The Tour Most Royal Gorge Visitors Never Know Exists
The Gold Belt Fall Foliage Tour is a 6-hour guided Jeep experience that departs from Cañon City and climbs from 5,300 feet to 10,000 feet through the historic gold mining country of Cripple Creek and Victor, Colorado. It includes lunch in Victor, passes through one of the most significant fossil zones in the state, and traces a railroad corridor built in 1894. Fall is the best window to do it, and if you’re planning a Colorado trip for September or October, this is the one most visitors to the Royal Gorge region never think to look for.
What the Gold Belt Tour Covers
Where the Royal Gorge tours take you into the canyon, the Gold Belt Fall Foliage Tour takes you up into the mountains, and the two routes cover completely different terrain, history, and stories.
The route follows the Cripple Creek and Florence Railroad corridor, built in 1894 to carry gold ore from the mountain camps to the valley below. The descent traces an old stagecoach road with views that require stopping. Along the way, the tour passes through the Garden Park Fossil Area, the same geological zone where complete dinosaur skeletons were excavated, including a Stegosaurus now at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and a Brontosaurus at the Wagner Free Institute of Philadelphia. This site was also the center of the Bone Wars of the 1870s, a rivalry between competing paleontologists that helped shape American fossil science.
In Cripple Creek and Victor, two of Colorado’s most intact gold-rush-era towns, your guide walks the streets with you and covers the history of what was, at its peak in the 1890s, one of the most productive gold districts on the continent. The buildings are still there, and so is the story your guide will tell inside them.
Why Fall Is the Right Time to Go
Aspen groves along the upper route turn gold and amber above 8,000 feet from mid-September through late October, with timing varying by year and elevation. The color peaks earlier at higher elevations and works its way down through the season. At 9,000 and 10,000 feet during peak color, the landscape looks nothing like what you’d see from any highway in Colorado. That’s what makes fall the right time to go.
What to Expect on the Day
The tour runs approximately 6 hours and departs from 50905 W US HWY 50 in Cañon City. Lunch in Victor, Colorado is included. Open-air Jeeps with airbag suspension handle the elevation change comfortably. Dogs are welcome on this tour.
The elevation change from Cañon City to Cripple Creek is significant — roughly 4,700 feet — but the Jeeps handle it smoothly, and the pacing gives guests time to take in each stop. No prior hiking or off-road experience is needed.
The Gold Belt Fall Foliage Tour runs through October, and foliage timing means the best windows go fast. Book directly online or call 719.275.6339 to reserve your date.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does fall foliage peak on the Gold Belt Tour? Typically mid-September through late October at elevation, though timing varies by year. Aspens above 8,000 feet tend to turn earlier than lower elevations.
How long is the Gold Belt Tour? Approximately 6 hours, including lunch in Victor, Colorado.
Is lunch included in the Gold Belt Tour? Yes. Lunch is included.
How high does the Gold Belt Tour go? The tour peaks at 10,000 feet in Cripple Creek and Victor, departing from Cañon City at 5,300 feet.
How is the Gold Belt Tour different from the Royal Gorge tours? The Royal Gorge tours focus on the canyon, bridge, and gorge geology. The Gold Belt takes you into the mountains through historic gold mining country, fossil sites, and aspen groves with a full day of history and scenery.
Is the Gold Belt Tour suitable for older travelers or guests with mobility considerations? Yes. The Jeeps have airbag suspension and guests remain seated throughout most of the tour. No hiking or off-road physical activity is required. The pacing is relaxed and the stops are designed to be comfortable for a wide range of guests.