Back when the in-laws came to visit, we drove up to Cripple Creek after checking out the Florissant Fossil Beds. Cripple Creek is a former mining town that now has a slew of casinos, and a general store in town has truly the best fudge in the entire world. At its peak, Cripple Creek had a population over 10,000. The current population is closer to 1,000. We walked around the main drag (which is one road), popped into a few of the casinos, and took a ride on the Cripple Creek Railroad.
Address and Location
You’ll find the train station at 520 E Carr Avenue in Cripple Creek, Colorado. It’s a little over an hour from Colorado Springs. Limited parking is available at the station, and Cripple Creek has public parking lots across the main area of town.
Cost
Adults cost $15 each, while seniors over 65 are $14. Kids ages 3 -12 are $10, and kids under 3 are free.
What to Do
The original Cripple Creek Railroad connected the two, booming mine towns of Cripple Creek and Victor. It’s now just a scenic route. The track was built just two feet wide to fit in the mountains between the two towns. You’ll sit in covered cars with open sides to take in the sites. Along the route is the largest active gold mine in the world (which makes about $1 million a day). You also get great views of that part of the San Juan range of the Rockies.
The train ride lasts about an hour and is a nice way to see the mountains. We took this train ride a few times when I was a kid, and I enjoyed it then and as an adult.
And be sure to leave some time to explore the town. Cripple Creek’s big claim to fame these days is gambling. They have several large casinos along the main street. You can pop in, play some slots, and grab a meal. You’ll also find gift shops. But be sure to stop in the Rocky Mountain Canary Store. They have truly the best fudge on the planet Earth.
Have you ever visited Cripple Creek?
