Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway

Drive the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway and travel through time by tracing the prehistoric past of dinosaurs, following historic railroad and stagecoach routes, and exploring gold mining towns.

The Gold Belt National Scenic Byway connects five communities—Cañon City, Florence, Florissant, Cripple Creek, and the Victor Mining District, which was the site of the world’s largest gold rush. Located in southern Colorado, just one hour from Colorado Springs or Pueblo and two hours from Denver, this scenic byway invites you to experience the rich local heritage as you follow the “Road to Riches…”

Each community offers its unique character and convenient services, including a variety of restaurants, lodging, shops, entertainment, and events. Highlights of the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway include:

• Florissant Fossil Bed National Monument—one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world, where petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plants reveal the story of a very different, prehistoric Colorado




• Cripple Creek and Victor Railroad—a two-foot narrow gauge heritage railroad that operates trains between Cripple Creek and the city’s outskirts to the south




• Victor—a National Historic District and well-preserved gold mining town with excellent views of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range




• Phantom Canyon Road outside Florence with views of Pikes Peak




• The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Shelf Road, and Garden Park in Cañon City

The Gold Belt National Scenic Byway starts in Florissant off Highway 24, or in Florence, off Highway 50. Each road of the tour offers distinct scenery ranging from rolling mountain parklands to deep rocky canyons.

Ready to drive the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway? Check out our map for detailed directions.