Idaho Springs, CO Road Trips

The most populous settlement in Clear Creek County, Colorado, it was founded in 1859 during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, and sits 7543 feet above sea level, about 30 miles from Denver.

Idaho Springs Heritage Museum, 2060 Miner St (located in the Visitor Center), ☏ +1 303 567-4382. Artifacts showing the history of the town. The mining past has several displays. 1 Argo Gold Mine and Mill, 2350 Riverside Dr, ☏ +1 303-825-6513, [email protected]. Daily 9AM- 6PM. Here you take a tour of one of the famous mines in the area, also gives live demonstrations as well and you can pan for gold here. Added to the list of National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Phoenix Gold Mine, P.O. Box 3236, ☏ +1 303-567-0422. Tour of a local gold mine filled with lots of history. After the tour you can pan for gold or walk along two of the trails that are nearby. Tours usually take about 45 min to an hour. Idaho Springs Waterfall (walk underneath the I-70 there is a paved trail behind City Hall and follow the trail the Waterfall will be on your left, or just follow clear creek and you will see the waterfall). There is also a waterwheel from the 1800s that is right next to the waterfall. Underhill Museum, 1416 Miner St. Combination home and office for Dr. Underhill and his wife. Showing the history of the town and the family. Pioneer Cemetery. Historic Train#60.

Arapaho National Forest. 1 Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway & Wilderness (Take I-70 to Exit 240 in Idaho Springs. Travel south and follow Hwy 103 to Echo Lake. At Echo Lake is the Forest Service’s check-in station, which allows you take Colorado Highway 5 to the summit. This upper section of the road way is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day). Open 24 hours. The road to the 14,271 feet (4,350 m) summit is the highest paved road in North America. “Oh My Gawd” Road (Take I-70 to exit 241 in Idaho Springs.Follow Colorado Blvd. into town. At the fork in the road stay to the right and then take the second right onto Virginia Canyon Road). Take a drive up “Oh My Gawd Road”, the hair-raising shortcut to nearby Central City, This scenic dirt road gets its name from its spectacular views as well as its narrow and curving lanes. Zipping Colorado, 2697 Stanley Road, Dumont, ☏ +1-888-494-7386, [email protected]. There are around eight zips in all. The zipline course starts along the Clear Creek in Idaho Springs. (updated Jul 2016) Clear Creek Rafting Company, 350 Whitewater Rd. Liquid Descent, 2195 E Idaho Springs Rd, ☏ +1 970 372-2870. Whitewater rafting excursions Raft Masters, 2804 Colorado Blvd. You must remember you are hiking in the Rocky Mountains where weather can change very quickly. Always have plenty of food and water and check local weather conditions. Ranger Contact: U.S. Forest Service Idaho Springs +1 303-567-3000. St. Mary's Glacier (Take I-70 West from Denver, past the town and three exits of Idaho Springs.

Doesn't have a lot of fast food but it does have a McDonalds, Quiznos and a Carls Jr. Prices for food may seem to be a little higher than what you would pay elsewhere but this is a big tourist spot so expect to pay a little more. Most of the places to eat are on Miner Street or in the surrounding area. Wildfire Restaurant & Bar, 2910 Colorado Blvd, ☏ +1 303 567-2775. Serves great breakfast, American and Mexican food. Marion's of the Rockies, 2805 Colorado Blvd, ☏ +1 303 567-2925. Known for its great breakfast and brunch. Mangia!, 1446 Miner St, ☏ +1 303 567-4371. Italian food. Smokin Yard's BBQ, 2736 Colorado Blvd, ☏ +1 303 567-9273. M-Th Su 11AM - 9PM, F Sa 11AM - 10PM. One of the best places to stop along I-70. Known for its great BBQ and offers complimentary boiled peanuts. Beau Jo's Pizza, 1517 Miner St, ☏ +1 303 567-4376. They have been offering mountain pies, which is Colorado style pizza, since 1973. Has a local food challenge called the "14er" which is a 14-pound pizza; you win $100 if you and another person finish it. Offers free Wi-Fi as well. Two Brothers Delicatessen, 1424 Miner St, ☏ +1 303 567-2439. 1 Buffalo Restaurant and Bar, 1617 Miner St (From I-70, exit 240 or exit 241), ☏ +1 720-502-3121, [email protected]. 11AM-10PM every day. Serves a lot of great American food and has an old time feel to the place. They have added a casual brewpub called Westbound and Down right next door. The restaurant has had a more upscale remodel and still serves buffalo. $. Morning Gold Bakery, 1637 Miner St, ☏ +1 303 905-7386.

Westwinds Tavern, 1633 Miner St, ☏ +1 303 567-0982. 1 Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub, 1401 Miner St. A nice place to drink at and also serve beer that they make there as well. 2 Westbound and Down Brewing Company, 1617 Miner Street (From I-70, exit 240 or exit 241), ☏ +1 720-502-3121, [email protected]. 11AM-10PM every day. Local pub which is the sister company to The Buffalo restaurant and sits next to that restaurant. They have started with 4 craft beers and have 6 guest beers. The "Westbound and Down" brews are possibly some of the best in Colorado. They have a top-notch pub menu with everything fresh, not your typical frozen fried foods. (updated Dec 2015) 3 The Frothy Cup, 1510 Miner, ☏ +1 303 567-2622, [email protected]. (updated Nov 2023) Starbucks, 2900 Colorado Blvd, ☏ +1 303 567-2578.

Indian Springs Resort (Indian Hot Springs), 302 Soda Creek Rd., ☏ +1 303-989-6666. Heritage Inn, 2622 Colorado Blvd, ☏ +1 303 567-4473. Miners Pick Bed and Breakfast, 1639 Colorado Blvd, ☏ +1 303 567-4870. Features a gourmet home-cooked breakfast. H & H Motor Lodge, 2445 Colorado Ave, ☏ +1 303 567-2893. Idaho Springs Motel, 2631 Colorado Ave, ☏ +1 303 567-2242. 1 Columbine Inn, 2545 Colorado Blvd, ☏ +1 303 567-0948, [email protected]. All rooms are non-smoking. 2 Argo Inn and Suites, 2622 Colorado Blvd, ☏ +1 303 567-4473, [email protected]. No pets, no breakfast. $69-$299. (updated Nov 2023)

1 Denver International Airport (DEN IATA), 8500 Peña Boulevard, Denver CO (56 miles (90 km) and one hour east of Idaho Springs on I-70), ☏ +1 (720) 730-4359. One of the ten busiest airports in the world. Interstate 70 (cosigned with US-6 and US-40) passes through Idaho Springs. Colorado-103 begins at I-70 Exit 240.

To get around all you really need is your two feet; park your car in the downtown area and you can pretty much walk to everything you need to see in the area. To get to other places around town you just drive. Parking can be difficult during the tourist season (May 15 through October 15).