Step Back in Time: Fun Historic Day Trips You Can Take from Denver

Let’s be honest—sometimes it’s easy to forget that Colorado wasn’t always craft cocktails and Subarus. This place was once rough, raw, and brimming with pickaxes, prostitutes, poker tables, and train whistles. If you're craving a quick getaway with a side of wild west drama, you're in luck. Within just an hour or two (maybe 3) of Denver, you can find yourself riding a steam train through the mountains, exploring old gold mines, or walking the wooden sidewalks of towns that haven’t changed much since the 1800s.

Here are some of MY favorite historic day trips from Denver:

🚂 Georgetown Loop Railroad

Drive time from Denver: 1 hour depending on traffic
All aboard for one of the coolest ways to experience Colorado’s mining history! The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a beautifully restored narrow-gauge railway that winds its way between the towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume. This isn’t just a scenic train ride—it’s a living museum with old-school steam engines, dramatic trestle bridges, and optional guided mine tours at the Lebanon Silver Mine. Whether you're into trains, history, or just want to feel like you’re in an old Western movie, this is a must-do. It is great in the summer, but the winter is MAGICAL!

Pro tip: Grab a seat in the open-air car for the full sensory experience (just hold onto your hat).

🎰 Black Hawk & Central City

Drive time from Denver: 45ish minutes 
These twin towns were booming mining camps in the mid-1800s—and while they’re best known today for casinos, they’ve held onto a ton of old-school charm. Historic brick buildings line the streets, and the Gilpin History Museum in Central City offers a fascinating look into life during the gold rush. Don’t miss the Central City Opera House, built in 1878 and still hosting performances today. We actually went to the Opera House last summer and highly recommend catching a show there!

Want something even more retro? Explore the historic cemeteries nearby, where miners, madams, and musicians rest under weathered headstones with a view of the Rockies.

⛏️ Argo Mill & Tunnel – Idaho Springs 

Drive time from Denver: 40 minutes
This towering red structure off I-70 is hard to miss, and it’s way more than just a roadside curiosity. The Argo Mill processed over $100 million in gold ore back in the day, and its adjoining tunnel stretches more than 4 miles into the mountain! Today, you can take a guided tour through the mill, walk through part of the tunnel, and even pan for gold. Spoiler: You probably won’t strike it rich, but the experience is worth its weight in, well… you know (gold).

👻 St. Elmo Ghost Town

Drive time from Denver: 2.5 hours
Tucked into the Collegiate Peaks, St. Elmo is one of Colorado’s oldest and best-preserved ghost towns. Founded in 1880, it once had a booming population with more than 150 mines nearby. Today, it’s eerily quiet—aside from the chipmunks that have basically become the town’s new residents (they're friendly and love sunflower seeds and other snacks). You can wander the wooden sidewalks, peek into old storefronts, and imagine what life was like back when folks arrived here by rail with nothing but a dream and a pickaxe.

🪙 Leadville Historic District & National Mining Hall of Fame

Drive time from Denver: 2 hours
At 10,152 feet, Leadville isn’t just one of the highest towns (and coldest) in the United States, it’s also packed with rich mining history. Walk through the National Mining Hall of Fame, check out the Tabor Opera House, and stroll through downtown Leadville where many of the buildings date back to the 1800s. If you’re up for a scenic walk, hit the Mineral Belt Trail, a paved loop that winds past historic mine sites and offers panoramic mountain views. You can also ski nearby at Ski Cooper which is a great little local mountain!

🎭 Golden, CO

Drive time from Denver: 25ish minutes
Yes, Golden is home to Coors (and many other local breweries)—but it’s also one of the most charming and history-rich towns on the Front Range. Visit the Colorado Railroad Museum, explore the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave up on Lookout Mountain, or stroll through the downtown historic district lined with western-style storefronts. History buffs will love the Golden History Park, where you can see original cabins from the 1800s and even watch blacksmith demonstrations.

🐴 Fairplay & South Park City

Drive time from Denver: 2 hours
No, not that South Park—but the town of Fairplay is the real-life inspiration behind the animated version. More importantly, it’s home to South Park City, an open-air museum with over 40 historic buildings relocated and restored to look like a Colorado mining town in the 1860s. Think saloons, general stores, a print shop, and even a trapper’s cabin. It’s immersive, quirky, and a whole lot of fun for all ages.

🏞 Bonus: Take a Scenic Byway

Many of these destinations are linked by Colorado’s historic byways like the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway or Guanella Pass, which offer jaw-dropping views and plenty of photo ops along the way. Even the drive becomes part of the adventure.

History in Colorado isn’t just something you read about in a textbook—it’s something you can walk through, ride on, and (sometimes literally) dig into. Whether you're a longtime Denverite or just visiting, these day trips are a fun, affordable way to connect with Colorado’s wild, weird, and wonderfully preserved past.

So next weekend, ditch the city and hit the trail—wagon trail, that is.