Imagine waking to crisp mountain air, stepping outside your private cabin, and watching the first light move through golden aspen leaves. Each day of this immersive plein-air oil painting adventure invites you into Colorado’s autumn landscape at its most vibrant — not as a visitor, but as a painter working directly from nature.
Set in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, this four-day experience blends moderate hiking, outdoor painting, thoughtful instruction, and genuine comfort. You will spend your days walking forested trails, discovering inspiring viewpoints, and painting in the field while fall colors glow around you. Evenings are spent returning to warm cabins, sharing satisfying meals, reflecting on the day’s work, and enjoying the quiet camaraderie of a small creative group.
Participants are guided by Katy Betz, an accomplished artist and educator whose teaching style is encouraging, insightful, and deeply connected to place. Whether you are new to plein-air painting or looking to deepen your landscape practice, Katy’s demonstrations, feedback, and guidance will help you see more clearly, paint with greater confidence, and develop your personal voice.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a Front Range treasure, offering more than 35 miles of diverse trails through pine forest, quaking aspen stands, rocky ridges, open meadows, and sweeping mountain views. Late September brings crisp air, clear light, and brilliant foliage — ideal conditions for oil painting outdoors. The park’s compact trail network means more time painting and less time commuting, allowing each day to feel spacious, productive, and inspiring.
This trip is intentionally limited to just six participants. The small group size creates an atmosphere of support, individualized attention, and meaningful connection. You’ll have room to ask questions, receive focused feedback, and share ideas with others who love painting and the outdoors.
Each day begins with breakfast at the cabins before hiking to scenic painting locations on moderate trails. In the field, you’ll paint during prime morning and midday light, enjoy a packed lunch outdoors, then continue exploring new subjects and viewpoints. Late afternoons return you to camp for a home-cooked dinner and relaxed evening critiques.
Accommodations are private, single-occupancy heated cabins at the Golden Gate Canyon State Park campground. You’ll enjoy the feeling of being immersed in nature without giving up warmth, comfort, or personal space. All meals are included and prepared by CME guides, offering healthy, delicious food to fuel creative days. Bedding is not provided in the cabins. Guests who prefer not to bring their own bedding may rent a bedding package from CME for $35. The rental package includes a sheet, pillow, pillowcase, sleeping bag, and a light blanket, providing everything needed for a comfortable night’s sleep.
Participants should be comfortable hiking up to five miles per day while carrying a daypack with water, lunch, and painting supplies.
The group meets at 3:00 PM on September 21 at Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride in Golden, Colorado, and returns to vehicles by noon on September 25. Please plan return flights after 3:00 PM on the final day.
If you’ve been longing to paint fall color in the open air, learn from a skilled instructor, and spend meaningful days immersed in mountain landscape without sacrificing comfort, this trip is for you. Spaces are extremely limited, and this experience will fill quickly. Join us in Golden Gate Canyon this September and bring home stronger paintings, fresh inspiration, and memories that last long after the leaves have fallen.
Day 1 – Arrival, Camp Orientation, and Trip Overview
Participants will meet at 3:00 PM at the Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride in Golden, Colorado. From there, CME guides will coordinate transportation to Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Guests who prefer to drive themselves may meet the group directly at the cabin campground. After arrival, we will get settled into our single-occupancy heated cabins and take time to unpack personal gear and art supplies.
In the late afternoon, the group will gather for a camp orientation led by CME guides, followed by an introductory session with artist Katy Betz. This session will include a review of painting materials, discussion of individual goals for the trip, and an overview of what to expect over the coming days. A hot, freshly prepared dinner will be served at camp in the evening, followed by time to relax and get to know fellow participants.
Day 2 – Full Day of Painting in the Field
The day begins with a hot breakfast prepared by CME guides. We will then pack lunches and depart camp to hike to one of Golden Gate Canyon State Park’s scenic painting locations. Daily hikes will generally be between 3 and 5 miles on moderate trails, allowing access to aspen groves, creek corridors, open meadows, and panoramic viewpoints.
Throughout the day, Katy will provide instruction, demonstrations, and individual guidance as participants paint in the field. Lunch will be enjoyed on the trail, followed by more painting time in the afternoon. We return to camp in the late afternoon to freshen up before gathering for a hot dinner. Evening hours include group critique, discussion, and relaxed time to share work and connect.
Day 3 – Continued Exploration and Instruction
After breakfast, we again pack lunches and head out to a new painting area within the park. With over 35 miles of trails, Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers varied scenery and abundant fall color, ensuring fresh subject matter each day. The morning will include instruction and demonstrations, followed by extended individual painting time with ongoing support from Katy.
After a picnic lunch on the trail, we will continue painting before returning to camp in the late afternoon. Dinner is served at camp, followed by another evening critique session and relaxed social time.
