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The historic mining town of Idaho Springs in the beautiful Clear Creek Canyon offers majestic mountain views and a variety of activities from rafting to gold panning.

Idaho Springs: A Gold Mine of Adventure Right Outside Denver

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Donate to <a href="http://www.ccgreenway.com/support">Clear Creek Greenway Authority</a> to help keep Clear Creek Canyon sustainable. For daily volunteer opportunities, volunteer at <a href="https://www.loavesandfishesco.net">Loaves &amp; Fishes</a>, a local food bank. For animal lovers, see how you can help out at the <a href="https://www.co.clear-creek.co.us/index.aspx?NID=83">Clear Creek Animal Shelter</a>.

How to Give Back to These Special Places

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Blair Woodward, our favorite Idaho Springs resident, recommends a number of restaurants and activities below, but also suggests you visit the quirky surrounding towns near Idaho Springs. Not only is it an incredibly beautiful drive, but each town has a unique draw. Black Hawk is a small mining town that offers casinos and gambling right in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Georgetown, another mining town, offers a historic railroad, which is a great activity for families.

Local in the Know

This action-packed rafting trip will get your heart-pumping with incredible canyon views.

Clear Creek Gold Rush Rafting

A little deli in a busy town serving great food since the 1900s (yes, we have been open that long — 1999).

Two Brothers Deli

Take in the insane Mount Evans views during the via ferrata-assisted climbing and ziplining tour.

Via Ferrata Adventure

For more than 20 years, Tommyknocker Brewery has been passionately crafting award winning ales and lagers.

Tommy Knocker Brewery and Pub

One of the best places to catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep.
<a href="https://www.colorado.com/articles/old-west-new-adventure-just-20-miles-west-denver">Read Old West, New Adventure Just 20 Miles West of Denver</a>

Note: Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway will be closed for improvements through 2025. <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/arp/recreation/mount-blue-sky-recreation-area-scenic-byway">More info</a>.

Mount Blue Sky - Scenic and Historic Byway

Depending on your group size there are a number of great lodging options through Airbnb in Idaho Springs, but this is one of our favorites with a great central location.

Stay in an Airbnb in Idaho Springs

We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner all day. We also bake our own bread. Come try us out!

Main Street Restaurant

Family owned &amp; operated, since 1988. Take underground tour. Guides provide education &amp; entertainment for all ages &amp; abilities. See gold ore in the rock! Take gold panning lesson, keep what you find! Visit unique Bus Gift Shop for souvenirs, panning supplies &amp; snacks.

The Phoenix Gold Mine

Westbound &amp; Down Brewing Company is made of a dynamic team working to provide our community with exceptional service and distinct sophisticated beers.

Westbound & Down Brewing Company

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Finish lunch with a sampling of several Westbound &amp; Down brews, from the array of IPAs to tripels, sours, saisons, stouts and many more.

Stick Around for a Tasting

You drive one of our Jeeps on a guided 4x4 tour near Denver, Vail, or Breckenridge. Private, beginner-friendly, and packed with views, adventure, and family fun — no ride-alongs or strangers, just your group behind the wheel.

Jeep Tours Colorado by Native Jeeps

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Colorado-raised, USDA Choice steaks are just the beginning at MTN Prime - Idaho Springs' new steakhouse. Try the Colorado Elk Stew, prepared with bacon, wild mushrooms, carrots, pearl onions and garlic, or savor the Rocky Mountain Trout and Chips, Avery IPA -battered Centennial State trout. The eatery strives to offer only Colorado meats and local-as-possible produce - all at reasonable prices in an upscale-yet-welcoming atmosphere in the heart of Idaho Springs.

MTN Prime

This is our all-time favorite Idaho Springs adventure. You cannot miss this sunset and full-moon zipline tour, allowing you to see Colorado at the absolute best time of the day.

Starlight & Full Moon Zipline Adventure

This streamside Airbnb is close to the moonlight zip and offers a great mountain feel that can sleep large parties.

Streamside Dream

Here at The Frothy Cup we buy only the highest quality green coffee beans from all over the world, and then we roast them in small batches here at the shop, at 7,500 feet in elevation in the clean Rocky Mountain air of Idaho Springs.
 HOURS: Open 7am – 5pm Monday through Thursday and  7am – 7pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. FACILITY AMENITIES: In-house roasted coffee, espresso, smoothies, baked goods, and a comfortable atmosphere. 
MORE INFORMATION: Coffee and baked goods are high quality, with a focus on organic and non-GMO.

