Pogwatigue Perambulations: Cripple Creek

After spending the morning and early afternoon in the Garden of the Gods, I stopped in nearby Manitou Springs for a leisurely lunch and then drove west on US-24 to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. I got there an hour before closing so I didn't have a much time, but am glad I stopped. I watched a short video that explained why this particular area is so rich in ancient fossils. Then, I walked the mile-long Petrified Forest Trail. Along the route were a half-dozen enormous Redwood tree stumps fossilized from 35 million years ago. Though stone, they looked like wooden stumps.

Leaving the monument at five o'clock, I drove twenty minutes south to Cripple Creek, site of Colorado's richest gold camp. There is still an active gold mine southeast of town. Like Central City, the town itself has hitched its star to limited-stakes gambling. I was more interested in the gold mining history so set-off on the Gold Camp Trail, which winds up Poverty Gulch, site of the original gold discovery in the district and home to a number of the most profitable mines of the gold rush era. The most interesting sites were concentrated in the first third of the trail. Panels along the way described the significance of each site. I might have skipped the last two-thirds of the trail had I known the historical interest tapered off. At the top, they did have a small exhibit of old mining equipment. I also got a great view of the western side of Pikes Peak from there.

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I finished the hike shortly after sunset. There was another trail nearby that I wanted to check out and thought I had just enough twilight to tackle it. It was short loop up Little Grouse Mountain right next to the modern mining operations. Plenty hungry after finishing that loop, I drove back to Cripple Creek and found a great deal on a late dinner at one of the casino restaurants. After eating, I easily resisted any urge to recycle my savings in the slot machines, left Cripple Creek, and started the long drive back to Denver.

Gold Camp Hike Statistics
Length: 3.8 miles
Ride Time: 1 hours 44 minutes
Trailhead Elevation: 9,500 feet
Maximum Elevation: 10,335 feet
Met Elevation Gain: 885 feet

Gold Camp Hike Elevation Profile