american eagles overlook and historic mine

Outside Victor to the north, signs will take you to the overlook. You pass through the mine's checkpoint, but it's not a problem. Drive onward, carefully, to the top and you'll see all the way to the Continental Divide in the distance, and down into the huge Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine operations. No admission. Worth the time.

If you are up in the Cripple creek area, this is a must. Not only are the old mining structures in the area unique, but to watch the open pit mining from above is awesome. A great view of the big trucks, lots of gold mining history. We take out of state guests up here all the time.

The view of the mine from the overlook is one of sheer awe. We enjoyed watching those huge dump trucks hauling their incredible loads. Take the time to explore the informational plaques and old buildings at the top. It is very informative. We had to stop on the way down to allow the dump trucks to pass with their loads. The kids enjoyed see just how huge those trucks are up close!

What a fantastic view! Firstly you drive up an unmade up road (very bumpy, but worth it!) When you get to the top the view is amazing. You can see for miles and miles. There was nobody else up there when we visited which made it all the more special. We took our three chihuahuas and they loved it too. Loved reading about the history of the mine from the information posts. Highly recommend a visit.

Great road - it is active mining property - so you do have to give your name and the mine takes your license plate number before allowing you on the property. It's a quick, but interesting, drive and an old mine, blacksmith shack, workings, headboard are at the top.

I'm an occasional dumb butt. I actually thought this was an overlook for a nature preserve. In other words - I didn't research it on Trip advisor! This is an overlook of an actual working mine. This is on the company property & they have a guard come out of a gate house to see how many we had in the car & give us the rules. There's no fee. You can then continue on up to the top of the overlook. There's a large parking lot with stairs to climb up to the overlook or a handicapped lot at the top. There's several information plaques with information about the American Eagle Mine. Some of the out buildings are still there as well as some of the old mining equipment. Lots of photo ops. The view looks over the modern mining operation & I got some good pics of that. There's a tour of the mining facility you can get reservations for, but there's a fee for that. After you are finished & have driven down from the overlook, there's a parking area near the bottom with more old mining equipment & buildings. There's a trail there also but it was a hot day, so we didn't take it. There's a couple of other trailheads on 81 on the way to Victor.

The warning from the security guard about Haul road got the adrenal going. Haul road is an intersection and you can see very clear in both directions. Trucks carrying to much weight to stop for you drive this road. We did not see any trucks that could potentially smash us when we crossed Haul road. You will see them up at the overlook. No worries about Haul Road as long as YOU DO NOT STOP anywhere along this intersection.After you pass Haul road you drive up a fantastic winding dirt road that went up in elevation pretty quick. I was kind of nervous because no guard rails but there was plenty of room for two cars. This road was nothing in comparison to roads I later drove in Colorado and I was glad to get my feet wet driving up to this overlook. <-- People in Colorado are probably laughing at me right now but when you live in a state with the highest point at 1800 feet these roads can be nerve racking for us. The view was fantastic for me. I loved watching the facility at work digging up gold. We watched two trucks cross each other on a very narrow road across the way of the overlook. It was also neat to watch them drive up and down the mountain in those trucks. The tires was must be 12 feet high. Those men must have nerves of steel! Kids that like trucks would LOVE this place. I would go back again!

The overlook has a really fantastic view of the open pit mine below, and you can watch all the mining operations. Plus you're at 10,500 feet in the Rockies and have amazing views of the mountains for miles around. In addition, at the overlook, there are the remains of a number of buildings and equipment from an earlier mine with signs giving info on the history of mining and how the original mining operations worked in the area. My two boys (11 and 13) loved it. There are a number of places to stop on the drive up to the overlook with the remains of other old mines. In particular, there's one about halfway up, before you get to the guardhouse, where there is a well marked trail leading among a number of abandoned mines.The gravel road is graded and very well maintained, and there is really only one spot where the mining trucks may cross. Coming from CO Springs, the easiest route is to take County Route 81 off of Route 67, rather than going through Cripple Creek first. You'll see the mine tailings start to tower over you, go up a small hill, and there's a sign for the overlook. Google Navigation gets a little confused, just hold out for the blue sign.If you look at the mine's website, there are also guided tours available, but advanced signup is needed.

This is a couple of miles outside of Victor. As you drive down Main Street after coming from Cripple Creek, turn left onto 3rd Street, go one block and turn right onto Teller County Road 81. Follow the main paved road. There is some antique mining equipment along the highway in several places, and much of it is accessible. After a squiggle in the road you will see a sign on the left for the American Eagle Overlook. It's a gravel road, but well maintained, although you do have to check in at a gate and watch out for the huge dump trucks hauling rock...they have the right of way. It's a steep road up to the overlook, but nice and wide.At the top is an old head frame and associated buildings and equipment. And then there is the overlook -- a stunning view down into the active open pit. On the way driving up (or coming down) you'll see an old piece of equipment that looks as if you could walk right out onto it. Do -- it's another (and in fact better) overlook.

what a view, big trucks, lots of gold, great history.And don't forget to stop in Victor at the Fortune Club for lunch.

Just another vantage point to admire open pit mining. Good view of the mountains in the distance, however.

Highway 67 nearing Cripple Creek was closed briefly because of a sinkhole. So on our return to Woodland Park we went through Victor. Shortly after we left Victor we saw the sign to the American Eagles Overlook and Historic Mine and decided to go up the road and take a look. Wow! To think we almost missed the highlight of our day. The views from the top are incredible. Looking down into the massive Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining operation was quite an experience. Massive (no, I mean REALLY massive) trucks follow each other day and night hauling processed ore out of the mine to dump the tailings over the side of an ever-rising mountain of gravel. A real sight to see. There was a guard instructing us that these trucks don't stop and that we should carefully cross their path in order to continue to the top. It was amusing to me that because of the humongous size of those vehicles (they looked bigger than a train as they approach the crossing), we were very careful in crossing to the other side even though there is considerable space between those vehicles and they don't move very fast either! They belong in a science fiction movie or something. The views of the mountain range and the surrounding areas are also beautiful. I think it is awesome that the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine goes to all the trouble to keep this beautiful site open for the pleasure and education of the public. Thanks, guys!!! And if you happen to visit the Cripple Creek or Victor area and don't go out of your way to see this Overlook, you're making a big mistake. It's worth the trouble, folks!

We have a summer place in Victor and routienly visit the American Eagles Overlook just to take in the awsome views. It is amazing to see the active gold mine that is being worked around the old historic mining sites. Take a camera!

This is a free attraction brought to you by the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine. There is a check point with a security guard and then up you go. He cautions you to watch for the mining truck that carry in upwards of 225 tons of rock and they don't stop for you! The overlook offers the history of American Eagle mine, which was very interesting. It also offers a great view of the continental divide and then into the mining pit of the current gold mine. They are literally digging out mountains for the gold. If you're in Cripple Creek or Victor it is worth stopping here.

Feels like you are on top of the world. Very cool log book that people have written in from all over the world. Interesting information about the mine.