Points of Interest

Slow Scenic Drive

Phantom Canyon Road

This road is one of the most scenic and historic drives in Colorado. The route increases in elevation from 5,500 to 9,500 feet and offers the chance to see a wide range of plants and wildlife in their natural setting. The gravel road follows the route of the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad built in 1894 as a connection from Florence to the goldfields of Cripple Creek and Victor. The unique bridges and tunnels offer a visual link to the area's historic past. The road condition and... Learn More

Major Route for Stagecoaches & Freight Wagons

Shelf Road

Shelf Road transformed an untraveled wilderness into a major route for the stagecoaches and freight wagons traveling between the Arkansas Valley and the Cripple Creek Gold Mining District. The rugged route’s name is ‘THE SHELF’, a five-mile stretch of road that hugs the sheer rock walls of above Fourmile Creek. Arkansas River WalkThis trail offers a relaxing walk through several miles of cottonwood bottomlands. Garden Park Fossil AreaOthniel Lucas, a Garden Park school teacher, discovered massive bones here in 1876. Subsequent excavations discovered such well... Learn More

The Royal Gorge Bridge

High Park Road

High Park Road and Colorado Highway 9 were originally trails that connected the ranches and farms of the mountain parklands west of Cripple Creek to Cañon City. The Currant Creek Trail followed the route of present day Colorado Highway 9. Well-traveled by American Indians moving between the Arkansas River and South Park, this trail became an important route for the mountain men, explorers and eventually, people and freight headed for the mining camps of Leadville and South Park. To settlers, the grassy meadows of... Learn More

Center of Politics, Finance, and Entertainment

Teller County Road One

At an elevation of 9,396 feet, Cripple Creek was the center of politics, finance, and entertainment for the Mining District. Cripple Creek boasted two opera houses, 75 saloons, eight newspapers and a stock exchange by the late 1900s. Today, limited stakes gaming has revitalized Cripple Creek's economy. You can experience a taste of the past by descending into the Mollie Kathleen Mine, visiting the Homestead Parlor House or riding the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. Enjoy casinos, shops and restaurants, as well... Learn More