COME TO LIFE / Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Silver Plume, Black Hawk, Central City HIGH-COUNTRY ESCAPE COLORADO DENVER & CITIES OF THE ROCKIES Be sure to visit COLORADO.com/ ColoRoadT rips for even more itiner aries! Find Gold Rush lore, modern-day prospectors, railroad adventure and cooler temps just 40 minutes west of Denver in the mountain towns of Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Silver Plume, Black Hawk and Central City . 1 DAYS 1 & 2 Take advantage of morning’s typically clear blue skies on a drive up the highest paved highway in North America. Memorial Day to Labor Day (weather permitting), the Mount Evans Scenic Byway (1) starts in Idaho Springs and climbs 7,000 feet in just 28 miles — peaking at 14,265 feet with top-of-the-world views of alpine lakes and the snow-capped Continental Divide. Or hook up with a rafting outfitter — several run this stretch of Clear Creek with trips for those of all experience levels. Swing down to Idaho Springs ; the 1859 discovery of gold ushered in the Colorado Gold Rush. That heritage lives on through Miner Street’s well-preserved buildings and at the Visitor Center & Heritage Museum , where you can also pick up maps and tips for exploring the area. Bring your appetite to the original Beau Jo’s Pizza (3) , the founders of deep-dish Colorado-style pies. Next door is Tommyknocker Brewery , hot spot for a craft brew or handcrafted soda, as is Westbound & Down Brewing Company and Clear Creek Cidery, Tavern & Taps ; and Bouck Brothers Distilling is just a 15-minute walk down Colorado Boulevard. Pen-cil in time for a soak in the therapeutic mineral pools and geo-thermal caves at Indian Hot Springs (6) or stops in the town’s cute shops — The Spice and Tea Exchange and The Bee’s Knees are two favorites. There are plenty of places to grab a thrill ride in the area, including Lawson Adventure Park & Resort, the new Sky Trek aerial park at Colorado Adventure Center and the Stanley Mines Adventure Park , with mining-heritage-themed rides and exhibits. Speaking of mines, the Argo Mill & Tunnel (2) is expanding its tours and gold panning to include a year-round gondola ride. @WallyGobetz @e.b.woodward 2 3 Or journey west on I-70 to George-town (5) to visit Victorian-era homes QUICK TIP 140 / The visitor centers in Georgetown and Idaho Springs can hook you up with trail maps that’ll get you to the area’s most scenic hikes. Catch the Prospector Bus, which loops between the two towns for only $2. 1-800-COLORADO CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MT. EVANS SCENIC BYWAY, MIKE WILKINSON; BEAU JO’S PIZZA, @E.B.WOODWARD, ARGO GOLD MINE, FLICKR/WALLYGOBETZ.
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2020: Page 140
