Your Winter Wonderland Just West of Denver...
Located just 20 miles west of Denver, the mountain towns of Idaho Springs, Empire, Georgetown, and Silver Plume welcome you to enjoy the holiday season festivities with family and friends.
Choose from boutique shopping experiences to creating authentic holiday traditions with historic mine tours, train rides, decadent pampering or overnight stays.
Feel the Victorian history and heritage come alive as you peruse museums, art galleries, or sip on locally crafted suds!
The great outdoors and towering Rocky Mountains offer a picturesque winter paradise for you to explore snow covered trails and enjoy ambient sounds of nature.
Where you can be yourself.
Or find yourself.
Or let yourself run wild.
Georgetown Loop Holiday Train Rides
Enjoy a one hour day-time or evening train ride aboard the Georgetown Loop Railroad and meet with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s helpers while winding through the beautiful snow-covered Colorado Rocky Mountains. Both trips are complete with complimentary hot chocolate, cookies, candy canes and more!
Guanella Pass Winter Closure
November 28
As scheduled in the past, the County will close Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway at the Naylor Lake intersection and approximately 0.8 mile north of the Park County/Clear Creek County line. The pass will re-open around Memorial Day, weather permitting.
Santa Claus Visits Loveland Ski Area
December 24-25
Every Christmas Santa takes time out of his busy schedule to ski at his favorite area, Loveland! This year is no different as he makes his appearance on the 24th and 25th. Not only will he be cruising the slopes, but also visiting the Ski & Ride School and Children’s Center as he hands out candy canes to the young ones and poses for photos. Don’t miss out on some great holiday skiing and a chance to catch Skiing Santa!
A Tommyknocker Christmas
December 24-25
Celebrate the holidays with friends and family at Tommyknocker Brewery in Idaho Springs. Enjoy live appearances by Santa’s reindeer while sipping on craft brews and mouth watering bites. Christmas Day enjoy a “Christmas Story” dinner complete with Chinese food and be sure to wear your best ugly sweaters!
P.S. Be sure to sample the seasonal craft favorite, Cocoa Cane Porter!
Ice Racing on Georgetown Lake
January 13-14
Calling all 4-wheel drives and spectators. This weekend kicks off the Our Gang Ice Racing 2024 Season with online registration beginning December 2023. Racing takes place January through February, weather permitting.
Clear Creek County is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Located just west of Denver along Interstate 70, Clear Creek has 396 square miles of public lands to explore, as well as four mountain peaks above 14,000 feet. Clear Creek is comprised of charming mountains towns Idaho Springs, Downieville, Lawson, Empire, Georgetown, and Silver Plume, which are all along the I-70 corridor. Learn more about Clear Creek County here.