Black Hawk, Colorado

Black Hawk is a former mining town, turned casino town, situated 20 miles west of Golden. With all the towering casinos, it’s tough to believe that only 127 residents lived in town full-time as of 2020.

Along with its neighbor Central City, Black Hawk is open 24 hours/7 days per week for casino fun. It’s situated in the mountains of Gilpin County at 8,537 feet of elevation. The town motto is “Preserving the Past, Preparing for the Future, Still Making History”.

History

Black Hawk CO City Hall — Black Hawk City Hall was built in 1877.

Since it was founded in 1859 during the Gold Rush, Black Hawk has continually transformed their town into a progressive place for culture, business, and community. It all started when Prospector John H. Gregory discovered a lodge in a narrow ravine around the Kansas Territory. It’s located in the area between what we now know as Black Hawk and Central City.

The location was very convenient for miners and travelers, so the town was easily instated as one of Colorado’s first cities in 1864. As mining continued to grow, a man named Nathaniel P. Hill built Colorado’s primary ore smelter in the town in 1868.

This made gold recovery quicker, and the city became a bedrock for the gold boom. Since it has a strategic location, it was also easy for the miners to process the gold into North Clear Creek, which has become known as the “City of Mills.”

Black Hawk CO Train Colorado Central Railroad — Old Colorado Central Railroad train car in Black Hawk.

By 1872, Black Hawk’s population started growing even more because it was finally connected to the Denver railroad. The early 1900s have been a challenge to Black Hawk as there was a decline in infrastructure spending. However, small casinos have revitalized the vigor of the town until they were generating about $20,000 annually.

It has since then become a popular site for casinos and gambling, and new hoteliers have come into the city because of the demand. They even beat the gambling businesses located in Central City because it was easier to go to Black Hawk from Denver.

Now, over the past 30 years, Black Hawk has become the Vegas of Colorado, garnering a staggering $900 million investment in land, casinos, and infrastructure. The city still preserves its historic sites but continues to create modernized developments to accommodate tourism demands.

Main Attractions

Black Hawk CO Market Place — Market shops in Black Hawk.

Casinos – Most visitors flock to the casinos, which are open 24/7. Slots, table games, poker, and more classic gambling can be found. Popular casinos in Black Hawk include:

Peak to Peak Scenic Byway – This 55-mile byway begins in Black Hawk and continues until Estes Park. It has beautiful views of the Front Range Rockies and many overlook to stop and snap some pictures.

Read about the best things to do in Black Hawk.

Recreation

Black Hawk CO Mountain Life Park — Mountain Life Park in Black Hawk.

Camping –

Nearby Golden Gate Canyon State Park has over 100 campsites, suitable for tents and RVs. They have a group campground and backcountry campsites as well.
There are Arapaho National Forest campgrounds by Black Hawk and private campgrounds to choose from.
Read about the camping near Golden, Black Hawk, and Central City.

Fishing –

Clear Creek runs along Highway 6 just outside town and has great trout fishing.
Golden Gate Canyon also has several ponds for fishing that are regularly stocked.

Hiking –

Black Hawk is located on a hill so walking around town is a great way to see the sights and get some exercise.
Golden Gate Canyon is loaded with hiking trails ranging in difficulty, so you’ll be sure to find one that suits your adventure.
Maryland Mountain Hidden Treasure Trailhead slowly winds to the top of the mountain and also allows mountain biking.

Accommodations

Lady Luck Casino Black Hawk — Lady Luck Casino, Black Hawk, CO.

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Booking.com

Ameristar Casino Resort & Spa – The perfect mix of fun and relaxation with over 1,000 gambling machines, an on-site spa, and the only swimming pool in Black Hawk.

Horseshoe Black Hawk – Part of the same Caesars collection as Lady Luck Casino, Horseshoe has great service, free drinks, and plenty of slot machines to try your luck at.

Lady Luck Casino – This casino and hotel boast self-serve sports betting kiosks and the town’s only taco shop.

The Lodge Casino – Stay, play, and dine all in one place. They have many different room types to choose from to lay your head on after a long day exploring the town and the casinos.

Monarch Casino Resort Spa – Another mega-resort in Black Hawk is Monarch. This longtime favorite has received upgrades over the years and is a great place to stay in town.

Read about the best hotels in Black Hawk.