Cripple Creek is about 50 miles west of Colorado Springs via Highway 24 to Divide, then south on Highway 67 — roughly an hour's drive. The route is scenic and occasionally winding; the stretch through Ute Pass is particularly striking. There is no public transport to Cripple Creek; a car is essential. From Denver, allow around two hours via Colorado Springs.
The Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway loops from Cañon City through Florence and up through the mining district on unpaved roads — a longer but highly rewarding approach for those with suitable vehicles, passing abandoned mines and ghost towns along the way.