Hidden In Colorado's Rocky Mountains Is A Former Gold Rush Town With High Country Adventure And Charm

In the mountains west of Colorado's Pikes Peak is the small Gold Rush town of Cripple Creek. The town has just about 1,100 residents, but what it lacks in population size, it more than makes up for in natural beauty, rich history, and fun adventure. It's just over two hours from the Denver International Airport (depending on traffic) and a little over an hour from the Colorado Springs Airport.

Around 35,000 people lived in the Cripple Creek area at the height of the gold boom in the 1890s; there were dozens of saloons, an opera house, and a college in town. While the gold rush has passed, you'll still find an operating mine in the area: the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine. There's a self-guided tour that you can take, which includes an overlook of the terraced pit mine. The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, meanwhile, no longer offers active mine tours, but you can still see some of the above-ground equipment and old mining buildings.

You can try to strike it rich yourself in Cripple Creek — not by gold mining, but at its casinos. In fact, the casino resorts are some of the biggest hotels in town. There's also the historic Hotel St. Nicholas; the boutique hotel was first built in 1898. Interested in learning more about the area's history? Check out the Cripple Creek Heritage Center. It offers interactive exhibits across three floors, and there are picnic tables outside beneath a grove of aspen trees, making it the perfect place to stop for a snack and a bit of Colorado education. 

You can catch a glimpse of one of Colorado's charming wooden trolls about 10 minutes from Cripple Creek. "Rita the Rock Planter" is 21 feet tall, and she was built in 2023. You can hike to see her via the short Little Grouse Mountain Trail or drive straight to her. For longer hikes in the area, Horsethief Falls Trail is 2.6 miles out and back, and it takes you to the eponymous waterfall. It starts with a bit of an uphill trek, so take your time. The same trailhead for Horsethief Falls can also get you to Pancake Rocks. It's about 6 miles long, and it takes you through the forest to a unique rock formation that looks like a stack of pancakes.

Rather not hike? Hop on the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. It's open from mid-May through early October, and the 45 minute ride takes you from downtown Cripple Creek south into Echo Valley. It winds you past an old mining camp, and you'll learn more about the region along the way. You can also take a tour of the area with Cripple Creek Adventure Tours; leave all the driving to them, and just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

The Mountain View Adventure Park west of town has a BMX track, sledding hill in winter, disc golf course, playground, dog park, and a 1.5-mile trail loop. Next to the park is the winter home of the Cripple Creek donkeys. Donkeys were a vital part of the area's mining past, and the donkey herd in town was first made up of former mine donkeys. The animals roam the town freely from Memorial Day through the middle of October.

Along with exploring the mountains around Cripple Creek, take some time to explore downtown and enjoy its many shops and museums. There's plenty of historic architecture dating back to the town's Gold Rush years, particularly along Bennett Avenue. Stop in at The Butte Theater, which dates back to the 1890s. The restored building now hosts community and professional plays throughout the year. Then there's the Cripple Creek District Museum (housed in the city's oldest building), while the Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum still has its original jail cells.

Cripple Creek is a fantastic destination year round, thanks to its annual events and beautiful changing seasons. Summer in Cripple Creek means it's time for Donkey Derby Days. The three-day event held in June dates back to 1931, and it involves people racing donkeys through downtown. There's a parade, street fair, food and artisan vendors, beer garden and, of course, the donkey races themselves. The area is particularly pretty in fall as the aspens change color; the drive between Divide and Cripple Creek along Highway 67 is a must for leaf peepers. And while Cripple Creek isn't one of Colorado's ski towns, there's still lots to do in the winter. Specifically, the annual 10-day ice festival in February is a popular event, which features amazing ice sculptures; plus, it's free!

Cripple Creek is a little over an hour's drive from Colorado Springs. Along the way, you can stop by Green Mountain Falls, an artsy town with some fun waterfall hikes. And if you're traveling with kids, they'll be sure to enjoy a visit to the North Pole amusement park in Cascade, where you'll find the highest elevation Ferris wheel in the world.