Black Hawk and Central City: Colorado’s Wildest Mountain Day Trip

Less than an hour outside of Denver, you’ll find a Colorado day trip including ghost towns, gold rush history, offbeat stops, and enough Wild West chaos to remind you that you’re not in the city anymore. You’ll find opera houses next to saloons, historic buildings preserved in time, as well as 18+ casinos.

Whether you’re chasing history, fresh air, or a lucky roll of the dice, Black Hawk and Central City deliver. 

For more routes like this, check out our roundup of day trips out of Denver to keep the adventures going.

Start in Central City: Where History Still Feels Alive

Before the casinos moved in down the hill, Central City was hip and happening. To this day, it’s brick buildings and narrow streets still carry that same historic Colorado energy. 

Make your first stop the historic Central City Opera House. It’s an unexpected treasure, finding world-class performances in a former mining town, but that contrast lends itself to the area’s charm. 

American novelist Jack Kerouac even wrote about the opera house in On the Road, saying “It was a wonderful night. We approached the lights around the opera house down the narrow dark street; then we took a sharp right and hit some old saloons and swinging doors ... We started off with a few extra-sized beers. There was a player piano. Beyond the back door was a view of the mountainsides in the moonlight. I let out a yahoo. The night was on.” 

That could be you!

Central City Opera House

Go Underground at the Hidee Gold Mine

If you want to understand Colorado’s roots, Hidee Gold Mine is the place to do it.

It isn’t a polished museum, it’s a real historic site, a real gold mine. Figuratively and literally. You’ll get to explore underground, see how miners actually worked, and get a firsthand look at the grit it took to build these mountain towns.

It’s cool, a little dark, and a lot more immersive than just reading a plaque.

Black Hawk’s Casino Scene

Black Hawk is home to the largest casino scene in Colorado, and even if gambling isn’t your thing, it’s worth the stop.

Planning a Black Hawk casino trip with a group? This is one of the easiest places to expand on a night out. There are multiple casinos within walking distance and plenty to explore between stops.

Grab a drink, wander through, or do a little people-watching. The local culture has a different kind of energy than the quiet of Central City does.

Pro tip: having a designated driver, or (even better) group transport, keeps the experience fun and safe for everybody.

Get Some Mountain Air at Maryland Mountain

If you need a reset after all that history (and gambling), Maryland Mountain is it.

Head to Maryland Mountain Quartz Valley Open Space. You’ve got miles of trails for hiking and biking. This open space delivers exactly what you came to Colorado for: stunning views, invigorating mountain air, and a break from the crowds. A chance to feel small.

Step Into the Past at Nevadaville Ghost Town

A few minutes outside Central City, Nevadaville feels like a place time forgot.

Visit Nevadaville Ghost Town to see a raw piece of Colorado history sitting in the open. Learn about a 19th century town in the Old West that went from 1,000 to 2 once the gold dried up.

Take your time wandering in a place that isn’t overly curated. Just a few minutes outside of Central City, Nevadaville feels like a place that time forgot. With its weathered buildings leaning into the hillside and its half-intact yet somehow still standing structures, this is the kind of stop that’s more about the atmosphere than a checklist.

If You Time It Right

If you’re visiting in June, keep an eye out for Madam Lou Bunch Day, when Central City transforms into a lively scene of Old West recreation. Locals and visitors dress in period attire as saloon girls, miners, and lawmen while parades and live music fill the historic streets.

It’s a lighthearted tribute to Lou Bunch, a well known madam who reportedly aided miners during a smallpox outbreak in the late 1800s.

Wind Down in Idaho Springs

Before heading back to Denver, take the scenic route over to Idaho Springs and end your day on a slower note.

There’s no better way to do that than a soak at Indian Hot Springs. Tucked right in town, these geothermal pools are the perfect way to relax after a full day of exploring.

Warm water, mountain air, and just enough quiet to reset before the drive home.

Ready to Ride?

Booking your party bus is simple, and our team is here to help make it smooth from start to finish. Don’t let transportation kill your buzz. Let Jedi Charter get you there—safe, together, and ready for a good time.

Stay tuned for the next drop in our "Stuff We're Stoked For" series. Coming up: Some Denver home grown advice on how to plan for a Denver brewery crawl with a large group