GOLDEN CANYON

In January 1859, a prospector named George Jackson panned nine dollars worth of gold out of Clear Creek using his coffee cup — and tried to keep it secret. He paid for supplies with gold dust and blew his own cover (whoops). Within months, tens of thousands of prospectors flooded the canyon, and one of the great American gold rushes was underway (way to go George).

The ore was in the mountains. The problem was getting it out.

Enter William Loveland. While most men were chasing gold with a pan, Loveland saw the bigger play: whoever controlled the route between the mines and the smelters controlled everything. In 1865, he chartered the Colorado Central Railroad right out of Golden — then still Colorado's territorial capital — and sent crews to blast narrow tracks through nearly 1,000 feet of solid granite canyon walls. The canyon transformed almost overnight from a prospectors' footpath into a full industrial corridor.

But the mines kept going deeper, and the deeper they went, the more water flooded in. What the railroad had done for transportation, someone needed to do for the mines themselves: bore straight through the mountain, drain the water, and give the ore a direct route out.

That solution was the Argo Tunnel. At over four miles long — the longest mining tunnel in the world when completed in 1910 — it funneled ore from dozens of mines down to the Argo Mill waiting at the bottom, where everything Loveland's railroad had made possible finally turned into money. At its peak the mill processed 300 tons of gold daily. They called it Mighty Argo.

It ran for thirty years. In 1943, miners blasted through a wall they believed was solid — and hit a sealed tunnel filled with millions of gallons of water. Three men died. The Argo never reopened.

The mill still stands in Idaho Springs and gives tours. And last year, Jefferson County opened the CCR Trailhead on the new Peaks to Plains Trail named for the Colorado Central Railroad, on the same corridor Loveland's crews carved out 150 years ago.

THE BRIEFING

SUNRISE 6:49 AM
SUNSET 5:50 PM
SNOW FORECAST: We got a dumper on the way
PROPERTY: Windows and views for days at this Evergreen home

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TUESDAY

Deep Roots Winery, Golden- Tuesday Bottle & Board Special, 2-9pm. Start the week right

Olde Town Arvada- Mardi Gras Brass Band March, 5:20-6:40pm. More horns

Coda Brewing, Golden- Feb Happy Hour with Girls, Gears, & Beers, 5:30pm. save your spot

Green Mountain Brewery, Lakewood- Weekly Run Club, 6pm. Run, then beers

Buffalo Rose, Golden- Golden Beer Talks: Peter & Nancy Torpey, 6pm. More deets

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Cribbage Game Night, 6pm. Cash buy in

WEDNESDAY

New Terrain Brewing, Golden- Ski & Board Tune Night, 5-9pm. Wax+Edge+Beer

Miners Saloon, Golden- Live music Wednesdays, 6-9pm.

THURSDAY

Echo Mountain, Idaho Springs- Shine Your Brightest Night Skiing, 4:30-9pm. Dress to Impress

Mountain Toad Brewing, Golden- Cheese Night w/ Cheese Ranch. Beer & Cheese pairings

The Golden Mill, Golden- Apres Thursdays, live music & giveaways, 5-8pm. Powder to Pints

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Pliny the Younger 2026 Tapping, 6-8pm. Fancy Beer

Runner’s Roost, Golden- Weekly Run Club, meet at 6pm

BP Run Co, Wheat Ridge- Weekly run club, starting at 6pm. Lace ‘em up

Cactus Jack’s Saloon, Evergreen- Thank you Thursday. Locals get 10% off all day while the kitchen is open, and a great warm up for Open Mic Night 👇️ 

Cactus Jack’s Saloon, Evergreen- Almost Famous Open Mic Night, starting at 7pm

New Terrain Brewing, Golden- Music by the Mesa: High Horse, 6-9pm. Progressive Bluegrass

The Woodcellar, Evergreen- Almighty Open Mic Night, 7pm.

FRIDAY

Green Center (School of Mines), Golden- Colorado Environmental Film Festival Day 1. Learn More

Cheese Ranch Artisan Deli, Golden- Fondue Friday, 5pm. Yummy

Mountain Home, Evergreen- 2026 Annual Artist Reception Opening Night, 8pm. RSVP

The Woodcellar, Evergreen- The Bramblers in concert, 8pm. Local bands

SATURDAY

Georgetown lagoon, Georgetown- Cabin Creek Pond Hockey Tournament. Come check it out

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Saturday Morning Yoga, 10-11am. Flow State

Green Center (School of Mines), Golden- Colorado Environmental Film Festival Day 2. Learn More

Arvada Beer Garden, Arvada- Girl Scout Cookie 🤝 Craft Beer Pairing, 11am-4pm. Get yours

Aspen Peak Cellars, Bailey- Barrel Room Tasting Experience, 12pm. Get tickets

Connects Workspace Red Rocks, Golden- 2026 Golden Fashion Show benefiting Stacy Fowler, 1pm. Get your tix

Sundance Gardens, Evergreen- Build Your Own Terrarium Workshop, 1-3pm. Reserve

State 38 Distilling, Golden- Cocktail Class: Cherry Old Fashioned, 4pm. Limited tickets

Genesee Pub, Genesee- Crawfish Boil, 4pm. Colorado mountain 🤝 Louisiana Bayou

SUNDAY

Scully’s Cafe, Golden- Smoothies & Sweethearts February Craft Event, 10am.

Buffalo Rose, Golden- Winter Bluegrass Brunch w/ Second Gear Bluegrass, 10am-1pm. Check it out

New Terrain Brewing, Golden- Wandering Book Co Mobile Bookstore Pop Up, 1-4pm. Read More

Green Center (School of Mines), Golden- Colorado Environmental Film Festival Day 3. Learn More

St. Laurence Church, Conifer- Evergreen Chamber Orchestra Winter Recital, 3-5pm. Tickets

Little Bear Saloon, Evergreen- Shakedown Street: Colorado’s best Grateful Dead tribute band, 2-6pm. Afternoon rock show

Mountain Toad Brewing, Golden- Board Game Night, 5pm-close. Have fun

MONDAY

Golden Game Guild, Golden- Teach Me to Play Mondays, 6-9pm. Learn new games

New Terrain Brewing Co, Golden- Yoga on Tap 🧘 Yoga from 6-7pm, beers anytime. Get your ticket

Miners pose at Argo Mill Tunnel.

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See you around the next bend!