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Historic mountain town known for its mining heritage, scenic canyon setting, and access to outdoor recreation including hot springs, rafting, and mountain trails.
General Information
Popular attractions and shops generally open 9:00am – 6:00pm
Attraction costs vary (hot springs, tours, rafting, etc.)
Denver (35 mi)
Georgetown (12 mi)
How to Get There
From Denver (35 mi): Take I-70 west from Denver into the mountains and use Exit 240, then follow signs directly into downtown along Colorado Blvd.
Overview
Idaho Springs is located in Clear Creek Canyon, in the mountains upstream from Golden, some 30 miles (50 km) west of Denver. Founded 165 years ago in 1859 by prospectors during the early days of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, the town was at the center of the region's mining district throughout the late nineteenth century. During the late twentieth century, the town evolved into a tourist center along U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 40, which ascend Clear Creek Canyon through the historic mining district.
The town today is squeezed along the north side of Interstate 70, with a historical downtown in the central portion, a strip of tourist-related businesses on its eastern end, and mostly residences on its western end. It also serves as a bedroom community for workers at the Loveland Ski Area farther up the canyon.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Idaho Springs, Colorado", and "Crested Butte Mountain Resort", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
