Denver to Idaho Springs CO drive: Distance, time & attractions
By car, the distance from Denver to Idaho Springs is 33 miles, with a 39 minute driving time. The best road trip stops on the Denver to Idaho Springs drive are Apex Park, Genesee Park and Saddleback Mountain.
Planning a Denver to Idaho Springs road trip itinerary
The Denver to Idaho Springs drive connects the Colorado capital to an action sports hotbed in the mountains.
Top Denver experiences include Rocky Mountain National Park day tours, downtown Denver food tours and chilling guided ghost walks around the Cheeseman Park cemetery.
Idaho Springs is a former gold mining town in the mountains. You can learn about that gold mining past on a tour to the ARGO Gold Mill and Mine.
These days, however, the town is something of an adventure sports hotspot. Whitewater rafting on Clear Creek is particularly popular, and you can try it at beginner, intermediate or advanced level.
Other Idaho Springs experience options include via ferrata climbing on Mount Evans, the cliffside zipline and Jeep tours.
Denver to Idaho Springs distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Denver to Idaho Springs is 33 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 39 minutes. The quickest route is along the US-6, then the I-70.
The best stops to add to a Denver to Idaho Springs road trip itinerary are Apex Park, Genesee Park and Saddleback Mountain.
Denver to Idaho Springs drive: Apex Park
Apex Park in Golden CO is where you leave the Denver urban area and head into the foothills of the mountains. There are 10.1 miles of trails within the park, and they are given over to mountain bikers and hikers on alternating dates. Even-numbered dates are bikes only, while no bikes are allowed on odd-numbered dates. For bikers the trails are fairly technical, and it is a steep climb up Lookout Mountain.
Best stops between Denver and Idaho Springs: Genesee Park
Genesee Park is a mountain park just off the I-70, and offers magnificent views of the Front Range. There are hiking trails here, but wildlife lovers will probably come to spot the elk and bison herds that roam the park. The best place to see the bison herd is the Buffalo Overlook. Take exit 254 from the I-70 to reach it.
Denver to Idaho Springs road trip attractions: Saddleback Mountain
Near the town of Evergreen CO, Saddleback Mountain offers a mountain hike that is short enough to work into a day’s drive, but challenging enough to offer some fun. It’s a steep 2.1 mile return trail, and should take most people around an hour and a quarter. Keep an eye open for deer and birds of prey along the way, and look forward to spectacular views at the top.
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