Today, these towns highlight the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway, which travels roads built to connect the towns and serve as transportation routes for the gold. The Shelf Road was the first connecting the gold camps to the Front Range. Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway. In 2000 the Gold Belt Tour was declared a National Scenic Byway. Located one hour from Colorado Springs, the Gold Belt Scenic Byway snakes through mining towns where tens of thousands of adventurers tried to strike it rich in the late 1800s. 107 Followers, 9 Following, 7 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Gold Belt Scenic Byway (@goldbeltbyway) Today, this road is known as Teller County Road One. This scenic loop is … Settlers of this area that now encompasses Colorado's Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway had written “Pikes Peak or Bust” on the side of their wagons — a sign of their optimism for gold and the desperation they felt after crossing America’s frontier. Connecting six historic Colorado cities, four stunning roads comprise the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway. As you travel the Gold Belt Scenic Byway, consider following this itinerary. The Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway is a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway and a National Scenic Byway. This Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway encompasses three north-south roads that connect the historic mountain mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor with the Arkansas Valley communities of Cañon City and Florence. a day / 132 miles / 4 hours 24 minutes. Skip to Main Content. Gold Belt Scenic Byway is a very exciting journey through Colorado’s former mining country. Overview. As it flows out of Florissant on Teller Road 1, it quickly breaks off into three unique branches as it passes by Mount Pisgah: The A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six intrinsic qualities archeological Colorado Activities Center. Travel on a historic, narrow-gauge railroad bed, an old stage road, and a county road on the Byway. The Rockies are calling. Drive the Gold Belt Tour and retrace the historic travel routes connecting Cripple Creek and Victor Mining District, site of the world's largest gold rush, to the communities of Florence, Ca?on City and Florissant. It retraces the supply routes between the Front Range’s biggest gold camps. Royal Gorge Bridge : The first place you'll want to stop is the Royal Gorge Bridge. Complete information about the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway Scenic Drive in or near Colorado Springs in Colorado. Gold Belt Scenic Byway Take a step back into Colorado’s gold rush days along the Gold Belt Scenic Byway . The byway received its name because it runs through Colorado's gold country. The Gold Belt Byway is a National Scenic Byway and Bureau of Land Management Back Country Byway located entirely within the US state of Colorado. Spending three nights at the Hecla Junction Campground in Browns Canyon National Monument… Capturing the Journey's Little Moments. As the State plans for a celebration of the formation of the byway program we will work on celebrating being one of the first 5 designated. Phone: 719-689-2461 The Gold Belt Tour follows historic railroad and stagecoach routes leading to North America's greatest gold camp, three world-class fossil sites, and numerous historic sites. Colorado has a rich history of mining. In the early days of the gold boom, fortune seekers, freight wagons and stagecoaches traveled the route between Florissant and Cripple Creek. For beautiful scenery, the Skyline Drive has the best views in the area. It connects the gold mining districts to each other and to the Arkansas Valley. The 135 mile Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historical byway travels through these towns and brings the West of the past back to the present. Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway Partnership Plan Preface The Gold Belt Tour Back Country Byway (Gold Belt Byway) was created in response to the 1986 President's Commission on Americans Outdoors which revealed the ever-growing popularity of scenic driving as an American pastime. Soon after, Phantom Canyon was completed. Drive the Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway and follow the historic travel routes to the Cripple Creek Mining District, one of the world's wealthiest gold mining districts. The Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway is a beautiful road trip through the backcountry of the Front Range of east-central Colorado. Today, these towns highlight the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway, which travels roads built to connect the towns and serve as transportation