Colorado Hiking Trails Near Victor, Colorado

Hiking Trails, Biking Trail Victor, Colorado

Area Hiking/Biking Trails

Thousands of folks struck with gold fever made their way into the area on the southwest side of Pikes Peak in the 1890s. Most of them walked or rode horses.
Their goal was to reach the Cripple Creek Mining District, where newly found gold was bringing promises of easy-found wealth.

Today the remnants of that gold rush legacy live on, dotting the landscape, atop mountains, along valleys where city streets used to be filled with miners, wagons and mules going to and from the mines. The great Independence founded by Winfield Scott Stratton, the iron marvel of the Theresa, the giant fire-warped Vindicator and the grand Gold Coin hoist are all sites to be noted in the modern gold camp.

Once again attention is being turned toward walking to the mines, or at least through the mining district, this time for purposes the 1890's miners hardly had time for - mining education, historic interpretation, recreation and just plain fun. The Southern Teller County Focus Group and the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company teamed up to create a series of trails that lead you through the wealth of gold mining that made Victor and Cripple Creek famous.

The trails are open to foot, horse and bicycle traffic in summer and skiing and snowshoeing in winter. No motorized traffic is allowed.

Visitors to all trails must remember they are crossing private land and must stay on the trails for their safety. The trails are through mountain terrain at elevations of 9,500 to 10,500 feet above sea level. Dress appropriately for mountain weather and bring a hat, sunscreen and a jacket in case of a shower.

Access to the Theresa, Vindicator and Independence mines are handicap accessible; the trails are open year-round; cross country skiing and snowshoeing are best in spring. There are no services at the trail; camping and overnight parking are not allowed.

INDEPENDENCE MILL SITE TRAIL

Visitors to the Victor can walk through time on a new trail through historic gold mining country. The trail and interpretive site at the Independence Mill Site, which has been under construction this summer, is now open to the public just in time for fall color hiking and bicycling.

The trail is funded by the Southern Teller County Focus Group through donations made for its projects, with public access courtesy of the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company and other public and private owners. Dave Crawford and Tandy Butler of Crawford Enterprises provided excavation and worked with volunteers to install the split rail fencing. An east entrance and other amenities are planned next spring. A second trail, one that follows the 1890’s Golden Circle Railroad bed, will open later this fall.

The new trail is a loop tour of the Independence Mill Site just above Victor off the American Eagles Road. The trailhead,is below the county road across from the Independence Mine and Battle Mtn. Trail. This new trail makes it possible to access the Vindicator Valley and Battle Mtn. trails from the parking area.

Stratton¹s Independence Mill segment of the Battle Mountain trail system is an excellent way to see the foundations that are the remains of the gold recovery operations from the turn of the century. The foundations, until now off limits to the public, form the core of the trail which circles the millsite. An interpretive brochure by local historian Ed Hunter includes a sketch map of the foundations and an outline of the historic process.

The site includes gigantic foundations including the remains of a water tank. Please do not climb on the foundations for your safety and the preservation of the structures for future generations. The mill site is privately owned by CC&V.

Golden Circle Trail Connects Victor to Vindicator

A new trail now makes it possible to walk or bike from downtown Victor to the Vindicator Valley Trail near Goldfield.

The Golden Circle Trail which follows an 1890’ s railroad route of the same name, begins at the new Independence Mill Site Trailhead off American Eagles Road and at the intersection of County Road 81 and Phantom Canyon Road. The newest trail provides an easy 1.25 mile walk for all ages.

The trail leads from the north end of the parking area for the Independence Mill Site across from the Independence Mine and Battle Mtn., making it possible to access the Vindicator Valley Trail from the parking area. This means visitors can walk from Diamond Avenue in Victor one block up to the Mill Site Trailhead or to the Battle Mtn. Interpretive Site and then on to the Vindicator Valley trail via a flat railroad grade (this follows the modern power line easement). Split rail fence sections mark the trail route.

At the trailhead entrance is the historic single drum hoist from the Joe Dandy Mine. It was moved there through the efforts of both the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company and Gold States Mining. In 1928, the Engineering and Mining Journal reported that the Joe Dandy mine was reopening under a lease to the Red Raven Gold Mining Co. and that an electric hoist had been purchased for the operation rather than utilizing a steam-driven hoist as was previously used.

The Hendrie & Boltoff Mining and Supply Co. of Denver¹s name is on the drum upon which the hoist rope is wound while the large bull gear is a product of the Vulcan Iron Works, also of Denver. The hoist had evidently been used at some other mine and had been modified from steam to electric power prior to its installation at the Joe Dandy.

Vindicator Valley Trail
This trail offers access to Vindicator Valley, the historic location of the town of Independence and several of the district's largest mines. Interpretive signs with historic photos of working 1890's gold mines, information about railroads and gold rush communities, as well as current-day mining and reclamation are located along the trail.
The 2-mile loop Vindicator Valley Trail has two trailheads: one across from Goldfield and one at the Vindicator Mine on Teller County Road 831 (turn onto the county road at the top of Bull Hill near the informational sign).

Battle Mountain Trail
The Battle Mountain Trail, designated in 2000 as a Millennium Trail, begins at Stratton’s Independence Mine just outside of Victor on the Range View Road. This 1-mile trail takes you past the famous Independence Mine, where Winfield Scott Stratton made millions at the turn of the century. Winding its way up a gentle grade, the trail traverses Battle Mountain below the Portland I and Ajax mines and above the Strong Mine. Views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the historic city of Victor are spectacular.

Little Grouse Mountain Trail
A short climb up Little Grouse Mountain offers views of the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company valley fill operations as well as a 360-degree view of the mountains to the west and surrounding mountain tops. The Little Grouse Mountain Trail begins at the parking area just west of Victor on the south side of the bridge over Arequa Gulch. At the trailhead is an historic mining equipment display. Brochures at the site describe the equipment, which was saved from historic mines in the District.

Gold Camp Trail
Hike up or down the trail through Poverty Gulch where Bob Womack found gold in 1890. The trailheads are just to the west of Hoosier Mine on County Rd. 83, and on Silver Street above the Cripple Creek District Museum. Learn about the famous Gold King Mine, the C.O.D. & the Mollie Kathleen Mine. End your hike at the Cripple Creek District Museum where gold mining history is displayed at the head of historic Bennett Avenue. Brochures at the site describe the equipment, which was saved from historic mines in the District.

Victor Downtown Tail

A series of interpretive signs and a walking your brochure funded by the Gold Belt Byway tells the story of Victor and its buildings. Start at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum or City Hall - brochures are available there and in outdoor info boxes. The trail follows city streets through the 1890's town - and connects to the Battle Mountain Trail as well.

Skagway Reservoir east of Victor offers a gradual trail that gets more hilly. The trail follows the lake's edge. Take Phantom Canyon Road east of Victor to the first fork in the road and turn left; drive to the reservoir. The trail starts to the north of the parking area.

Beaver Creek - Starting at the dam at Skagway Reservoir, the trail leads down the canyon. This trail is not for the occasional hiker as the return ascent is strenuous.