Black Hawk

Black Hawk is a city in Gilpin County in Colorado's Front Range. Also known as "The City of Mills". It is a popular destination because casino gambling is legal. Nestled up in the Rocky Mountains with beautiful scenery and a 35-minute drive from Denver, Colorado

Understand
With a population of 127 in 2020, it is the least populated city in Colorado. It is one of Colorado's oldest cities where prospector John H. Gregory first discovered lode gold. Blackhawk quickly became the milling center for the gold ore mined throughout the county. City leaders banded together with Central City and Cripple Creek on the 1990 Colorado ballot to allow limited stakes gambling in the commercial districts of the towns. The measure passed and gaming began on October 1, 1991. In 2008 additional legislation was introduced to raise the betting limit, introduce new table games and allow casinos to stay open 24 hours.

Traveling West from Denver
Beginning at the Colorado State Capital


 * 1) Take W Colfax Ave West towards I-25
 * 2) Merge onto I-25 S via the ramp to Colo Springs
 * 3) Take exit 209B for US-6 W/6th Ave toward Lakewood
 * 4) Keep left at the fork, follow signs for US-287 N/Colorado Country 88/Federal Blvd and merge onto US-6 W
 * 5) Take the exit onto I-70 W toward Grand Jct
 * 6) Take exit 244 for US-6 E toward Golden
 * 7) Slight right toward US-6 E
 * 8) Turn right onto US-6 E (signs for US-40 E/CO-119 E)
 * 9) Turn left onto CO-119
 * 10) Turn left onto Mill St
 * 11) Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
 * 12) Continue onto Bobtail Rd

Traveling East from the Mountains
Beginning at Silverthorne, CO


 * 1) Head east on Willowbrook Rd toward Blue River Pkwy
 * 2) Take the 1st right onto Blue River Pkwy
 * 3) Turn left to merge onto I-70 E
 * 4) Take the exit on the left toward I-70 E/Denver
 * 5) Merge onto US-6 E
 * 6) Turn left onto CO-119
 * 7) Turn left onto Mill St
 * 8) Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
 * 9) Continue onto Bobtail Rd

Traveling Southwest from Boulder, CO
Starting in Downtown Boulder (19th and Arapahoe)


 * 1) Head south on 19th St toward Arapahoe Ave
 * 2) Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Arapahoe Ave
 * 3) Turn left onto CO-93 S/Broadway
 * 4) Turn right onto US-6 W/Clear Creek/Clear Creek Canyon Rd
 * 5) Continue straight onto CO-119
 * 6) Turn left onto Mill St
 * 7) Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
 * 8) Continue straight onto Bobtail Rd

Traveling South from Fort Collins, CO
Beginning at Fort Collins, CO


 * 1) Turn right onto S College Ave
 * 2) Turn left onto E Mulberry St
 * 3) Merge onto I-25 S via the ramp to Denver
 * 4) Take exit 216B to merge onto I-76 W toward Grand Jct
 * 5) Merge onto I-70 W
 * 6) Take exit 265 to merge onto CO-58 W toward Golden
 * 7) Continue onto US-6 W/Clear Creek/Clear Creek Canyon Rd
 * 8) Continue onto CO-119
 * 9) Turn left onto Mill St
 * 10) Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
 * 11) Continue onto Bobtail Rd

Traveling North from Colorado Springs, CO
Starting in Downtown Colorado Springs (N Nevada Ave and E Bijou St.)


 * 1) Head west on E. Bijou Street
 * 2) Merge onto I-25 N via the ramp to Denver/Fort Collins
 * 3) Take exit 209B for US-6 W/6th Ave toward Lakewood
 * 4) Keep left at the fork, follow signs for US-287 N/Colorado Country 88/Federal Blvd and merge onto US-6 W
 * 5) Take the exit onto I-70 W toward Grand Jct
 * 6) Take exit 244 for US-6 E toward Golden
 * 7) Slight right toward US-6 E
 * 8) Turn right onto US-6 E (signs for US-40 E/CO-119 E)
 * 9) Turn left onto CO-119
 * 10) Turn left onto Mill St
 * 11) Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
 * 12) Continue onto Bobtail Rd

By bus
Casino Shuttles depart down town Denver and Aurora all day, roundtrip from $23 taking 30-40 minutes.

By plane
By plane then you are coming from Denver International Airport which isn't too far away about 90 minutes. Commonly referred to as DIA. It is about 20 miles to the east of downtown Denver. Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all maintain hubs at the airport in Concourses A, B, and C respectively. Most other major domestic carriers also have service here

Do


Blackhawk has more casinos than Atlantic City, New Jersey

Eat
Some of the casinos offer all-you-can-eat buffets, and several of the town's restaurants are found inside of a casino.

Sleep
Many of the casinos also offer lodging.

Stay safe
There is a police force that strictly enforces the drinking and driving laws. So that being said be careful

Go next

 * Central City is only one mile from Black Hawk, walking distance, just up the hill. There are shuttles that run between the towns also.