Directory

Restaurant Our pick

Northern Italian and southern French cooking in a small dining room; the town’s dinner-out address.Northern Italian and southern French cooking in a small dining room; the town’s dinner-out address.

Restaurant Our pick

The original Oskar Blues, open since 1997: a Cajun-leaning kitchen…The original Oskar Blues, open since 1997: a Cajun-leaning kitchen, the beers that launched the craft-can movement, and live music most weeks.

Restaurant

Fresh curries, biryani and saag, for eating in or taking to the park.Fresh curries, biryani and saag, for eating in or taking to the park.

Restaurant

Classic Mexican kitchen at the east end of Main: molcajetes, margaritas and a patio.Classic Mexican kitchen at the east end of Main: molcajetes, margaritas and a patio.

Restaurant

Regional Mexican flavors, tacos and a busy bar; dinner most nights, lunch on weekends.Regional Mexican flavors, tacos and a busy bar; dinner most nights, lunch on weekends.

Restaurant

Slow-smoked barbecue and a long tap list, mid-block on Main.Slow-smoked barbecue and a long tap list, mid-block on Main.

Bar Our pick

Brewery and pizza kitchen with a stage in the name for a reason: trivia…Brewery and pizza kitchen with a stage in the name for a reason: trivia, art openings and an open bluegrass pick on the weekly calendar.

Bar Our pick

Riverside bar and food garden at the west edge of town: craft beer, local spirits…Riverside bar and food garden at the west edge of town: craft beer, local spirits, a Monday open mic and a lot of outdoor seating.

Bar

Wine and cocktail lounge a block off Main with paninis, salads, soups and charcuterie boards.Wine and cocktail lounge a block off Main with paninis, salads, soups and charcuterie boards.

Bar

Grain-to-glass distillery east of town making Colorado straight malt whisky, gin and rum…Grain-to-glass distillery east of town making Colorado straight malt whisky, gin and rum, with a tasting room and a patio.

Coffee & Sweets Our pick

Moxie Bread Co.’s Lyons outpost: coffee, pastries and loaves from the Louisville bakery.Moxie Bread Co.’s Lyons outpost: coffee, pastries and loaves from the Louisville bakery.

Coffee & Sweets

Drive-through coffee on the way into town from Longmont.Drive-through coffee on the way into town from Longmont.

Coffee & Sweets

Gift and confectionery boutique on the 400 block: chocolate, candy and small presents.Gift and confectionery boutique on the 400 block: chocolate, candy and small presents.

Shop Our pick

Deli, bakery and grocery: sandwiches and picnic supplies before the trail, staples after.Deli, bakery and grocery: sandwiches and picnic supplies before the trail, staples after.

Shop

Antiques and found treasures, open weekends.Antiques and found treasures, open weekends.

Shop

Responsibly harvested herbs, teas and apothecary goods.Responsibly harvested herbs, teas and apothecary goods.

Shop

Handmade bamboo fly rods, built in Lyons for the St. Vrain and beyond.Handmade bamboo fly rods, built in Lyons for the St. Vrain and beyond.

Shop

Lyons-branded gifts, shirts and souvenirs; part of every sale supports the town.Lyons-branded gifts, shirts and souvenirs; part of every sale supports the town.

Shop

Local art, jewelry, home décor and antiques in a working studio at the east end of Main.Local art, jewelry, home décor and antiques in a working studio at the east end of Main.

Trail Our pick

The Front Range’s best-known mountain-bike climb and a fine hike…The Front Range’s best-known mountain-bike climb and a fine hike: the Bitterbrush trail gains about 1,500 feet to the Nelson Loop through ponderosa meadows.

Trail

A gentle two-mile walk along the North St. Vrain to Longmont’s reservoir dam…A gentle two-mile walk along the North St. Vrain to Longmont’s reservoir dam, with the Sleepy Lion trail above it for a loop.

Trail

Nineteen miles of trail south of town; the Picture Rock trail runs from the Lyons side up to the ranch and…Nineteen miles of trail south of town; the Picture Rock trail runs from the Lyons side up to the ranch and links to Wild Turkey and Wapiti for a long loop.

Trail

The low, dry, early-season option north-east of town, with the big view back to Longs Peak…The low, dry, early-season option north-east of town, with the big view back to Longs Peak. Leashed dogs welcome.

Trail

The flat in-town path that links Sandstone Park, the Depot and LaVern M…The flat in-town path that links Sandstone Park, the Depot and LaVern M. Johnson Park without crossing the highway, plus the south bank to Bohn Park.

Trail

The town’s summer sport: a float from the Apple Valley Road bridge through the whitewater park…The town’s summer sport: a float from the Apple Valley Road bridge through the whitewater park, when the gauge reads between about 40 and 300 cfs, usually July and August.

Park Our pick

The park under the cliffs: the whitewater park, a splash pad, playgrounds, the Town campground and…The park under the cliffs: the whitewater park, a splash pad, playgrounds, the Town campground and, in a cold January, an outdoor ice rink.

Park

Ball fields, a dog park, an accessible fishing platform and the trailhead for the dirt-jump bike park…Ball fields, a dog park, an accessible fishing platform and the trailhead for the dirt-jump bike park, across the river from Main Street.

Park

The downtown green with the visitor center, the summer concert stage and the 1885 Depot beside it.The downtown green with the visitor center, the summer concert stage and the 1885 Depot beside it.

Venue Our pick

Six blocks of locally quarried red sandstone buildings from the 1870s to 1917…Six blocks of locally quarried red sandstone buildings from the 1870s to 1917, fifteen of them on the National Register, and most still in everyday use.

Venue Our pick

The 20-acre riverside ranch that hosts RockyGrass and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival…The 20-acre riverside ranch that hosts RockyGrass and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, plus the Wildflower Pavilion concerts through the year.

Venue

A pinball hall with dozens of machines, a monthly tournament and a women’s league.A pinball hall with dozens of machines, a monthly tournament and a women’s league.

Venue

Local history in the 1881 sandstone schoolhouse, run by the Lyons Historical Society since 1979. Free…Local history in the 1881 sandstone schoolhouse, run by the Lyons Historical Society since 1979. Free; open in the summer season.

Venue

The library district’s 2019 building: books, meeting rooms…The library district’s 2019 building: books, meeting rooms, programs most days and the Effie Banta Room for public meetings.

Lodging Our pick

Twenty-plus tiny homes on the St. Vrain, a short walk from Main Street and next door to Planet Bluegrass.Twenty-plus tiny homes on the St. Vrain, a short walk from Main Street and next door to Planet Bluegrass.

Lodging

Adventure lodge on the river at the west edge of town, with the Rock Garden bar on site.Adventure lodge on the river at the west edge of town, with the Rock Garden bar on site.

Lodging

Town-run riverside camping five minutes from Main Street: RV sites with hookups year-round…Town-run riverside camping five minutes from Main Street: RV sites with hookups year-round, tent sites mid-April to mid-October.

Lodging

Motel rooms and cabins on the road to Estes Park, with a seasonal pool.Motel rooms and cabins on the road to Estes Park, with a seasonal pool.