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Cripple Creek’s elevation is 9,494 feet above sea level. The town offers unique shopping, fine dining, historic museums and limited-stakes gaming. The city has numerous restored historic buildings many with signs and interpretation of the building’s history. The history of Cripple Creek is one of its greatest assets. Gold was first discovered here in 1890. See our Cripple Creek & Imperial History page for more information.
Bring your camera, because there are plenty of photo opportunities. Be certain to pack warm clothes, even in summer. Afternoon rains can cool things down in a hurry.
Cripple Creek has a population of around 1500 residents and is more of a gambling and tourist town than a ghost town. For people interested in ghost towns, visit the narrow gauge train ride from Cripple Creek. One or two miles past Cripple Creek are several small ghost towns, goldmines and glory holes. Also of interest would be the Molly Kathleen Gold Mine tours into a real gold mine led by a real gold miner. Both the goldmine tour and the train ride have very knowledgeable guides with many interesting stories.
Old Homestead Museum - A house with a history. Built in 1896, the Homestead became the center of the town's Red Light District. The old parlor house museum is located on Myers Avenue. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily in summer; winter-weekends until Christmas. Call 719-689-3090 for information. Cripple Creek District Museum - Once the site of the Midland Terminal Railroad Depot, the museum contains displays that commemorate the town's history. Historical photos, artifacts and maps line the walls and cases of the museum, located at Bennett Avenue and Fifth Street. www.cripple-creek.org 719-689-2634. Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad - The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad departs from its depot next to the museum at Bennett Avenue and Fifth Street. The railroad offers 45-minute trips into the heart of the gold mining district. www.cripplecreekrailroad.com 719-689-2640. Victor Lowell Thomas Museum - The museum at Third and Victor Avenue in Victor offers a glimpse into gold rush days history and the life of Lowell Thomas, America's first television newscaster. www.victorcolorado.com 719-689-5909
Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine
- Go down
1,000 feet in this real gold mine, tour the tunnels and listen to real
hard rock miners explain the process of scooping gold from the earth.
Tours run daily. The most complete perspective on gold mining in the
world. The Mollie Kathleen is located one mile north of Cripple Creek oh
Highway 67. www.goldminteours.com Mount Pisgah Cemetery - Just west of town on Teller County Road 1, this site offers a glimpse into the lives of the pioneers who made Cripple Creek famous. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument - A great window to the ancient past opens your eyes to what one part of Teller County was like 35 million years ago. Located north of Cripple Creek on Teller County Road 1, the park offers hiking trails, interpretive programs and a gift store; 719-748-3253. Gold Belt National Scenic Byway - Three Roads to Riches - scenic drives through historic mining, ranching and recreational countryside. www.goldbeltbyway.com Gold Camp Trail - 2-mile trail through Poverty Gulch. See our trails page link for more info. www.victorcolorado.com Golden Loop Historic Parkway Driving Tour and Trails - Self-guided driving tour of the mining district, Tour guide booklets are 50 cents and are available at Victor businesses and the Cripple Creek Welcome Center. A self-guided hiking, biking, horseback trail starts in Vindicator Valley near Victor and winds 2-plus miles through historic mining artifacts. www.victorcolorado.com Horseback Riding - Guided tours and trail rides are both available in the area. Check with the Cripple Creek Welcome Center for current providers. www.greywolfranchcolorado.com Mueller State Park - Mueller State Park is often called the Yosemite of Colorado. Dome Rock, a formation resembling Half Dome, is a favorite hiking destination. The park offers camping and wildlife viewing. It is located in Divide, which is north of Cripple Creek on Highway 67. 719-687-2366. Pike National Forest - Pike National Forest offers 1 million acres of mountain, grassland and natural water playgrounds. Established in 1907, it has 62 campgrounds and 27 picnic spots. 719-636-1602. Shelf Road Rock Climbing Area - World-renowned Shelf Road Rock Climbing Area is a few short miles from Cripple Creek. Skateboard Park in Cripple Creek - The Cripple Creek Skate Park will host many fun activities including skateboards, BMX bicycles, roller blades, and the new Razor type scooters. The Skate Park has several fun obstacles including a 6’ high 16’ wide half pipe, 6’x12’ quarter pipe, 6’x12’ wedge ramp, 1’x12’ fun box w/2’ high grind wall, 1’ high ledge, 2’x8’ launch box w/2’ high half pyramid and 3’ straight and descending grind wall, 4’x16’ wedge ramp w/8’ grind ledge, and finally a 5’x16’ quarter pipe. The park is 120’ x 60’ and is located behind the Park & Recreation Center. Admission to the park is free and should be fun for all. Check with Cripple CreekParks and Recreation for hours. Trails of Gold - Four hiking and mountain biking trails located between Cripple Creek and Victor. Horseback riding and winter activities are also allowed on the Vindicator Valley and Gold Camp trails. www.victorcolorado.com Eleven Mile State Park – Located in Lake George about 30 miles northwest of Cripple Creek. Anglers and writers consistently tout Eleven Mile’s large reservoir for its outstanding fishing. When not reeling in a rainbow, brown, cutthroat, kokanee or pike, nearly five miles of scenic hiking and biking trails await exploration. Ideal wind conditions make Eleven Mile a popular but not overly crowded destination for sailing, windsurfing and winter ice boating on this wide-open reservoir. Motor boaters and kayakers also find plenty of room to play during the summer months. Many species of birds reside in or migrate through the park, making for wonderful bird viewing. 719-748-3401 Spinney State Park – Located in Lake George about 30 miles northwest of Cripple Creek. For gold medal fishing, it’d be hard to find any better than Spinney Mountain Reservoir. Anglers can find fly-fishing or cold-water lake fishing in a peaceful and scenic setting. This isolated retreat is ideal for visitors seeking beautiful views of the Collegiate Mountain Range or just a little solitude from busy city life. Birders also have plenty to see. Boating enthusiasts can enjoy the 2,500 surface-acre reservoir with two boat ramps that are available depending upon water levels. Spinney is open seasonally. Open dates, subject to change, are about April 15th to about November 15th. 719-748-3401 Victor - Six miles down the road from Cripple Creek is the gold mining town of Victor. Victor is quiet, non-gambling and offers a chance to escape to the quieter aspects of the 1890s. The 100-plus year old town offers, hiking and biking trails, art and antiques, an old-fashioned soda fountain and historic walking and driving tours of the old mines and buildings. Its annual summer festival, Gold Rush Days, is held the third weekend of July. 719-689-2284. www.victorcolorado.com Woodland Park – twenty-five miles northeast is Woodland Park. A small town with charm and friendliness, it has many shops and restaurants to enjoy. The natural surroundings include spectacular views of Pikes Peak and the Rampart Range. Pikes Peak Heritage Center - In 2006 Cripple Creek broke ground this new building that is being constructed during the 2006/2007 season and will cost over $2.5 million dollars. The building will be over 11,000 square feet of educational displays. State of the art electronics will be used throughout the building and there will also be a large theatre showing historical films about the area. Admission will be free and there will be no retail space in the building, so as to enhance the educational experience of visitors. www.visitcripplecreek.com
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Butte Opera House - Year-round
theater, music and family fun. Restored 1890's opera house; 139 E.
Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, CO. Summer home to Classic Cripple Creek
Melodrama. 719-689-6402. Also visit