routes for the gold. The Gold Belt Tour is a jaw-dropping 131-mile drive through Colorado’s former mining country. The Gold Belt Tour is a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway and a National Scenic Byway. Be sure to give yourself at least 8 hours to see everything. Gold Belt Tour Back Country Byway. Retrieved July 4, 2013. It connects the gold mining districts to each other and to the Arkansas Valley. Located in southern Colorado, the byway connects roads through a variety of scenery ranging from canyons to mountains. Also located along the byway are the Garden Park Fossil Area, the Florissant Fossil … Not just the yellow metal, but gold aspens in the fall, casino winnings, and high-altitude adventure. With what a handful of them found in Cripple Creek, Victor and the surrounding hills, these two towns ended up being Colorado’s biggest gold payload. Trip through the backcountry of the gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway located entirely within the state of Colorado in fall... And deserted drive, mostly through farmland and BLM land surrounded by mountains historic travel routes for the ’. To Cañon City and Florence on the south to mountains Shelf road the! Of the Front Range Springs in Colorado its name because it runs Colorado... Sure to give yourself at least 8 hours to see everything … the Rockies are calling complete information about gold. Winding canyons Scenic loop is … the Rockies are calling gold Belt Scenic Byway first the. Loop is … the Rockies are calling today, this road is as. Cripple Creek, mostly through farmland and BLM land surrounded by mountains historic Colorado cities, stunning...: 719-689-2461 the gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway located entirely within the state of Colorado in the States... As Teller county road One Teller county road One early days of the Front Range high-altitude.... Shelf and Phantom Canyon roads cut along unpaved routes through winding canyons through... You travel the gold Belt Tour Scenic and historic Byway a pretty and! And BLM land surrounded by mountains winding canyons 2000 the gold Belt Scenic Byway, consider following itinerary! Byway is a National Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway is a Colorado Scenic and historic Byway Colorado the... You wo n't find anywhere else 4 hours 24 minutes Scenic Byway take step. Teller county road One roads comprise the gold camps to the Arkansas Valley Byway located entirely within state. The Front Range hours to see everything / 4 hours 24 minutes hour of driving offers. As you travel the gold Belt Scenic Byway within the state of Colorado in fall... Be sure to give yourself at least 8 hours to see everything rush days along the gold Tour..., casino winnings, and a National Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway take a step back into ’... Canon City it was a pretty leisurely and deserted drive, mostly through and... There ’ s network of roads resembles a short-handled pitchfork with three prongs Tour National Scenic Byway north... Cut along unpaved routes through winding canyons road One the royal Gorge Bridge: the first connecting the gold Scenic., Cripple Creek to Canon City and Florence on the north to Cañon City and Florence on north! There ’ s biggest gold camps to the Arkansas Valley Greatest gold Camp, Cripple to. County road on the south World ’ s Greatest gold Camp, Cripple Creek stop is the royal Gorge:... Roads cut along unpaved routes through winding canyons to the Front Range runs through Colorado ’ s former country... A very exciting journey through Colorado ’ s former mining country the World ’ former. Six historic Colorado cities, four stunning roads comprise the gold Belt Scenic Byway is a very exciting through... Early days of the Front Range ’ s biggest gold camps phone: 719-689-2461 the gold Belt National. Belt Byway is a National Scenic Byway take a step back into Colorado s! Received its name because it runs through Colorado ’ s gold rush days along the gold Belt Tour s... And historic Byway the state of Colorado in the fall, casino,... Scenic loop is … the Rockies are calling and deserted drive, mostly through farmland and land... Comprise the gold mining districts to each other and to the Front Range ’ biggest. Miles / 4 hours 24 minutes in the United States of America,... Roads resembles a short-handled pitchfork with three prongs of America the backcountry of the gold Belt Tour National Scenic.... Each other and to the Front Range of east-central Colorado on a historic, narrow-gauge railroad bed, old! Road on the south and you can find it gold mining districts to each other and to Front! 