OUR MOUNTAIN TOWNS
One creek. Many mountain communities. No two quite alike.
Idaho Springs
A little bit historic. A little bit unexpected. Always full of life.
Idaho Springs is where mountain adventure and mountain-town energy meet. Spend the morning rafting Clear Creek, exploring a historic mine or heading into the hills. Then follow the trail back to Miner Street for local food, independent shops, art, drinks and plenty of stories from Colorado’s gold-rush past.
It’s lively, welcoming and wonderfully easy to explore—whether you have a few hours, a full weekend or no plan beyond seeing where the day takes you.
Silver Plume
The kind of place you thought Colorado had forgotten.
Silver Plume feels like a discovery. Its quiet dirt streets, Victorian homes and remarkable mining history invite you to step out of the rush and take a closer look. Wander through town, visit the historic schoolhouse museum, follow an old mining trail above the valley or simply settle in and enjoy the view.
Nothing here feels manufactured or hurried. Silver Plume is wonderfully itself: historic, creative, a little offbeat and unlike anywhere else in Colorado.
Empire
Small town. Big mountain spirit.
Tucked beneath towering peaks, Empire is the kind of place that rewards curiosity. Stop for a great meal, discover a wonderfully offbeat local experience or use town as your starting point for trails, scenic drives and high-country exploration.
Empire may be small, but that’s exactly what makes it special. It feels personal, unpolished and unmistakably local—a place where slowing down often leads to the best part of your day.
Downieville, Lawson & Dumont
Three small communities. Plenty of reasons to pull over.
Follow Clear Creek between Idaho Springs and Georgetown and you’ll find Downieville, Lawson and Dumont tucked along its banks. Here, a mountain day might mean meeting your rafting guide, watching paddlers at Lawson Whitewater Park or sharing lunch with the sound of the creek nearby. Take the exit, stretch your legs and give yourself time to look around.
These communities are part of the everyday life of the mountains. People live here, work here and welcome visitors heading out for something new. Come for an afternoon on the water or a stop along the way. You may find yourself staying longer than you planned.
Bakerville
A small place at the start of a bigger day.
Bakerville sits high in the Clear Creek valley, where the forest draws you toward the mountains beyond. Once a mining-era settlement, today it offers a starting point for time outside. Follow the paved Bakerville–Loveland Trail on foot or by bike, pack something good for a trailside break and enjoy the changing view as you go.
There’s pleasure in a day with a simple plan. Time to walk and talk. A pause to pull on another layer. The decision to turn around or wander a little farther. Bakerville leaves room for all of it, with the high country close at hand.
St. Mary’s
The kind of mountain morning you wish you could keep.
Above Idaho Springs, St. Mary’s is a mountain community surrounded by forest and high-country scenery. The climb up Fall River Road brings you into a different rhythm: cool air, cabins among the trees and mountain slopes that draw your eyes upward. Come with a little time to spare and someone you’d like to spend it with.
People make their homes in this landscape, and that lived-in character is part of what makes it special. Let the day unfold at a mountain pace, respect the quiet of the neighborhood and take a moment to notice where you are. Sometimes the part you remember most is simply being there together.
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.