Page 587 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

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The magnifient view over the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park located in Cañon City
! Cripple Creek The historic Butte Theater puts Bridge & Park. Etched into the
on theater performances. granite bedrock for three million
* 1,200. n 513 E Bennett Ave, (719)
689-3315. ∑ visitcripplecreek.com years by the Arkansas River, this
P Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine breathtaking gorge is over 1,000
Known as “Poverty Gulch” before 9388 Hwy 67. Tel (719) 689-2466. ft (305 m) from rim to river at its
a gold strike in 1890 transformed Open Apr–mid-Sep: 9:45am–4pm. & deepest, but only 40 ft (12 m)
it, this is one of the best- 8 ∑ goldminetours.com wide at its base. Traversed by the
preserved 19th-century mining F Butte Theater world’s highest suspension bridge
towns in the entire state. The 139 E Bennett Ave. Tel (719) 689-6402. and 12 miles (19 km) of the Royal
fascinating Mollie Kathleen ∑ buttetheater.com Gorge Route Railroad, the park
Gold Mine is the best place also attracts white-water rafters to
to explore the town’s mining the challenging stretch of the river.
history. Discovered by Mollie @ Cañon City
Kathleen Gortner in 1891, this * 16,400. n 403 Royal Gorge Blvd, E Museum of Colorado Prisons
gold mine on the southwest (719) 275-2331, (800) 876-7922. 201 N 1st St. Tel (719) 269-3015.
face of Pikes Peak is the country’s ∑ canoncity.com Open late May–Sep: 10am–6pm daily;
only vertical-shaft mine that Oct–late May: 10am–5pm Wed–Sun.
offers tours. Even though mining Blessed with sunshine, clear skies, & 7 8 ∑ prisonmuseum.org
operations ended in 1961, gold and spectacular scenery, Cañon Y Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
veins are still visible on its walls. City, surprisingly, is also the “Prison US Hwy 50. Tel (888) 333-5597.
The surrounding area is still Capital of Colorado,” a title it Open Nov–mid-Mar: 10am–4pm
mined for gold though mining acquired in 1876, after it chose to daily; mid-Mar–Apr & Oct: 10am–5pm
has ceased in most other house the state prison instead of daily; May & Sep: 10am–6pm daily;
Colorado boomtowns. Gambling the state university. Today, prisons Jun–Aug: 10am–7pm daily. & 7
was legalized here in 1990, remain a key component of the ∑ royalgorge bridge.com
with casinos housed behind regional economy. The Museum Royal Gorge Route Railroad
original 1896 brick façades. of Colorado Prisons is housed in Tel (888) 724-5748. Open late May–
a former women’s prison built in Oct: daily; rest of the year: call for
1935. Just 12 miles (19 km) west details. & ∑ royalgorge
of the city stands the Royal Gorge route.com
White-Water Rafting in Colorado
The best way to enjoy the pristine Colorado wilderness is to take
a white-water rafting trip on the Arkansas River. The picturesque
towns of Salida and nearby Buena Vista, 26 miles (42 km) to the
north, are hubs for outfitters
who offer guided river
trips. With about 100 rafting
companies in operation, this is
the most intensively rafted
river in the US. The Colorado
River Outfitters Association
(303-280-2554, www.croa.org)
is one of the best sources of
Interior of Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, information on rafting trips. Rafting on the Arkansas River, Colorado
Cripple Creek

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