Vindicator Valley Trail
This is a really great spot that I hiked recently. It is about a 2 mile loop in the town of Victor Colorado. The loop is packed with old gold mining buildings, houses, and history. Highly recommended.
American Eagles Overlook & Vindicator Valley Trail
a spring hike near Victor, Colorado
Celebrate CO & the town of Victor
Katie LaSalle takes us to Victor, CO to explore the old mines & Vindicator Valley trail
Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District
I headed out to the Cripple Creek, Colorado area today with the quadcopter. If you're ever in the area, you owe it to yourself to visit this special place. The Mollie Kathleen Mine is WELL worth the visit; a great way to experience mining in a realistic way (and I know, I have a degree in Mining Engineering and worked underground hardrock mines for part of my career.) If you're a gambler, you'll have fun here as well, but if you want to see some well preserved mining structures, head on over to Victor and hike the American Eagles Overlook trail. Thanks to my dad for the still photos. See more of his photos from around the world at russ-lewis.com.
Vindicator Ore House Independence, CO 1-8-2017
Vindicator Ore House in the Cripple Creek mining district as seen from above.
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A Ghost Town with a Freemason Temple - Victor, CO
Victor is a ghost city in Teller County, Colorado, United States. Gold was discovered in Victor in the late 19th century, an omen of the future of the town. With Cripple Creek, the mining district became the second largest gold mining district in the country and realized approximately $10 billion of mined gold in 2018 dollars. It reached its peak around the turn of the century when there were about 18,000 residents in the town (The population was 397 at the 2010 census.). Depleted ore in mines, labor strife and the exodus of miners during World War I caused a steep decline in the city's economy, from which it has never recovered.
Although the population of Victor may be low, the towns-people spirits are very high. The people I spoke to were very welcoming and knowledgeable about their hometown. So much so that I am returning this spring to have a tour by some of the people I met. I strongly suggest that you pay Victor a visit. In fact, they have several attractions, outside of the breathtaking views and well-preserved architecture. Some of my favorites include the Lowell Thomas Mining Museum, the cities walking tour, and the Vindicator Valley Trail.
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Seven Lakes, Victor, Colorado
For the full trail guide please visit:
Seven Lakes (FS 376) is a three-mile connector off of Gold Camp (FS 370) that allows you access to Bull Park (FS 376.A) & Frosty Park (FS 379) and has, seven lakes along it, all fed by a creek you will travel alongside all the way to the end. The views into the valley both coming into and out of the trail are well worth a stop.
Since the area off Gold Camp (FS 370) and Old Stage (FS 368) is heavy with popular trails and this one is often overlooked but can be included for more 2wd accessible scenery from Gold Camp (FS 370).
Get the trail details and download a GPS route today at:
Militaire Electronic Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Mine exploring
We went up to cripple creek to do some exploring hope you enjoy
Cripple Creek (2), Colorado, United States.
Cripple Creek, Colorado 2005
For many years Cripple Creek's high valley, at an elevation of 9,494 feet (2,894 m), was considered no more important than a cattle pasture. Many prospectors avoided the area after the Mount Pisgah hoax, a mini gold rush caused by salting (adding gold to worthless rock).
On the 20th of October, 1890, Robert Miller Bob Womack discovered a rich ore and the last great Colorado gold rush began. Thousands of prospectors flocked to the region, and before long Winfield Scott Stratton located the famous Independence lode, one of the largest gold strikes in history. In three years, the population increased from five hundred to ten thousand by 1893. Although $500 million worth of gold ore was dug from Cripple Creek, Womack died penniless on 10 August 1909.
In 1896 Cripple Creek suffered two disastrous fires. The first occurred on April 25 destroying half of the city including much of the business district. Four days later another fire destroyed much of the remaining half. The city was rebuilt in a period of a few months, most historic buildings today date back to 1896.
By 1900, Cripple Creek and its sister city, Victor, were substantial mining communities.
During the 1890s, many of the miners in the Cripple Creek area joined a miners' union, the Western Federation of Miners (WFM). A significant strike took place in 1894, marking one of the few times in history that a sitting governor called out the national guard to protect miners from anti-union violence by forces under the control of the mine owners. By 1903, the allegiance of the state government had shifted and Governor James Peabody sent the Colorado National Guard into Cripple Creek with the goal of destroying union power in the gold camps.[citation needed] The WFM strike of 1903 and the governor's response precipitated the Colorado Labor Wars, a struggle that took many lives.
Through 2005, the Cripple Creek district produced about 23.5 million troy ounces (979 1/6 troy tons; 731 metric tons) of gold. The underground mines are mostly idle, except for a few small operations. There are significant underground deposits remaining which may become feasible to mine in the future. Large scale open pit mining and cyanide heap leach extraction of near-surface ore material, left behind by the old time miners as low grade, has taken place since 1994 east of Cripple Creek, near its sister city of Victor, Colorado.
The current mining operation is conducted by Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining Company (CC&V). The mine operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Mine operations, maintenance, and processing departments work a rotating day/night schedule in 12-hour shifts.
With many empty storefronts and picturesque homes, Cripple Creek once drew interest as a ghost town. At one point the population dropped to a few hundred, although Cripple Creek was never entirely deserted. In the 1970s and 1980s travelers on photo safari might find themselves in a beautiful decaying historic town. A few restaurants and bars catered to tourists who could pass weathered empty homes with lace curtains hanging in broken windows.
Colorado voters allowed Cripple Creek to establish legalized gambling in 1991. Cripple Creek is currently more of a gambling and tourist town than a ghost town. Casinos now occupy many historic buildings. Casino gambling has been successful in bringing revenue and vitality back into the area. It also provides funding for the State Historical Fund, administered by the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. In 2012, Colorado casinos produced over $104 million in tax revenue for these programs
Cripple Creek Colorado 2005
Raspberry Mountain
Raspberry Mountain 9-mile loop from Catamount Open Space
Cripple Creek/Victor Colorado Fall Drive 2014
Ghost Town Adventures - Goldfield, CO
For this installment of Operating Hours, we visit the near-ghost town of Goldfield, CO, which I mistook for Victor several times. Lots of history and eerie dwellings awaited me, as well as some beautiful scenery in the Colorado back country! Join me as we slip into the history of Colorado's booming mining industry!
Georgetown Colorado - A Semi-Abandoned Ghost Town
Georgetown is a breathtaking ghost town that sits 8,530 feet above sea level. It is nestled on the upper side of Clear Creek Valley, in Clear Creek County Colorado. The town is referred to as a “Territorial Charter Municipality”; however, it is considered a semi-abandoned town. This is because it once housed 10,000 residents and now holds just over 1,000 people. This town is far from dead and is fortunate not to be a complete ghost town or have succumbed to wildfire. In fact, it is one of the most well-preserved mining communities from the mid-1800s.
The town was started as a simple gold mining camp in 1859 during the Pike's Peak gold rush. Gold gave Georgetown its start however, it was silver that made the town the largest silver producer in Colorado (until 1878 when Leadville surpassed it). Although the town is small today, it...
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Trail of Highways™ Cheyenne Mountain State Park Blackmer Loop Trail Hike Colorado Sq 9
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Colorado Springs, Colorado
A very nice morning loop hike on Blackmer Trail.
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Colorado Experience: Ladies of the Mines
High altitude, groceries delivered by mule train, pack rats and spoiled Thanksgiving turkeys are just a few of the challenges faced by ladies living in Colorado's remote mining towns at the end of the 19th Century. Learn the stories of three inspirational women who held their own while surrounded by a harsh landscape and un-lady-like company.