Vacationing in Colorado? This is one driving tour you won’t want to miss!

Anyone who has ever visited the colorful state of Colorado will tell you; the biggest decision any traveler has to make when planning a trip to Colorado is what to see and do while there.  That’s because there are so many incredible sights to see in this Rocky Mountain state. 

One way to make sure you see your share of 14,000-foot peaks, jaw-dropping vistas, gold-miner’s ghost towns, and awe-inspiring canyons is to take a driving tour, and in my opinion there is none better than the Gold Belt Tour.  This 122-mile loop takes visitors through the deep canyons of Pikes Peak’s southern slope and spans the breathtaking region that lies between Canon City and Cripple Creek.  Known as the Gold Belt Back-Country Byway, this trip connects the historic Victor gold mining area around Cripple Creek with beautiful Canon City and Florence Colorado.  But be sure to travel in an all-terrain vehicle with an experienced driver, because much of this scenic route traverses unsurfaced roadways. 

If you’re from the East Coast, or other relatively “flat” areas of the country, these roads may seem treacherous, but with so many things to see along the way your fear will soon subside.  One of my favorite places to visit on this tour is Royal Gorge Park, with its wood-planked bridge precariously perched above a 3,000 foot river gorge and some entertaining “thrill” rides that will make that rollercoaster back home seem like a kiddy ride. 

For lovers of natural history, attractions like Window Rock, the Garden Park Fossil Area, and the Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site make this trip extraordinary.  History buffs will find plenty to keep them busy at the Cripple Creek and Victor National Historic Districts, and adventure-seekers will enjoy the Shelf Road Climbing Area.  The key thing to remember here is to leave plenty of time to stop and enjoy these wonderful sites. 

Your elevation will be changing quite a bit along the way, so look for a wide variety of plant and wildlife species along the byway.  In the lower elevations of Canon City and Florence, you may see scaled quail, mountain bluebirds and prairie dogs sharing the grasslands with jackrabbits and coyotes.  In the more rugged rocky canyons, mule deer, roadrunners and an occasional mountain lion may be seen among the pinon pines.  And when you climb even higher, it is not uncommon to see a golden eagle or red-tailed hawk riding the currents above ponderosa pines.  These high cliffs are also great for spotting Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.  In the high country around Cripple Creek, visitors always look for marmots, elk and black bears hiding within the subalpine forests and quaking aspen. 

No matter what else you plan to do during your vacation in Colorado, there is nothing quite as memorable as witnessing the natural wonders along the Gold Belt Back Country Byway.