If ever a state embodied that Rocky Mountain high feeling, it’s certainly colorful Colorado. John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” is one of the state’s official songs, “America the Beautiful” was inspired by Colorado’s peaks, Rocky Mountain National Park finds its home there, and it’s world-renowned for a variety of mountain sports. In fact, Colorado is considered to be home to the absolute best skiing in the U.S. Yet even in these oft-explored mountains, there are many secrets and hidden gems just waiting to be found by an intrepid traveler.
One of these treasures is the tiny town of Creede. Located in southern Colorado, Creede is often overlooked as it truly is tiny (it has a population of approximately 288). However, this little dot on the map punches above its weight when it comes to scenery (those cliffs!), adventure (skiing! biking! hiking!), quaintness (that Main Street!) and history (so many old mines to explore!). So strap on your hiking or cowboy boots (you’ll fit in either way) and discover the historic town of Creede, just four and a half hours from Denver, two and a half hours from Durango, and three and a half hours from Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Mining history & an Old West Main Street
Colorado has dozens of charming small towns, like Alma, North America’s highest incorporated town, and Telluride, a skiing haven and home to the famous film festival. There are ritzy ski towns and rural farming hamlets, sleepy mountain villages and historic mining towns, and more. One locale that retains its original feel and small-town atmosphere is Creede. Established in the late 1800s to take advantage of the booming silver mines established nearby, such as Last Chance Mine, which is straight out of a Clint Eastwood Western, Creede was the site of Colorado’s final big silver strike in 1889, at the tail end of the Colorado Silver Boom.
Nowadays, the Last Chance Mine sees only tourists. There, you can explore the underground mine and even try your hand at mining. Once a rich depository of silver, amethyst, and turquoise, the occasional visitor still gets lucky during their touristy dig. Visit the Underground Mining Museum in the cliffs for more mining history of the area or the Creede Historical Museum in town…