Silver Plume | Exit 226

Liam Hughes/ creativecommons.org Silver Plume is a former silvermining camp on Clear Creek at 9,116 feet with a current population of about 200. Incorporated in 1880, the town features historic buildings and Victorian-era homes, a public park with picnic shelter and playground, history museum, post office, public restrooms, trailheads for snowshoeing and Nordic skiing and a few Main Street Silver Plume businesses. The federally designated Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic District comprises Silver Plume, Georgetown and the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park between the two towns. NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT The Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District conserves and interprets the architecture, ambiance, lifestyles, and setting of two of the best-preserved 19th century silver mining towns of the Rocky Mountain West. The district recalls the Colorado Silver Boom from 1864-1893 and includes historic buildings, mining remnants and other unique structures. 7:30 MINE TRAIL Snowshoe this challenging, narrow mining road lined with historical markers to the Griffin Monument — a memorial to Clifford Griffin, co-owner of 7:30 Mine — two miles up. Enjoy views of the valley or continue a quarter mile to the mine. The steep grade varies from 10-15 percent. Limited parking is available at the trailhead. Be respectful and do not block driveways. ARGENTINE CENTRAL RAILROAD TRAIL This former railroad grade of the Argentine Central line passes by old mining sites and connects to the Silver Dale trails above Georgetown via a non-motorized, 2.4-mile segment that begins in Silver Plume and winds uphill to Pavilion Point, which offers outstanding views. It is an excellent cross-country ski, snowshoe and fat bike route with a maximum grade is 7.5 percent. The trailhead is a half mile west of Georgetown Loop Historic Railroad Park’s Silver Plume Depot. CLEAR CREEK GREENWAY: SILVER PLUME TO GEORGETOWN EXPRESS Hike, bike, snowshoe or cross-country ski this segment of the Clear Creek Greenway, a 1.5 mile paved path with an easy to moderate grade between Silver Plume and Georgetown. The trail begins at the Georgetown Loop Railroad’s Silver Plume Depot and continues to the Devil Gate’s Depot in Georgetown. With views of the historic narrow-gauge EXIT 226 railroad tracks and train, including an overlook area, it is perfect for recreation in all seasons. EXIT 226 The trail may also be used uphill beginning in Georgetown.

Dinger Park, Playground & Picnic Shelter George Rowe History Museum Closed until May National Historic District Georgetown Loop Railroad - Silver Plume Depot Closed until April Griffin Memorial

7:30 Mine Trail n u Argentine Central Railroad Grade Trail n Clear Creek Greenway: Silver Plume to Georgetown Express Paved Trail l

850 Main St., Silver Plume 303-569-3121 Mon-Fri: Noon-2 p.m. Sat: 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

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 Landmark District Off-Leash Dog Park 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 winter and early spring, a wide range of recreation opportunities are easily reached from town. Georgetown Lake and a trail around it offer easy opportunities for ice fishing and snowshoeing. Visitor centers near the exit and downtown can provide additional information. GATEWAY VISITOR CENTER

Georgetown Christmas Market

The Gateway Visitor Center, 1491 Argentine St. at Exit 228, offers real-time traffic information from CDOT monitors, access to the COTrip website as well as 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. NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT The Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District recalls the days of the Colorado Silver Boom from 1864-1893, 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. Well-preserved buildings and mining structures can be seen throughout town. Learn more at the Gateway Visitor Center, 1491 Argentine St. GEORGETOWN LOOP RAILROAD Enjoy a historically immersive experience on one of Colorado’s great narrow gauge railroads. Holiday trains run evenings through December offering snowy views and a light show with holiday music. Experience Santa’s North Pole Adventure Train Rides, Nov. 12-Dec. 24; Lighted Forest Train Rides, Dec. 26-Jan. 2, 2022; and a Victorian Holiday Celebration, Dec. 26-Jan. 2, 2022. Train cars are heated and enclosed, so face masks are required. From Exit 228, take Argentine Street south to the fork in the road. Stay to the right and follow the road to Devil’s Gate Depot, 646 Loop Dr. The attraction closes for the season on Jan. 2 and reopens in April 2022. Call 888456-6777 or visit georgetownlooprr.com to learn more and purchase tickets. CHRISTMAS MARKET The 61st Annual Georgetown Christmas Market, Dec. 4-5 and 11-12, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., on 6th Street, has been a Christmas tradition for generations of Colorado families. Thousands of annual visitors experience the town adorned with lights and Christmas greenery and a traditional holiday including roasted chestnuts, craft vendors, horse-drawn wagon rides, appearances by St. Nicholas, carolers in Victorian costume, and more family-friendly entertainment. Other events and historic tours take place throughout town. Visit historicgeorgetown.org for details. ICE RACING Our Gang 4 Wheelers ice racing club has held ice races in Colorado for more than 42 years. Find them racing several classes of vehicles on Georgetown Lake most weekends in January and February depending on the weather. The racing is unique and its one-of-a-kind style shouldn’t be missed. Spectators are free. Races begin at 9:30 a.m. and are open to anyone. For details, rules, fees and the planned order of racing classes for a certain day visit ourgangiceracing.com.

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Argentine Central Railroad Grade Trail n 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 n Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake Trail n Tom Bennhoff Lake Trail l

ICE FISHING When the water is frozen, usually DecemberFebruary, Georgetown Lake provides easy access to ice fishing. The 55-acre reservoir offers good fishing for wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout throughout the entire year, including winter ice fishing. A warming hut is open to the public next to the lake. On all lakes, be aware of ice conditions. Consult the Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s ice-fishing safety tips. A valid Colorado fishing license is required. Buy one online at cpw.state. co.us or at Clear Creek Outdoors and Safeway in Idaho Springs at Exit 240, or Downieville Fuel Stop at Exit 234. The daily bag limit for trout is four fish and the possession limit for trout is eight. Copies of statutes and regulations can be obtained from a Colorado Parks and Wildlife area office or at cpw.state. co.us/regulations. For questions, call CPW at 303-297-1192.

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 wildlife from signs.

WILDLIFE VIEWING STATION The Georgetown Wildlife Viewing Station offers a safe place to see bighorn sheep from coin-operated viewing scopes. Take Exit 228, turn left (north) on Alvarado Road and follow the binocular signs until reaching the station next to the lake. GUANELLA PASS WINTER ROAD Guanella Pass Road, a Colorado Scenic Byway, is closed during the winter at Naylor Lake around the end of November and reopens on Memorial Day weekend. During this closure use cross-country skis or snowshoes to explore the area’s beauty and wildlife along the road or a variety of trails including the Silver Dollar Lake Trail, Mt. Bierstadt Trail and the Iron Fens/Geneva Basin trails. WINTER TRAILS • The Tom Bennhoff Loop

Trail is a 1.3-mile, easy, flat gravel walking path around

Georgetown Lake. It is open to hiking, fat biking, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing while providing easy access for ice fishing. Reach the

Silver Creek Trail via the

Purdy and Dunbarton connector trail. • The Rutherford Trail provides an excellent hiking and snowshoe route from

Georgetown up to Silver

Dale, where it connects to the Sporting Times Trail.

Rutherford Trail runs adjacent to South Clear Creek with steep 5-12 percent grades. The trailhead is at the eastern end of 3rd

Street. • The Silver Dale Trails, two miles from Georgetown up Guanella Pass Road or the Rutherford Trail, are a 4.2-mile, easy and intermediate, non-motorized trail network in a former mining area open to snowshoeing,

Nordic skiing and fat biking.

QR coded markers provide information about historic sites including the Colorado

Central Mill.