IDAHO SPRINGS & CLEAR CREEK COUNTY
Make Water & Stone Retreat your home base for a few days in Colorado’s mountains. Pair a hike with a soak, spend an afternoon on Clear Creek, and leave room for a good dinner in town.
Your place to come back to: Water & Stone RetreatHIKES & OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
From a lakeside walk to a longer alpine day, choose a trail that suits your pace and the mountain conditions.
Take a gentler high-country walk beside Echo Lake, with mountain views and a picnic stop. This is a good choice when you want scenery without committing to a summit hike.
Check current trail and road conditions. High elevation, snow and ice can change the experience.
Plan your visit to Echo Lake Trail (opens in a new tab)For a more energetic outing, hike Chief Mountain’s uphill trail toward wide mountain views. Its high elevation and sustained climb make it a better fit for guests comfortable hiking in the mountains.
Check weather and trail conditions before choosing a summit day.
Plan your visit to Chief Mountain (opens in a new tab)Set aside a longer hiking day for the Chicago Lakes route from Echo Lake. The trail follows mountain scenery toward alpine lakes, with a more demanding outing than a lakeside stroll.
Choose a turnaround that fits your ability, daylight and the conditions.
Plan your visit to Chicago Lakes Trail (opens in a new tab)Explore a paved section of the Clear Creek Greenway for a lower-key walk or bike ride near Idaho Springs. Pair it with browsing downtown and a relaxed lunch.
The route includes bike-lane sections along frontage roads.
Plan your visit to Scott Lancaster Memorial Trail (opens in a new tab)Hike toward St. Mary’s Lake and the surrounding alpine scenery above Idaho Springs. Plan for a rocky mountain trail and changing weather.
Check trail conditions and current parking rules before setting out. Snow and ice can remain at higher elevations.
Plan your visit to St. Mary’s Glacier (opens in a new tab)Follow West Chicago Creek through forest toward an alpine meadow on the Hell’s Hole trail. Choose this longer mountain outing when your group is comfortable with sustained uphill hiking.
Check current access, wilderness requirements, weather and trail conditions. Allow enough daylight for the return.
Plan your visit to Hell’s Hole (opens in a new tab)SOAK, EXPLORE & PLAY
Build a day around Clear Creek, a soak in Idaho Springs, or a glimpse of Colorado’s mining history. These experiences are operated and booked separately from your stay.
Add guided whitewater rafting on Clear Creek to a summer stay. Clear Creek Rafting Company offers different trip levels, so you can choose an outing suited to your group’s experience.
Seasonal and dependent on river flow. Check age, ability and equipment requirements.
Plan your visit to Clear Creek Rafting Company (opens in a new tab)Try a zipline tour above Clear Creek or a ropes-course challenge at Colorado Adventure Center. It is an option for guests who want a guided activity alongside their hiking plans.
Check current operating dates, reservations and participant requirements.
Plan your visit to Colorado Adventure Center (opens in a new tab)Give yourself a slower afternoon at Indian Hot Springs in Idaho Springs. Explore its soaking options and reserve the experience that fits your visit.
Soaking areas have different age and reservation rules. The geothermal caves are for adults 18 and older.
Plan your visit to Indian Hot Springs (opens in a new tab)Explore Idaho Springs’ mining history on a mill and tunnel tour, try gold panning, or ride the Mighty Argo Gondola for mountain views.
Reserve ahead and check tour schedules and access details.
Plan your visit to Argo Mill, Tunnel & Gondola (opens in a new tab)Make a separate outing to Georgetown for a scenic narrow-gauge train ride through Colorado’s mining country. Look for seasonal train experiences and mine-tour options when planning your dates.
This is a separate outing to Georgetown. Train and mine-tour availability varies by season.
Plan your visit to Georgetown Loop Railroad (opens in a new tab)Build a winter visit around skiing, snowboarding or a tubing session at Echo Mountain. Leave another day for downtown Idaho Springs and a slower evening back at your cabin.
Winter operations depend on conditions. Reserve tubing in advance and check height requirements.
Plan your visit to Echo Mountain (opens in a new tab)RESTAURANTS IN IDAHO SPRINGS
Coffee before the trail, a leisurely lunch, or dinner after a day outside. Make these local stops part of your visit.
Share a Colorado-style pizza at Beau Jo’s on Miner Street after a day outside. Takeout is another option for a relaxed dinner back at your stay.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to Beau Jo’s Idaho Springs (opens in a new tab)Start with coffee and breakfast at Two Brothers Deli, or pick up sandwiches for lunch. Its Miner Street location makes it an easy stop while exploring town.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to Two Brothers Deli (opens in a new tab)Settle in for craft beer and comfort food at Westbound & Down’s Idaho Springs brewpub. It is a downtown option for an unhurried meal after your adventures.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to The Buffalo / Westbound & Down (opens in a new tab)Stop at Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub for Colorado craft beer and pub dishes on Miner Street. Browse the current food and drink menus before heading into town.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub (opens in a new tab)Make time for a steakhouse dinner at MTN Prime, or look at its lunch and weekend brunch menus. Reserve ahead for the meal you want to build into your stay.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to MTN Prime (opens in a new tab)Try Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery for cider, beer and a meal in downtown Idaho Springs. Its menu includes burgers, sandwiches and other casual dishes.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery (opens in a new tab)Stop for wood-fired pizza on Miner Street after exploring Idaho Springs. Check the current menu for dine-in and takeout options.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to Pick Axe Pizza (opens in a new tab)Try Himalayan and Nepali dishes at The Hungry Yak on Miner Street, including dumplings and curries.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to The Hungry Yak (opens in a new tab)Make a Miner Street stop at El Azteca for Mexican food during a day in Idaho Springs.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to El Azteca Mexican Restaurant (opens in a new tab)Pick up sandwiches and other cafe favorites at Cheesus in Idaho Springs. It is another option for lunch during your visit.
Check current menus, hours and reservation options before you go.
Plan your visit to Cheesus (opens in a new tab)ONE MORE NIGHT. A LITTLE MORE COLORADO.
TWO NIGHTS
Arrive with time to settle into your cabin or condo and enjoy dinner in Idaho Springs. Use your full day for a hike that suits the conditions, followed by a soak at Indian Hot Springs or an afternoon exploring town. Have breakfast before heading home.
THREE NIGHTS
Give hiking its own day, then add a separate day for summer rafting, a zipline experience, or the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Leaving space between activities means you can enjoy another restaurant and a quiet evening back at the retreat.
A WINTER ESCAPE
Plan one day around Echo Mountain’s current winter offerings and another around Idaho Springs dining, a booked soak or a history tour. Keep plans flexible for mountain weather and verify road conditions before setting out.
These are ideas for planning your own visit, not packages. Activities, meals and transportation are arranged separately. Check official links for current schedules, conditions, access and reservations.
Find your cabin or condoA LITTLE KNOWING BEFORE YOU GO
Read our arrival, winter travel and accommodation tips before setting off.