Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
summer weekends, the views on a clear day are remarkable, and a scramble around the
lake will bring you to the glacier itself.
If you want to make a day of it, the trail to James Peak (13,294ft) continues up another
3 miles past the base of the glacier to the summit. This gentle mountain on the Continental
Divide was named after the botanist Edwin James, who made the first recorded summit of
Pikes Peak in 1820 (Pike, of course, never made it to the top). It's a relatively moderate
but beautiful climb.
To get here, take I-70 west from Denver, past Idaho Springs to Fall River Rd (exit 238).
Turn right on Fall River Rd and continue for 10 miles until you reach the parking areas.
There is a parking fee of $5 for these lots, and it's best not to park elsewhere; the neigh-
bors don't tolerate strangers parking on their turf. Get here early to secure a spot.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Georgetown
POP 1088 / ELEV 8530FT
Smaller and more soulful than Idaho Springs, historic Georgetown's mix of Victorian ar-
chitecture, secondhand bookshops, and cafes make it a pleasant stopover on the way up or
down I-70. In summer, the town gets buzzing thanks to the daytrippers headed up the
Guanella Pass byway.
Sights & Activities
Hamill House
(
www.historicgeorgetown.org
;
305 Argentine St; adult/child $4/free; noon-5pm Jul & Aug, hours vary rest of year)
Originally built in 1867, this residence was renovated as a mountain estate in the late
1870s by William Hamill, who made his fortune in silver mining. Tours provide a glimpse
of residential life and tastes in a 19th-century mining town.
MUSEUM
Guanella Pass Scenic
Byway
(
www.byways.org
;
late May-Sep)
Built atop an old wagon road that once connected the silver-
mining towns of Georgetown and Grant, this 22-mile drive (11 miles to the pass) climbs
SCENIC DRIVE
