Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway

Aspens decked in autumn's tawny hues line the Gold Belt Tour.

The rich red color of this steel bridge stands out amidst the snow that covers it and the surrounding evergreens.

Though the Royal Gorge Bridge is indeed massive, a distant view magnifies the depth and magnitude of the gorge itself.

This interpretive kiosk is located at Four Mile Park on Teller County Road 1.

This interpretive kiosk helps visitors navigate the Garden Park Fossil Area.

A cloud-filled sky and rolling mountains grace the skyline on a peaceful drive.

Hornbek Homestead, located in the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, is still on a clear day.

This kiosk, located on the upper side of Shelf Road, provides valuable information for travelers.

The Arkansas Riverwalk follows the Arkansas River in Cañon City. It is popular with walkers, bicyclists, birders, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The rib of a Camarasaurus is exposed during a 1979 excavation at the Garden Park Fossil Area. Discoveries continue to be made.

The cliffs towering above Shelf Road are internationally known among rock climbers. The climbs are short but very difficult.

This five hundred acre park contains unusually eroded red rock formations with spires up to 100 feet high. It offers excellent opportunities for hiking, bicycling, picnicking and camping.

The Dinosaur Depot interprets the rich history of the Garden Park Fossil Area. It houses exhibits, specimens, and a fossil preparation laboratory. Educational programs are available.

Cripple Creek was the financial and social hub of the Cripple Creek Mining District. Today, many buildings in Cripple Creek's business district have been renovated or restored.

Located in Cañon City's National Historic District, the St. Cloud Hotel has stood at the corner of 7th and Main since 1888. The hotel is undergoing restoration with the help of the State Historical Fund of the Colorado Historical Society.

Garden Park, located along the southern end of the Shelf Road, was named for its farms and ranches that supplied fresh produce and meat to surrounding communities. Today, Garden Park remains largely ranchland.

High Park Road traverses scenic mountain parklands that have been cattle ranching country for more than 150 years. High Park Road offers impressive views of the surrounding mountain ranges and Pikes Peak.

The Santa Fe Depot, built in 1913, has been beautifully restored by Cañon City in cooperation with the State Historical Fund of the Colorado Historical Society.

Several areas of the Byway offer impressive views of 14,110-foot Pikes Peak, one of Colorado's most famous landmarks.

Many segments of the Gold Belt Tour attract bicyclists because of the outstanding scenery and low speed limits.

The Wilbur Loop was the name given to the segment of tracks that climbed 400 feet up steep switchbacks out of Phantom Canyon. Today, an overlook at the top of the loop provides a birds-eye view of Phantom Canyon.

This landmark rock, eroded by wind and water, is visible along the northern portion of the Shelf Road.

The Florissant Heritage Museum occupies the historic Florissant schoolhouse, a schoolhouse from 1887 to 1960. Today, the museum interprets the history of the area beginning with the Ute Indians. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1897, Steel Bridge was built to replace the original wooden trestle that was destroyed by fire. It is the only remaining bridge from the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The ranches along High Park Road represent over 150 years of ranching history in the region. Historic ranches, such as the Switzer Ranch, continue to be vital parts of the rural, agricultural lifestyle.

Phantom Canyon's rock formations including "The Chief" were documented by William Henry Jackson during the Hayden Survey. Today, the Byway's visitors enjoy these interesting landmarks.

Over 500 underground mines were located within the Cripple Creek Mining District. These mines produced more gold than the Alaska and California gold rushes combined.

Today, a lone smelter stack testifies to Florence's history as an important industrial center of the Arkansas Valley. In the early 1900s, Florence was a center for gold ore processing and oil production and refining.

The historic Hornbek Homestead, settled in 1876, was the first homestead in the Florissant Valley. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The original train station was located near this cistern. After the flood of 1895, it was moved to higher ground.

The Victor-Lowell Thomas Museum celebrates Victor's most famous son and the town's rich mining history.

The Phantom Canyon Road passes through this tunnel that was constructed in 1895 when a flood washed out the original railroad grade. This tunnel and the upper tunnel were built to raise the railroad tracks out of the Eightmile Creek floodplain.

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are often seen along the northern end of the Shelf Road.

Designated a National Monument in 1969, Florissant Fossil Beds preserves incredibly detailed insect and plant fossils dating to 34 million years ago. Interpretive trails lead through a petrified forest of massive redwood stumps.

Ranchers use portions of the byway to move cattle in late fall to winter at lower elevations. Ranching continues to be an important part of the rural lifestyle in this region.

One of the most interesting parts of Phantom Canyon is The Narrows. Here, the road winds high above Eightmile Creek through narrow road cuts, following the grade of the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad.

From 1896 to 1949, this building served continuously as a railroad depot. In 1953, it was converted into a private, non-profit museum interpreting Cripple Creek's history.