house. What makes the site eerie today isn't just the decaying wood—it's how completely time stopped. While most 19th-century Front Range cabins were demolished, burned, or swallowed by suburban sprawl, this pocket was protected inside Golden Gate Canyon State Park, leaving the original homestead footprint preserved in place.
Walk up to the edge of the spring-fed trout pond and you are looking at the exact ranch layout Anders built. You can still step onto the wooden front porch, sit on the porch swing, and look out over the water with no modern structures in sight.
What it's like
Park at the Bridge Creek Trailhead off Ralston Creek Road and ensure you have a state park pass displayed. Take the Burro Trail through pine and aspen woods for about 0.6 miles, then bear left onto the Mountain Lion Trail for another 0.7 miles as the path flattens out into Forgotten Valley. The vibe is quiet and still, far removed from Denver's overcrowded Front Range summit trails. You'll emerge from the trees directly at the trout pond, with the log ranch house, chicken coop, and stables sitting just beyond. Pack a lunch, take a turn on the porch swing, and go on a weekday if you want the valley to yourself.
The move: Hike the scenic 3-mile round-trip trail from the Bridge Creek Trailhead to Forgotten Valley, where you can enjoy a picnic by the pond and photograph the historic log ranch house from the front porch swing.
📍 Before you go Located within Golden Gate Canyon State Park, the homestead is legally accessible to the public via a moderate hike, though a state park pass is required.
- 📍 Golden
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Golden, CO 80403, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Forgotten Valley Homestead Trail — Follow the direct park trail that cuts through aspen groves straight to the homestead valley.
- Knights of Pythias Cemetery — Pair a quiet pioneer homestead with an overgrown 19th-century fraternal cemetery tucked in nearby Black Hawk.
- The Face on the Barroom Floor — Trade the quiet solitude of Forgotten Valley for Central City's Teller House saloon to view a rogue 1936 floor painting.
- Central City Masonic Cemetery (Woman in Black) — Combine two quiet remnants of 19th-century mountain life—an isolated Swedish ranch and a historic Masonic burial ground.
Good to know
How long is the hike to reach the Tallman Homestead?
It is a moderate 2.6 to 3-mile round-trip hike starting from the Bridge Creek Trailhead along the Burro and Mountain Lion trails.
Do I need a pass or permit to visit?
Yes, the homestead is located inside Golden Gate Canyon State Park, which requires a daily Colorado State Parks vehicle pass or annual pass.
Can you go inside the historic ranch house?
No, the interior of the historic ranch house is closed to the public, but visitors are free to explore the exterior grounds, outbuildings, and porch swing.
Is fishing allowed in the pond?
Yes, the spring-fed pond in front of the homestead is stocked with trout, provided you have a valid Colorado fishing license.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: dayhikesneardenver.com · 10adventures.com · sweptawaytoday.com
last checked: 2026-07-20