Day 4 – Morning Wrap-Up and Departure
The final morning begins with breakfast at camp and time for a short closing session with Katy, including final thoughts, questions, and sharing of completed work. Guests will pack up cabins and prepare for departure.
We will leave camp in the morning, with participants returned to their vehicles at Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride by approximately noon. Guests traveling by air should plan flights departing after 3:00 PM to allow ample buffer time.
Arrival in Colorado
Participants traveling from out of state are encouraged to arrive in the Denver area at least one day before the trip begins to allow for relaxed travel and time to settle in before departure day. This helps ensure a smooth start to the trip and avoids travel delays impacting the group schedule.
Nearby Lodging
Origin Hotel – Red Rocks is located directly across the street from the Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride and offers a convenient lodging option for participants arriving the night before the trip.
Arrival Transportation Options
Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the Denver area. Uber and Lyft rides are readily available throughout the Denver Metro area, including from Denver International Airport and Union Station, with easy drop-off access at the Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride.
Participants who prefer to drive themselves to the meeting location may do so. Personal vehicles will remain parked at the meeting location for the duration of the trip.
Final meeting reminders and timing details will be confirmed in a pre-trip logistics email sent to registered participants.
Meeting Location (Day 1)
Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride
11300 U.S. Highway 40
Golden, CO 80403
All participants will meet here on Monday, September 21, 2026 at 3:00 PM (Mountain Time). CME staff will be on site to greet the group, answer last-minute questions, and assist with gear organization before departure.
From this meeting location, the group will travel together in Colorado Mountain Expeditions vehicles to Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
Guests who prefer to drive themselves may meet the group directly at the cabin campground. Detailed driving directions will be provided in the pre-trip logistics email.
Please plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to allow time for check-in and loading. The shuttle will depart promptly once all participants are accounted for.
Parking
Participants may leave their vehicles at the Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride for the duration of the trip. This location is commonly used for multi-day trips and is considered a reliable long-term parking option.
There is signage at the park-and-ride stating “No Overnight Occupancy.” This refers to sleeping in vehicles, which is not permitted. Overnight vehicle parking is legal and commonly used for multi-day trips.
Colorado Mountain Expeditions is not responsible for vehicles left at the park-and-ride.
Transportation During the Trip
Colorado Mountain Expeditions will provide all group transportation from the initial meeting location to Golden Gate Canyon State Park and return. Once the trip begins, participants will not need access to their personal vehicles.
Return Travel (Last Day)
On Friday, September 25, 2026, the group will depart camp in the morning and return to the Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride. Arrival back at personal vehicles is expected at approximately 12:00 PM (Mountain Time).
Participants planning to fly home should avoid booking flights departing before 3:00 PM to allow adequate buffer time for travel back to Denver International Airport.
We’re excited to welcome you to an inspiring fall oil painting retreat in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, one of Colorado’s most scenic and varied foothill landscapes.
Colorado Mountain Expeditions (CME) was founded with a simple mission: to help people connect more deeply with Colorado’s mountain environments through professionally guided outdoor experiences. CME is a licensed Colorado outfitter specializing in small-group trips that emphasize thoughtful planning, meaningful learning experiences, and a strong connection to the natural world. Our team is committed to creating well-organized trips that invite participants to slow down, enjoy the outdoors, and feel supported in a comfortable group environment.
For this trip, we are pleased to partner with artist Katy Betz. Katy’s work is rooted in close observation of light, color, and atmosphere, and her teaching style encourages artists to slow down, look carefully, and respond creatively to the landscape. Her instruction is welcoming and accessible for beginners, while still offering depth for artists looking to grow their skills. Katy’s approach emphasizes painting as a way of truly seeing and experiencing a place.
This workshop takes place in Golden Gate Canyon State Park during peak fall color season. With over 35 miles of trails, the park offers aspen groves, winding creeks, open meadows, rocky outcrops, and wide mountain views, providing endless inspiration for outdoor oil painting. Participants will hike to daily painting locations, spending full days immersed in the landscape while working from life in the field.
At the end of each day, the group returns to camp where the experience blends outdoor adventure with creature comforts. Participants will stay in private, single-occupancy heated cabins, enjoy freshly prepared meals cooked by CME guides, and gather in the evenings for group critiques and relaxed conversation. This balance of time in the field and comfort at camp creates a welcoming and focused environment for creative growth.
By combining dedicated art instruction, daily time outdoors, and a thoughtfully supported camp setting, this trip is designed to offer a memorable and creatively fulfilling way to experience Colorado’s fall season. We look forward to welcoming you to Golden Gate Canyon State Park for a week of painting, learning, and connection to the landscape.
