Climb the Mountain

You can make the drive through Clear Creek Canyon a whole day experience if you choose. In one of the narrowest, steepest and most dramatic canyons in Colorado you might see rafters, kayakers, fishermen, and even panning for gold. If hiking is in order, stop at the Mayhem Gulch Trailhead, 12 miles west of Golden, and hike on the Peaks to Plains Trail. At the junction with Hwy. 119, you have the option to go north to Black Hawk, the largest gambling center in Colorado, and on to Central City, once called the “richest spot on earth.” With 30,000 residents Central City was the largest gold rush boom town in Colorado in the 1870s. Above the town with beautiful brick and stone Victorian buildings, you’ll find historic graveyards, old mines and ghost towns. Southwest of Central City, look for signs for the Virginia Canyon Road, known to locals as the “Oh My God Road.” Legend has it that it got its name from stagecoach passengers looking down at the sheer drop offs and moan, “Oh My God!” Go slow, pause on the narrow turns, and follow the signs for Idaho Springs, another old gold mining town. From there, you can take I-70 to return to Golden or go back through Clear Creek Canyon, viewing the dramatic rock formations from a different direction.