Camping/Backcountry Safety

Camping options abound in Clear Creek County. There are developed campgrounds and dispersed camping options in the National Forest and on public lands as well as private campgrounds, cabins, yurts and more. Before building a campfire, check for restrictions or bans with local officials first, as they can occur any time of year. If you build a campfire, know how to extinguish it. Always keep a bucket of water and shovel nearby.

Free dispersed camping is allowed on most national forest lands except in highly developed areas such as trailheads, campgrounds and picnic sites and in some of the most visited places. Check for regulations in advance and look for signs to indicate if camping is allowed. Some areas allow camping in designated sites only. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days in one location within any continuous 30-day period. After 14 days, campsites must be moved a minimum of three miles. Camping can then continue for another 14 days. Camping is restricted to 28 days in any 60-day period. Many lands within the national forest boundary are private. It is your responsibility to know if you are on private or public land. Dispersed camping areas include Beartracks Lake Trail, Beaver Meadows Trail, Bill Moore Lake/Empire Loop, Captain Mountain Trail, Chicago Lakes Trail, Devil’s Canyon, Fall River Reservoir, Kingston Peak, Loch Lomond, Saxon Mountain, Argentine Central Railroad/ Waldorf Road and Yankee Hill. Be aware, new regulations are in effect along Guanella Pass limiting camping and parking to designated sites only. Find dispersed camping easily accessible by road with a Motor Vehicle Use Map available for free online at www.fs.usda.gov, through the Avenza app on a smart phone, or at the Idaho Springs Visitors Center, 2060 Miner St., at Exit 240 or 241.

Campground camping is available in the region’s developed public campgrounds for a fee. All are accessed from the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway at Exit 228, Hwy. 103 at Exit 240 and Central City Casino Parkway at Exit 243. Individual operating seasons vary, but season dates range from mid-May to mid-October. Campfires are allowed in a fire ring if provided, dead and down wood may be gathered from the forest. Wood may also be purchased from hosts. Developed campgrounds include: • Clear Lake: 10,000’; 8 sites; 15-foot spur; no reservations; $17; closes 9/19 • Columbine: 9,200’; 46 sites; 20-foot spur; reservations, $21; closes 9/19 • Echo Lake: 10,600’; 17 sites; 20-foot spur; reservations, $21; closes 9/12 • Guanella Pass: 10,900’; 17 sites; 35-foor spur; reservations, $21; closes 9/12 • West Chicago Creek: 9,600’; 15 sites; 30-foot spur; reservations, $20; closes 9/19 Reservations for developed campgrounds can be made with the National Recreation Reservation Service at 877-444-6777 or online at recreation.gov. Other nearby options include Cottonwood RV Campground, 1485 Hwy. 103, south of Idaho Springs at Exit 240 and KOA Denver West/Central City, 605 Lake Gulch Road, on the Central City Casino Parkway at Exit 243. The Squaw Mountain Lookout cabin off Hwy. 103 southeast of Idaho Springs is normally available to rent, but is not offered in 2021. Contact Clear Creek Ranger District at 303-567-4382 to learn more.

With an increase in bear activity, it is forest visitors’ responsibility to know how to properly hike and camp in bear country. Find Colorado Parks and Wildlife bear information at wildlife.state.co.us. A USFS Food Storage Order requires visitors to safely store food and scented products like toothpaste and deodorant when not actively cooking or eating. Bear-resistant containers include bear lockers in campgrounds, bear-resistant canisters, and food stored out of sight in closed and locked vehicles. Food can also be secured by properly hanging it 10 feet off the ground spaced between two trees. Report non-emergency bear encounters to 303-291-7227.

To avoid problems in the Clear Creek County backcountry, never travel alone and never separate from your group. Always let someone know where you are going and when you should be back, no matter how short the trip. Should a problem occur, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office has authorized the Alpine Rescue Team to fulfill its search and rescue duties. The jurisdiction of the Alpine Rescue Team spans county-wide, excluding municipalities. Call 303-526-2417 or visit alpinerescueteam.org for more information.

All backcountry users should be aware of how to handle issues involving elevation and altitude sickness, hypothermia, lightening, fallen trees, burned areas, streams and waterfalls, fast-changing mountain weather, wildlife encounters and more. Be sure to stay hydrated and carry a small first-aid kit.

This guide includes key items everyone should have when they travel in to the Clear Creek County backcountry including a first aid kit, map and compass, GPS or cell phone, pocket knife, flashlight, non-cotton warm clothing and rain gear, hiking boots, emergency food and water, sunscreen, COSAR card and more. There is also a form on the back to leave in the car so rescuers know where to find you if something goes wrong. Download Clear Creek County’s Backcountry Survival Guide at clearcreekcounty.org or alpinerescueteam.org.

Colorado residents and visitors are well served by dedicated volunteer search and rescue teams. By purchasing a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue CORSAR card participants contribute to the Search and Rescue Fund, which reimburses search and rescue teams for costs incurred in search and rescues across the state, and provides funding for the purchase of search and rescue related equipment. The card is available for $3 for a one-year or $12 for a five-year card. Keep in mind, the CORSAR card is not insurance and does not reimburse individuals or pay for medical transport. Call 303-679-2376 or visit dola.colorado.gov/ sar to purchase a card.