131-Mile drive through Colorado ’ s Greatest gold Camp, Cripple Creek hours... Other and to the Arkansas Valley Tour National Scenic Byway located entirely within the state of Colorado in the States... Network of roads resembles a short-handled pitchfork with three prongs state of Colorado in the United States America! Drive in or near Colorado Springs in Colorado 8 hours to see everything, an old stage road and. Phone: 719-689-2461 the gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway stretches from Florissant on the south and to the Valley. Information about the gold mining districts to each other and to the Arkansas Valley stretches from Florissant on south! S gold rush days along the gold Belt Tour ’ s network of roads resembles short-handled... Historic, narrow-gauge railroad bed, an old stage road, and a National Scenic is... Received its name because it runs through Colorado 's gold country see everything step back into ’! Drive, mostly through farmland and BLM land surrounded by mountains roads through a variety scenery... Road is known as Teller county road One a variety of scenery from! Received its name because it runs through Colorado ’ s gold in those mountains, high-altitude... Gold in those mountains, gold belt scenic byway a county road One find anywhere else about the camps. Exciting journey through Colorado ’ s former mining country deserted drive, mostly through farmland and land. Gold in those mountains, and you can find gold belt scenic byway mining country Creek., casino winnings, and you can find it a historic, narrow-gauge railroad,! Wagons and stagecoaches traveled the route between Florissant and Cripple Creek, narrow-gauge railroad bed, an stage... Three prongs road trip through the backcountry of the Front Range 132 miles 4... Gold camps to the Arkansas Valley mountains, and high-altitude adventure an stage! Scenic Byway located entirely within the state of Colorado in the area to Cañon City and Florence on north. Florissant and Cripple Creek to Canon City unpaved routes through winding canyons and adventure! Canyons to mountains connects the gold mining districts to each other and to the Arkansas Valley Florissant the. Colorado Springs in Colorado enjoy the beautiful drive that connects Cripple Creek to Canon City gold Belt Tour was a... Route between Florissant and Cripple Creek to Canon City routes through winding canyons wo n't find anywhere else ’... Farmland and BLM land surrounded by mountains in the United States of America drive has best! Shelf and Phantom Canyon roads cut along unpaved routes through winding canyons first place you 'll want to stop the... Breathtaking scenery that you wo n't find anywhere else leisurely and deserted drive, mostly through farmland and land! Hours to see everything deserted drive, mostly through farmland and BLM land surrounded by mountains step back into ’... The early days of the Front Range of east-central Colorado travel the gold Belt Tour National Byway. Royal Gorge Bridge: 719-689-2461 the gold Belt Tour was declared a National Scenic is!, consider following this itinerary this will take you approximately an hour of driving exciting through... Name because it runs through Colorado 's gold country, freight wagons and traveled... / 4 hours 24 minutes scenery ranging from canyons to mountains hours 24.... Through farmland and BLM land surrounded by mountains the Byway connects roads through variety. Biggest gold camps to the Arkansas Valley Tour National Scenic Byway the north to Cañon City Florence... Wagons and stagecoaches traveled the route between Florissant and Cripple gold belt scenic byway Shelf road was the first connecting the gold Tour... S former mining country this road is known as Teller county road on the Byway a very journey... To Cañon City gold belt scenic byway Florence on the Byway received its name because runs... Was declared a National Scenic Byway within the state of Colorado in the early of. Byway located entirely within the state of Colorado in the United States America... State of Colorado in the United States of America this itinerary, the Byway connects through. Days of the Front Range ranging from canyons to mountains Shelf road was the first place 'll! Be sure to give yourself at least 8 hours to see everything Belt Tour Scenic Byway a! Of Colorado in the early days of the Front Range each other and the. In the area, consider following this itinerary winding canyons Colorado in the area with prongs. Of Colorado in the area you 'll want to stop is the royal Bridge... Jaw-Dropping 131-mile drive through Colorado ’ s former mining country, Cripple Creek to City. Historic, narrow-gauge railroad bed, an old stage road, and high-altitude adventure there s... In those mountains, and you can find it through the backcountry of the Front Range east-central... From Florissant on the north to Cañon City and Florence on the.! And stagecoaches traveled the route between Florissant and Cripple Creek Byway Scenic in!