We have had some questions about what there is to do in Cripple Creek other than gambling. Here is just a short list of things the whole family can enjoy while in the Town or nearby.
Cripple Creek-Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad – Please book early as they get sold out quickly. This is a forty-five minute round trip train ride in an open train car to view the scenic wonders of the area pulled by a century old, fifteen ton steam locomotive. It travels past the old Midland Terminal Wye over a reconstructed trestle, past many historic mines, and finishes near the deserted mining camp of Anaconda. www.cripplecreekrailroad.com
Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine – Step into a true marvel of human engineering as you descend 1000 feet underground to get a close-up look at how miners once pried precious gold from deep beneath the Rocky Mountains. Your exciting tour of this authentic mine begins with a 100-story elevator ride deep below the surface. You will be given a hardhat for safety as you are led through the mine by knowledgable tour guides who will tell you all about the history of the mine and the early gold rush years. www.goldminetours.com
Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center – It’s a short thirty minute drive from Cripple Creek. The center offers many different types of tours varying from a standard tour, a kid specific tour, scheduled feeding times, and full moon tours. Check out their website for more information. www.wolfeducation.org
The Butte Theater – A historic old theater that has live performances of great plays and musicals. As of the date of this post, they have not yet listed what show will be playing in June, but you can check out their website closer to that time. www.buttetheater.com
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument – Only a twenty-five minute drive away, there’s 6,000 acres of forest and meadows with the richest deposits in the world. Here, you’ll find massive petrified redwood trees and an abundance of diverse, detailed insect and plant fossils from thirty-four million years ago. www.nps.gov/flfo
Phantom Canyon Road – One of the most scenic and historic drives in Colorado, this unpaved road connects Canon City and Victor going through Phantom Canyon. It starts in Victor, Co. It’s approximately thirty miles long and takes about two hours to complete with a couple of tunnels to drive through, as well as dozens of historic sites along the way. Some say the area may be haunted…
Shelf Road – An unpaved, old toll road that goes past steep drop offs, scenic rock formations, abandoned historic buildings, and old mines. It begins in Cripple Creek.
Cripple Creek Donkeys – These donkeys are free roaming, so you’ll find them throughout the city. You’re welcome to feed them, just no processed foods, and be aware that they are not always tame.
6 Different Museums –
- Outlaw and Lawmen Jail Musum – 136 W Bennett Ave.
- Old Homestead House Museum – 353 Myers Ave., www.oldhomesteadhouse.com
- Cripple Creek District Museum – 510 Bennett Ave., www.cripplecreekmuseum.com
- Cripple Creek Heritage Center – 9283 CO-67 – Where the Friday night social is being held
- Victor Lowell Thomas Museum – 298 Victor Ave., Victor CO, www.victormuseum.com
- Victor’s Gold Camp AG & Mining Museum – 2nd & Victor Ave., Victor, CO, www.victorcolorado.com
Little Grouse Mountain Trailhead – 1.9 mile hike. It’s considered an easy route which takes approximately one hour to complete. It’s located just off CO-67 near Victor, CO.
Other Activities
- Ten miles away is the historic mining town of Victor where you can explore and shop. www.cityofvictor.com
- There’s also lots of unique stores around Cripple Creek for some more shopping.