Our thanks go to Stephanie Donoho, of the Clear Creek County Tourism Bureau, who allowed us to use this photo.
Nestled at the base of the Continental Divide, Clear Creek County lies 35 miles west of Denver on I-70. Named for the creek that flows down from the divide and feeds the South Platte River, it holds wonderful examples of Colorado’s colorful past including the old mining towns of Silver Plume, Georgetown, Empire and Idaho Springs. The county thrived far before Colorado obtained statehood, with mining camps dating back to the 1850’s and Ute Indian habitation going back hundreds of years. Currently, Clear Creek County is a gateway to the west, via I-70, and to many of Colorado’s wonderful skiing villages. It has a population of 8,650 people and is 395 miles square, containing some of Colorado’s highest peaks, including Mt. Evans (14,264’) and Grays Peak (14,270’).
Useful County Links