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City in Colorado
Photo: Ralphmiester, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Idaho Springs is a city of 1800 people in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It is known also as the Gem of the Rockies.
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Artifacts showing the history of the town. The mining past has several displays.
Here you take a tour of one of the famous mines in the area, also gives live demonstrations as well and you can pan for gold here. Added to the list of National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Tour of a local gold mine filled with lots of history. After the tour you can pan for gold or walk along two of the trails that are nearby. Tours usually take about 45 min to an hour.
There is also a waterwheel from the 1800s that is right next to the waterfall.
Combination home and office for Dr. Underhill and his wife. Showing the history of the town and the family.
The road to the 14271 ft summit is the highest paved road in North America.
Take a drive up “Oh My Gawd Road”, the hair-raising shortcut to nearby Central City, This scenic dirt road gets its name from its spectacular views as well as its narrow and curving lanes.
There are around eight zips in all. The zipline course starts along the Clear Creek in Idaho Springs.
Whitewater rafting excursions
A 4½-mile roundtrip trail with an elevation gain of 1200 feet, popular with snowshoeing.
A 16-mile roundtrip tril for biking and hiking.
10-mile roundtrip trail.
A 6-mile trail.
An 8-mile loop.
Mount Evans
the highest peak in the Mount Evans Wilderness at 14,266 ft. A paved road ends about 130 ft below the summit.
Serves great breakfast, American and Mexican food.
Known for its great breakfast and brunch.
Italian food.
One of the best places to stop along I-70. Known for its great BBQ and offers complimentary boiled peanuts.
They have been offering mountain pies, which is Colorado style pizza, since 1973. Has a local food challenge called the "14er" which is a 14-pound pizza; you win $100 if you and another person finish it. Offers free Wi-Fi as well.
Serves a lot of great American food and has an old time feel to the place. They have added a casual brewpub called Westbound and Down right next door. The restaurant has had a more upscale remodel and still serves buffalo.
A nice place to drink at and also serve beer that they make there as well.
Local pub which is the sister company to The Buffalo restaurant and sits next to that restaurant. They have started with 4 craft beers and have 6 guest beers. The "Westbound and Down" brews are possibly some of the best in Colorado. They have a top-notch pub menu with everything fresh, not your typical frozen fried foods.
Indian Hot Springs
Features a gourmet home-cooked breakfast.
All rooms are non-smoking.
No pets, no breakfast.
Family-run ice cream parlor.
By road
Interstate 70 (cosigned with US-6 and US-40) passes through Idaho Springs. Colorado-103 begins at I-70 Exit 240.
To get around all you really need is your two feet; park your car in the downtown area and you can pretty much walk to everything you need to see in the area. To get to other places around town you just drive.
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Denver · Regional · BJC
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