Travel Itineraries
One Day in The Climate Capital of Colorado
Cañon City
One Day Itinerary
Experience the best of "The Climate Capital of Colorado" in one action-packed day. Cañon City combines stunning natural beauty with fascinating history, offering everything from riverside walks and dinosaur discoveries to a journey through the Royal Gorge aboard a historic railroad.
This carefully planned itinerary maximizes your time in Cañon City, taking you from morning explorations along the Arkansas Riverwalk to an unforgettable afternoon ride through the Royal Gorge. Perfect for families, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking an authentic Colorado mountain town experience....
Get Off The Paved Roads
Mountain Trip Itinerary
One Day Itinerary
Get off the paved roads and experience the authentic backcountry character of the Gold Belt Byway on this exciting one-day mountain adventure. Travel historic mining roads that once transported gold and supplies between the Arkansas Valley and America's Greatest Gold Camp.
This itinerary takes you up the legendary Phantom Canyon Road - following the original Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad grade - through Victor's authentic mining town atmosphere, and into Cripple Creek's living history. Perfect for those seeking scenic unpaved roads, mining heritage, and mountain town exploration....
Museums, Picnics, and Walking with the Dinosaurs
History Lovers' Leisure Tour
One Day Itinerary
Discover the incredible paleontological treasures of Cañon City on this family-friendly, educational adventure. Garden Park Fossil Area has supplied many of the Jurassic dinosaurs displayed at the Smithsonian, making this one of the most significant dinosaur discovery sites in North America.
This leisurely one-day itinerary combines outdoor exploration at authentic fossil sites with indoor museum experiences, offering the perfect balance of adventure and education. Ideal for families with children, school groups, or anyone fascinated by the age of dinosaurs....
Good Places To Find Fossils
Cripple Creek - Florissant
One Day Itinerary
Journey through millions of years of natural history on this remarkable one-day tour connecting Cripple Creek and Florissant. Visit Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, where 34-million-year-old fossils preserve an ancient ecosystem of giant redwoods, insects, and mammals long before humans walked the earth.
This itinerary combines paleontology with pioneer history, offering hands-on fossil digging experiences and explorations of early Colorado homesteads. Perfect for families, science enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the incredible story of life on Earth preserved in the volcanic ash of ancient eruptions....
Mines, Museums, and The Butte Theater
Cripple Creek - Victor Mining
One Day Itinerary
Step into "America's Greatest Gold Camp" for an unforgettable day exploring the legendary Cripple Creek and Victor Mining District. This itinerary takes you from modern heap-leach mining operations to preserved 1890s brothels, historic museums, and the spectacular Butte Theater for an evening of Victorian melodrama.
Experience the complete story of the mining district that produced over 21 million ounces of gold - more than the California and Alaska gold rushes combined. From underground mine tours to narrow-gauge railroad rides, this is the definitive one-day mining heritage experience in Colorado....
Two Days in Florence, Cañon City, and Cripple Creek
Heritage Tour
Two Day Itinerary
Embark on a captivating two-day journey through the heart of Colorado's mining heritage, exploring the historic communities of Florence, Cañon City, and Cripple Creek. This carefully curated tour takes you through authentic museums, historic downtown districts, and the legendary mining camps that defined America's greatest gold rush.
From the preserved brothels and jails of the 1890s to world-class dinosaur exhibits and oil field history, this itinerary offers an immersive experience into the diverse cultural tapestry of the Gold Belt Byway region. Discover the stories of miners, pioneers, and outlaws who shaped this remarkable corner of Colorado....
Explore U.S., Colorado, and Fremont County History
History Lovers' Tour - Day 1
Two Day Itinerary
Embark on the first day of an immersive two-day journey through Colorado's rich tapestry of American history, from ancient dinosaur fossils to coal mining heritage and correctional history. This meticulously planned tour takes you through western Fremont County's hidden historical treasures.
Explore 81 National Historic Landmark buildings in downtown Cañon City, walk among genuine dinosaur quarries, and discover the coal camps that powered Colorado's industrial revolution. This itinerary is perfect for serious history enthusiasts seeking an authentic, in-depth exploration of the region's diverse heritage....
Hiking, Prison Museum, and Western Fremont County
History Lovers' Tour - Day 2
Two Day Itinerary
Continue your historical exploration with Day Two of this comprehensive heritage tour, featuring scenic loops through western Fremont County, dinosaur quarries, Colorado's infamous prison system, and breathtaking drives through the Wet Mountain Valley.
This itinerary takes you beyond the tourist trails to discover authentic Colorado history, from Garden Park's world-famous fossil sites to the majestic Sangre de Cristo Range. Experience the raw beauty and compelling stories that have shaped this remarkable region of Colorado....
A 2-Day Adventure Tour for Those Who Like a Little Thrill
Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway
Two Day Itinerary
Experience the ultimate Gold Belt Byway adventure with this action-packed two-day itinerary designed for thrill-seekers and outdoor enthusiasts. This comprehensive tour combines the Royal Gorge Via Ferrata climbing experience with rafting, zip-lining, helicopter tours, and scenic drives along the historic Gold Belt routes.
From scaling granite walls above the Arkansas River to soaring through the sky on America's highest zipline, this itinerary maximizes your adventure opportunities while showcasing the spectacular natural beauty and rich history of Colorado's greatest gold rush region. Perfect for active travelers seeking an adrenaline-filled Colorado mountain experience....
Skycoaster | Ziplines | Rafting
Adventure / Adrenaline Tour
Two Day Itinerary
Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush with this comprehensive two-day adventure featuring the Royal Gorge Via Ferrata - Colorado's newest climbing attraction - combined with whitewater rafting and zipline adventures. This itinerary is designed for thrill-seekers who want to experience the best outdoor adventures the Royal Gorge region has to offer.
From scaling granite walls 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River to navigating Class IV rapids and soaring on ziplines through canyon landscapes, this tour delivers non-stop excitement. Perfect for active adults, adventurous families with teenagers, and anyone seeking an authentic Colorado outdoor experience they'll never forget....
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The $300 Million Cow Pasture
Before gold was discovered, the Cripple Creek area was dismissed as nothing more than cattle grazing land. Locals called it "the $300 million cow pasture" after the enormous wealth eventually extracted from beneath the rolling hills that ranchers once considered worthless for anything but grazing.
Tsetse Flies in Colorado
Among the 1,500 insect species fossilized at Florissant Fossil Beds is the tsetse fly, a blood-sucking insect now found only in Africa. The volcanic ash that fell on ancient Lake Florissant was finer than talcum powder, perfectly preserving even the individual lenses in a fly's compound eye. These fossils reveal that 34 million years ago, Colorado's climate was about 9 degrees Celsius warmer than today.