Colorado Driving Tours
Scenic Golden Loop Historic Parkway
Cripple Creek and Victor, Colorado
Visit the American Eagles Scenic
Overlook...
We invite you to visit Victor & Cripple
Creek and take a drive around golden loop.
On of
the most impressive views of the mining district, backdropped by the Continental
Divide, is from atop the American Eagles Overlook.
The American Eagles mine and surrounding
area have been restored by the Cripple Creek/Victor Gold Mining Co.
Winfield Scott Stratton bought the
Eagles in 1895. The American Eagles shaft was the deepest in the district
at over 1,540 feet. It was, and still is the highest mine in the
district at 10,570 feet. From the overlook you can see most of the CC/V
mining operation, Goldfield and Independence as well as Collegiate Mountains.
The American
Eagles Drive starts in Victor at 3rd & Diamond and continues up Range
View Road to the marked intersection. The road winds up over remnants of
the ghost town of Independence and then Altman. At the top, displays of
mining equipment, a blacksmith shop and the grand American Eagles headframe
offers a glimpse into gold mining history.
Visitors are advised to bring warm
clothing for the visit to the overlook as a cool breeze often blows through
the overlook, even on warm summer days.
You might also
consider the following:
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine offers
historic underground mine tours as well as tours of the modern surface
mine and ghost walk tours are offered in Cripple Creek.
Walking tours of Victor are available
at Victor businesses.
Walking tours of Cripple Creek
are available at the Cripple Creek Welcome Center.
The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum,
Cripple Creek District Museum and Old Homestead House offer exhibits and
information on the gold rush as well.
The scenic Golden
Loop Historic Parkway Driving Tour offers a chance to see the Mining
District in all its glory.
We are be
building a series of historic interpretive trails in the Vindicator Valley
and in and around Victor. Please visit our
trails brochure on this website for more information.
We hope you enjoy your visit
and please, remember this is an active mining district - please stay on
public roads and trails.
The historic photos in this
tour are provided for reference to modern-day views.
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The Golden Loop Historic Parkway
A Series of Interpretive Sites & Trails Through the
Cripple Creek Mining District:
*Vindicator Valley Including the Theresa & Vindicator
Mines
*Stratton’s Independence Mine A National Historic Register
Site
*The Gold Coin Mine, The Legacy That Built Victor
*Independence Millsite Trail
*Golden Circle Trail
*Golden Loop Driving Tour Through Historic Mining Backcountry
Roads
Trails Are For Hiking - Mountain Biking - Equestrian
Use
No Motorized Vehicles.
To Find Our Trails, Take U.S. Hwy 24 West from
Colorado Springs; in Divide turn south on Hwy 67; turn left at the sign
to Victor on Teller County Rd. 81.
The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum
Lowell Thomas, journalist, radio & television commentator,
author, & film producer grew up in Victor, getting his start in journalism
as editor
of the Victor Daily Record newspaper.
He moved here with his family in September of 1900 at
the age of 8.
He was the first news commentator to broadcast for both
NBC & CBS. The Victor
Lowell Thomas Museum houses memorabilia from his illustrious
caree. The Museum also houses artifacts from Victor’s past.
Call 719-689-5509 for hours and group tours.
The museum is open Memorial Day thru Labor Day
and by appointment at other times.
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