Back on Highway 14, continue north through rolling hills and ever-broader sky. After 15 miles, you reach the all-but-gone town of Golden—so named because it was the site of the first gold strike west of the Mississippi, in 1825. But all that’s left now is a handful of homes, an attractive adobe church, and one store, Golden General Merchandise (10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Tues.–Sat.), open since 1918. Pop in if you happen to be there during its limited opening hours; it’s largely given over to Indian jewelry and pottery, but prices are reasonable and quality is generally quite high. Antique trinkets line the upper shelves, remnants of Golden’s moment of glory.