Idaho Springs, Colorado
Idaho Springs is a city of 1,986 people in Clear Creek County, Colorado, founded in 1859.
Why visit Idaho Springs
Townapedia lists 12 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 24 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Central City Opera House, Bryan Hose House and Central City/Black Hawk Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 77°F; February lows average 15°F, and about 106 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Idaho Springs
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs is a statutory city in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. Located in Clear Creek Canyon in the mountains upstream from Golden, it lies some 30 miles (50 km) west of Denver.
From the Wikipedia article Idaho Springs, Colorado (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Central City Opera House
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Theatre in Central City, Colorado, United States
Museums and landmarks12
Bryan Hose House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Fire station in Idaho Springs, Colorado
Central City/Black Hawk Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Historic district in Colorado, United States
Hose House No. 2
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Fire station in Idaho Springs, Colorado
Idaho Springs Downtown Commercial District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic district in Idaho Springs, Colorado
![Priscila Micaroni Lalli ( [email protected] ), CC BY-SA 2.5](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Idaho_Springs_in_2006.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
Teller House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Historic hotel in Central City, Colorado, United States
Colorado and Southern Railway No. 60
Monument and historic site · 0.7 mi
Built 1886 in the Rhode Island Locomotive Works for the Utah and Northern (U&N) as No. 263, 1889 sold to the Denver, Leadville &...
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Game Check Station Trailhead and Park
Park · 1.6 mi
1335 East Idaho Springs Road, Idaho Springs
Restaurants and cafes24
Beau Jo's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.8 mi
1517 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
Su-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:00
Pick Axe Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza, Burger · 0.7 mi
1640 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
Mo 12:00-21:00; Tu closed; We-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr-Su 12:00-22:00
Main Street Restaurant
Restaurant · 0.8 mi
1518 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
Mo-Fr 07:00-14:30; Sa-Su 07:00-15:00
Westbound & cupDown
Restaurant · Regional, Pizza, Burger · 0.7 mi
1617 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
Mo-Fr 11:00-20:00; Sa, Su 08:00-20:00
GyroX Mediterranean Deli
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 0.7 mi
1641 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
12 more on the map.
History
On January 5, 1859, during the Colorado gold rush, prospector George A. Jackson discovered placer gold at the present site of Idaho Springs, where Chicago Creek empties into Clear Creek. It was the first substantial gold discovery in Colorado. Jackson, a Missouri native with experience in the California gold fields, was drawn to the area by clouds of steam rising from some nearby hot springs. Jackson kept his find secret for several months, but after he paid for some supplies with gold dust, others rushed to Jackson's diggings. The location was originally known as "Jackson's Diggings". Once the location became a permanent settlement, it was variously called "Sacramento City", "Idahoe", "Idaho", "Idaho City", and finally "Idaho Springs".
The first placer discoveries were soon followed by discoveries of gold veins in the rocks of the canyon walls on both sides of Clear Creek. Hard rock mining became the mainstay of the town long after the gold-bearing gravels were exhausted.
The Idaho Springs miners' strike of 1903 demanding an eight-hour day erupted into violence in May 1903. This was a conflict was a part the much broader Colorado Labor Wars, where the Western Federation of Miners sought to pressure mining companies into improving conditions for miners.
From the History section of Idaho Springs, Colorado on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
H and H Motor Lodge
Motel and hotel · 0.5 mi
2445 Colorado Boulevard, Idaho Springs
Miner's Pick Bed & Breakfast
Motel and hotel · 0.7 mi
1639 Colorado Boulevard, Idaho Springs
Churches and places of worship4
Methodist Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Zion Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 0.5 mi
1921 Virginia Street, Idaho Springs
Shopping12
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Clear Creek Middle School
School · 5.8 mi
185 Beaver Brook Canyon Road, Evergreen
Gilpin County Undivided High School
School · 5.9 mi
10595 Highway 119, Black Hawk
Healthcare1
Centura Health Primary Care Idaho Springs
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.6 mi
1969 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
Map of Idaho Springs
84 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 16°F | 0.8 in | 12.5 in |
| Feb | 38°F | 15°F | 0.9 in | 12.6 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 21°F | 1.4 in | 18.5 in |
| Apr | 50°F | 26°F | 2.3 in | 20.9 in |
| May | 60°F | 35°F | 2.1 in | 6.6 in |
| Jun | 72°F | 42°F | 1.5 in | 0.2 in |
| Jul | 77°F | 49°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 74°F | 46°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 68°F | 39°F | 1.5 in | 1.6 in |
| Oct | 57°F | 30°F | 1.2 in | 7.5 in |
| Nov | 44°F | 22°F | 0.9 in | 11.1 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 15°F | 0.9 in | 14.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Georgetown (11 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Clear Creek County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-28: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-09-14: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2013-09-12: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2005-09-05: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Coastal Storm)
- 2003-04-09: Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 23 miles away.
- Georgetown 10 mi west, about 17 min by car
- Evergreen 12 mi southeast, about 19 min by car
- Genesee 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Nederland 15 mi north, about 24 min by car
- Golden 16 mi east, about 25 min by car
- West Pleasant View 17 mi east, about 28 min by car
- Applewood 18 mi east, about 28 min by car
- Fairmount 18 mi east, about 29 min by car
- Arvada 20 mi east, about 32 min by car
- Lakewood 21 mi east, about 34 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Idaho Springs in 2006, Priscila Micaroni Lalli ( [email protected] ), CC BY-SA 2.5
- Bryan Hose House, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 1982-06-22-Central City Col L 07-ps, Rainer Halama, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Methodist Episcopal Church (Idaho Springs, Colorado), Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Teller House Central City CO, Hustvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hose House No. 2, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Saint Paul Catholic Church in Idaho Springs Colorado, Always dreamin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.