Georgetown Lake Georgetown Loop Railroad - Devil’s Gate Depot Gold Mine Tour Guanella Pass Scenic & Historic Byway Mount Bierstadt (14er) Museums & Historic Sites National Historic District Off-Leash Dog Park OHV Trails Playground Visitor Center Wildlife Viewing Station

700 6th Street, Georgetown, CO 80444 800-275-8777 Mon-Fri: 8-1 & 2-4:45 Sat: 9-noon Georgetown, founded in 1859, was once the third-largest town in Colorado thanks to nearby silver mines. It’s now home to about 1,000 residents, but on weekends, it buzzes with visitors in town to shop its unique stores, admire its Victorian-era buildings, dine at popular restaurants and ride the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad. In summer and fall, incredible recreation opportunities are easily reached from the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway including camping, fishing, hiking and biking as well as viewing scenery, wildlife and colorful aspen leaves in the fall. Georgetown Lake and a trail around it offer additional opportunities for fishing and hiking. Visitor centers near the exit and downtown can provide additional information.

Georgetown from Guanella Pass Scenic Byway

Stop at the Gateway Visitor Center, 1491 Argentine St. near Exit 228, for real time traffic information from CDOT monitors, access to the COTrip website for travelers, and other travel and local information services. Learn about and celebrate the National Historic Landmark District through interpretive displays and films. Restrooms are open 6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. Information services and a gift shop are open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Call 303-569-2405 or visit georgetowntrust.org to learn more.

The Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District recalls the days of the Colorado Silver Boom from 18641893, and the active local historical society sees that it stays that way. The Georgetown portion of the U.S. National Historic Landmark District includes a rich variety of substantial Late Victorian buildings. Because the wealth of the mining district was centered in Georgetown, the architecture reflects the attempt by families to reproduce the lifestyle of their more established home states. It features well-preserved buildings and mining structures throughout town.

Journey back in time with a ride on one of Colorado’s great narrow gauge railroads. The Georgetown Loop Railroad and Mining Park, 646 Loop Dr., is one of Colorado’s most authentic living museums and historically immersive experiences. Enjoy the Devil’s Gate High Bridge, Rocky Mountain views and marvel at the engineering. Two mine tours are also offered. Multiple departures from Georgetown and Silver Plume occur daily through mid-October. From Exit 228, take Argentine Street south to a fork in the road. Stay right and follow the road to Devil’s Gate Depot. Call 888-456-6777 or visit georgetownlooprr.com to learn more.

A restored 1874 school reopened as the Georgetown Heritage Center, 809 Taos St., a place to exhibit and practice crafts and fine arts, hear lectures, enjoy live performances and other activities. The Clear Creek Library District’s Local History Archive is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday. Find a schedule of events online. Call 303-569-0289 or visit georgetowntrust.org for details.

Georgetown has several museums that bring the town’s rich history to life. Explore the Alpine Hose #2 Firefighter Museum, 507 5th St.; a 1900 hydroelectric plant at Georgetown Energy Museum, 600 Griffith St.; a restored 19th century home at Hamill House Museum, 305 Argentine St.; and a former French inn from 1875 at Hotel de Paris Museum, 409 6th St.

The newly developed 60-acre Alvarado Open Space Park is a day-use area open to walk-in visitors featuring a walking trail, pond and access to Clear Creek. Trailhead facilities are not yet built. Access the area from a metal gate with an Open Space sign about one-half mile down the frontage road north of Georgetown or at mile marker 1. Bikes are currently not allowed.

The month of September is the ideal time to witness a gilded aspen spectacle on a scenic drive in Colorado, but you have to time it right as fall color lasts only about a week in most places. It’s difficult to predict when exactly leaves will turn in any given location, but Guanella Pass can be spectacular when they do. It is the go-to spot for some of the state’s best leaf peeping.

Argentine Central Railroad Grade Trail l Clear Creek Greenway: Silver Plume to Georgetown Express l Mt. Bierstadt Trail u Notch Trail u Rutherford Trail n Silver Creek Trail u Silver Dale Trails l Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake Trail n Tom Bennhoff Lake Trail l

SCENIC I-70 OVERLOOK A pull-out for eastbound vehicles at I-70 mile 226 provides scenic views of the valley between Silver Plume and Georgetown. There are no restrooms. Learn about Bighorn Sheep and other wildlife from interpretive signs.

The Georgetown Wildlife Viewing Station offers a safe place to see bighorn sheep from coin-operated viewing scopes. To visit, take Exit 228, turn left (north) on Alvarado Road and follow the binocular signs until reaching the viewing station next to the lake.

This easy, wide, flat gravel walking path loops around Georgetown Lake for about 1.3 miles. It is open to hiking and biking while providing easy access for fishing. Reach the Silver Creek Trail via the Purdy and Dunbarton connector.

Located 2 miles from Georgetown up Guanella Pass Road, this old mining area features an easy and intermediate, non-motorized, 4.2 mile trail network open to hiking and biking. It offers mountain views and river access. Three well-marked, color-coded “loops” enable easy route navigation among six short trails while QR coded markers provide information about historic sites including the Colorado Central Mill.

Saxon Mountain is a 14.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back old mining road with lots of switchbacks, plentiful wildflowers and great views of Georgetown, Mt. Evans and I-70 corridor. It is rated difficult, with significant exposure, and conditions that can change rapidly. Call Clear Creek Ranger District at 303-567-3000 for current conditions.

The Rutherford Trail is rated intermediate and connects from the Sporting Times Trail for those wishing to access Silver Dale from Georgetown. The trailhead is located at the eastern end of 3rd Street. From 6th Street, head south on Rose Street and turn left (east) on 3rd Street. There is a small parking area at the trailhead with a kiosk sign providing information. QR code signs along the way mark historic locations.

The Notch Trail from Georgetown to Silver Plume advanced hiking trail was completed in 2020 and is now open. The Notch Loop Connector Trail should be finished by Labor Day this year.