MINING THE PASTOld places. New discoveries. Stories worth sharing.
What to ExpectA discovery in the creek. A boom in the mountains.
In the 1800s, the promise of gold drew fortune seekers across the American West. Clear Creek became part of that story in January 1859, when George A. Jackson found gold where Chicago Creek meets Clear Creek in present-day Idaho Springs. Word spread, prospectors arrived, and the discovery helped fuel Colorado’s gold rush.
Prospectors followed the creek farther into the mountains. Mining camps grew into communities, and the gold and silver industries brought businesses, new residents, and eventually railroads. The boom helped shape the towns and transportation routes you can explore today.
Follow that story along the Colorado Gold Trail, a scenic touring route connecting historic mining towns, including Idaho Springs. Start with a local museum, explore a historic district, or join a guided mine tour. Give yourself time to meet the places behind the gold rush and the communities that carried on long after it.
MINE TOURSFollow the rock. Meet the stories.
Head underground with a guide and get a closer look at the work that shaped these mountain towns. Ask about the tools, the discoveries, and the everyday lives behind them. There’s plenty to wonder about beneath the surface.
GEORGETOWN LOOP RAILROADTake a seat. Let history roll past.
Climb aboard a historic narrow-gauge train for a ride through evergreens and across trestle bridges. Bring someone along, watch the mountains roll past, and enjoy a little history together, one bend in the track at a time.
MuseumsGet to know the people behind the place.
Spend a little time with the photographs, objects, and everyday details of mountain life. Clear Creek’s museums invite you to look closer, ask questions, and discover the stories behind the towns you’re visiting.
HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND WALKING TOURSEvery block has something to tell you.
Look up at the old storefronts. Pause at a historic marker. Follow a walking tour and picture the people who passed this way before you. Leave room for a shop stop or coffee when something catches your eye.
GOLD PANNINGA little patience. A moment of discovery.
Pick up a pan, learn the motion, and watch for a glimmer. A hosted gold-panning experience puts a piece of Clear Creek’s mining story in your hands. Take your time. The search is part of the fun.
HAUNTEDSome stories stay with you.
Explore local legends, ghost stories, and the curious tales attached to Clear Creek’s historic places. Bring your curiosity and someone who enjoys a good mystery. Decide which story you’ll be telling over dinner.
Leave room for dinner.
Find a table. Settle in. Share the stories of the day while a local kitchen takes care of dinner. Stay the night and give tomorrow a slower start, with coffee, breakfast, and a little more time in the mountains.
STAY FOR ANOTHER DAY
Leave a little room for tomorrow.
Book a stay in Clear Creek and make time for dinner, a slow morning, and whatever your adventure has planned next.