The Frothy Cup

Galvin Guiding is a fly fishing guide service based in Denver, Colorado.  The service offers exceptional personalized service and custom tours tailored to each client.  All skill levels are welcome.  Instruction is included.  Kid and family friendly!

Galvin Guiding

Beau Jo's pizza is legendary among Colorado outdoor enthusiasts. The original pizza restaurant, located in Idaho Springs, Colorado has been the apres ski hangout since it opened in 1973.
HOURS: Open 7 Days a Week 11am – 9pm Sunday through Thursday and 11am – 9:30pm Friday and Saturday. 
FACILITY AMENITIES: Salad Bar, sandwiches, calzones, mountain pie pizzas, gluten-free, vegetarian, and take n' bake options available. 
MORE INFORMATION: Free electrical car charging station powered 100 percent by wind and solar resources.

Beau Jo's Idaho Springs

A beautiful and moderate hike near Idaho Springs. There are plenty of other hiking options if you are looking for something easier or even more difficult.

Hike St. Mary's Glacier

Small plates, salads, sandwiches, chili and other cozy bites.

Two Bears Tap and Grill

Enjoy another scenic drive around the Clear Creek Canyon after dinner and who knows what adventure you may stumble upon.

Scenic Drive Down Clear Creek Canyon

World-famous for over 100 years. Hot mineral springs. Features include unique, one-of-a-kind mens and womens geo-thermal cave baths, indoor private baths, outdoor private whirlpool baths. Mineral water swimming pool, day spa, hotel, cabins and Big Kahuna BBQ Restaurant. Come for the day or spend the night. Perfect Romantic get-away. Fun and relaxing for adults and children of all ages.

Indian Hot Springs

From Mountain Mocha — a locally loved treat — and half-pound breakfast burritos to sumptuous sandwiches, pastries and ice cream, The B&amp;C has plenty of options to soothe rumbling tummies.

Black Hawk Bean & Cream

Our thee signature sauces: Cow Tippin Sweet, Spicy Chipotle and Swine Bitin' Bold.

Smokin Yard's BBQ

Enjoy another day on the iconic river with a 1/3- or 1/2-day rating trip.

More Clear Creek Rafting

Hola amigos, at Restaurant Azteca we offer you a taste of Mexico that you will not soon forget, authentic Mexican food where we serve the delicious meals you enjoy today.

Azteca Mexican Restaurant

Try out this 1896 Victorian Airbnb cottage with mountain views.

Bridal Veil Waterfall Views

Mountain Mamas' Needful Things in Georgetown offers a full-service cafe, artisanal treats and gifts.

Mountain Mamas' Needful Things

Climb aboard one of Colorado's famous historic narrow gauge railroads. This engineering marvel takes you high over the Devil's Gate Bridge and winds you through a scenic Rocky Mountain pathway. Silver mine tours available in conjunction with train ride.

Georgetown Loop Railroad

Cooper’s on the Creek is located in the Georgetown, 45 miles west of Denver on the I-70 corridor. Our menu features seasonally inspired cuisine, creative small plates and elevated comfort food. Please call for the latest menu and beer specials.

Cooper's on the Creek

Visitors walk over 1,000 feet (the longest walking tour in the State) into the mountain and see several other tunnels, many of the 17 gold veins discovered, machinery and tools, walk into a stope and experience what it was like to work by candle lite. Visitors will also learn about drilling, blasting and mucking and the importance of mining during the wild west. The Capital Prize is still an active mine and visitors will see a modern prospecting operation which includes dredges, sluice boxes, classifiers and shaker tables. Instead of gold-panning, visitors "mine" an ore specimen from 1,000 feet in the stope and then we break them open to see the gold and silver. Fun for the whole family. The mine has produced millions of dollars of gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper over the years.The Capital Prize is open year round. Check website for details. The mine is a constant 50 degrees so it's warm in the winter and a great place to cool off in the summer. Conveniently located only 25 minutes from Frisco, 35 miles to Denver and only one mile off of Interstate 70.

Capital Prize Gold Mine Tours

Cabin Creek Brewing is a Craft Brewpub that blends tradition &amp; innovation, offering hand-crafted beer &amp; drinks and scratch-made food 7 days/week in Historic Georgetown. Set on Georgetown Lake, our cabin style brewery offers unmatched views of the Rockies.

Cabin Creek Brewing

Hotel de Paris Museum, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is owned and operated by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Colorado.

Hotel de Paris Museum

Cozy up for your stay at Clear Creek Inn. This comfy inn is a unique spot for its glass blowing sessions and glass store.