Hours of Operation
Subject to change based on weather or events
| Days | Cable Car | Mill & Tunnel |
|---|---|---|
| Sun–Thu | 10am–6pm | 10am–4pm |
| Fri–Sat | 10am–7pm | 10am–4pm |
The mill runs 10am–4pm every day, with the last tour at 3pm. Cable car hours vary by day — the last passenger cabin up is one hour before close (6pm on Oct 23rd), the last bike cabin up is 30 minutes before close (6:30pm on Oct 23rd), and the last cabin down leaves 15 minutes before close (6:45pm on Oct 23rd). Gold and gemstone panning is drop-in any time we are open.
Webcams & Weather
Webcam stills refresh about once an hour.
Rest of Today
The Week Ahead
Mountain weather changes fast — layers are never a bad idea.
Ticket Prices
🍂 Fall sale — cable car and mountain biking are $10 off! 🍂
| Ticket type | Gold Package Cable Car + Mill Tour + Parking ($97.85 value) Save $38! | Mountain Biking All Day Unlimited Lift Served | Cable Car Unlimited Rides All Day | Mill Tour Includes Gold/Gemstone Panning! | Gold/Gemstone Panning Everybody finds something! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $59.95 | $32.95 | $21.95 | ||
| Kids 6-17 | $34.95 | $19.95 | $21.95 | ||
| Kids 5 & Under | $4.95 | n/a | Free | $4.95 | $4.95 |
| Senior 65+ / Military | $54.95 | $29.95 | $21.95 | ||
| Idaho Springs Resident | $39.95 | Free | $29.95 | $21.95 | |
| Recommended Parking 20% off for pre-booked parking! | All day |
All day |
4 hour |
2 hour |
1 hour |
- Adult
- $59.95
- Kids 6-17
- $34.95
- Kids 5 & Under
- $4.95
- Senior 65+ / Military
- $54.95
- Idaho Springs Resident
- $39.95
- Parking
- All day
$14.95included
- Adult
$69.95$59.95- Kids 6-17
$49.95$39.95- Kids 5 & Under
- n/a
- Senior 65+ / Military
$64.95$54.95- Idaho Springs Resident
$32.95$22.95- Parking
- All day
$14.95$11.96
- Adult
$49.95$39.95- Kids 6-17
$29.95$19.95- Kids 5 & Under
- Free
- Senior 65+ / Military
$44.95$34.95- Idaho Springs Resident
- Free
- Parking
- 4 hour
$9.95$7.96
- Adult
- $32.95
- Kids 6-17
- $19.95
- Kids 5 & Under
- $4.95
- Senior 65+ / Military
- $29.95
- Idaho Springs Resident
- $29.95
- Parking
- 2 hour
$4.95$3.96
- Adult
- $21.95
- Kids 6-17
- $21.95
- Kids 5 & Under
- $4.95
- Senior 65+ / Military
- $21.95
- Idaho Springs Resident
- $21.95
- Parking
- 1 hour
$2.95$2.36
20% off for pre-booked parking!
10% more off every Monday to Friday when you book online!
Getting Here
Thirty Miles West of Denver on I-70
2350 Riverside Dr, Idaho Springs, CO 80452
Riverside Drive runs along Clear Creek through the middle of Idaho Springs. The mill is the large timber building on the north side — you genuinely cannot miss it.
- From Denver
- ≈ 33 miles · about 35 minutes
- From DIA
- ≈ 60 miles · about 1 hr 10 minutes
- From Golden
- ≈ 20 miles · about 25 minutes
- Elevation here
- 7,550 ft at the base terminal
- Arrive
- About 10 minutes before your slot
The Argo Site
Where You Arrive, Park and Set Off
Thirty minutes west of Denver on I-70, exit 241. The base terminal is a two-minute walk from the parking lot, level, and accessible.
Check COtrip.org before you head out in the winter to see if you need to have snow tires, all-wheel drive, or chains — Colorado's traction law applies on this stretch.
Parking
On Site at the Base Terminal
Park once, do everything
Our East & West lots serve the Cable Car, the Mill and Tunnel Tour, the Panning troughs, and the Mercantile. Add parking when you book, and you can drive in, park, and walk straight to the terminal without stopping at a kiosk.
| Per vehicle | At the gate | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| All-day | $14.95 | $11.96 |
| 4-hour | $9.95 | $7.96 |
| 2-hour | $4.95 | $3.96 |
| 1-hour | $2.95 | $2.36 |
20% off when purchased at least the day before.
- Where
- East or West Lots located at 2350 Riverside Dr.
- Walk to Terminal
- Under two minutes
- Accessible
- Marked spaces closest to the terminal doors
- Oversize
- RVs, trailers, coaches — contact us first
Peak days
Weekends, holidays and live music can fill the lot. Come early to secure your spot if you can!
If it’s full
Idaho Springs has public lots and street parking within a few blocks. Read the signs — the city enforces them.
Winter
The lot is ploughed, but it’s a mountain town. Boots with grip are better than trainers between the car and the door.
Overnight
No overnight parking or camping. Vehicles left after close may be ticketed or towed.
Reserve your parking in advance
Idaho Springs
Where Colorado’s Gold Rush Started
Two thousand people, one community
The town is about a mile long and two streets wide, because that’s all the room the canyon gives it.
Miner Street is brick storefronts from the boom years, now full of breweries, restaurants, outfitters and coffee. A working town rather than a preserved one — which is most of its charm.
January 1859
George Jackson camped where Chicago Creek meets Clear Creek in the middle of a Colorado winter, thawed the gravel with a fire, and panned out gold.
He kept quiet for months. When word got out the following spring, the rush built every town in these canyons within about two years.
While You’re Here
Make a day of it
Miner Street
Breweries, a distillery, decades-old pizza, and a couple of very good patios over the creek.
Hot springs
Geothermal water comes out of this canyon hot. The obvious move after a day of riding.
Mount Blue Sky
One of the highest paved roads in North America starts just west of town. Seasonal, timed entry.
Clear Creek Greenway
A flat paved path along the water — the easy counterweight to a day at altitude.
If you live here, you ride free
City of Idaho Springs residents ride the cable car at no charge. Not a promotion — the line goes up over your town, so you should be able to use it.
Reserve a slot through the normal booking system, pick the Locals ticket, and bring proof of residency. Locals rates apply on mountain biking too.