Overview
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
6 things to do · 2 places to eat · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Black Hawk
Ameristar Black Hawk Casino
One of the newer casino/hotels in Blackhawk, There are over 1,100 slot machines: 5¢-$5 denominations, 5¢-$5 progressive video poker, 12 live blackjack tables, 12 live poker tables, 3 Roulette tables and 3 Craps tables
Monarch Casino Resort Spa
Horseshoe Black Hawk
The Lodge Casino
Saratoga Casino
Sasquatch Casino
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 88°F; winter lows dip to about 21°F. Wettest: May and Apr. (climate data from nearby Boulder)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BJC Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Denver — 21 mi away. Directions
- DEN Denver International Airport, Denver — 44 mi away (major hub). Directions
Beginning at the Colorado State Capital
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Horseshoe Black Hawk, Monarch Casino Resort Spa
- Lunch Crooks Palace
- Afternoon Saratoga Casino
- Dinner White Buffalo Grill
Day 2
- Morning Ameristar Black Hawk Casino, The Lodge Casino
- Afternoon Sasquatch Casino
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Some of the casinos offer all-you-can-eat buffets, and several of the town's restaurants are found inside of a casino.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
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.
Get in
By car
Traveling West from Denver
Beginning at the Colorado State Capital
- Take W Colfax Ave West towards I-25
- Merge onto I-25 S via the ramp to Colo Springs
- Take exit 209B for US-6 W/6th Ave toward Lakewood
- Keep left at the fork, follow signs for US-287 N/Colorado Country 88/Federal Blvd and merge onto US-6 W
- Take the exit onto I-70 W toward Grand Jct
- Take exit 244 for US-6 E toward Golden
- Slight right toward US-6 E
- Turn right onto US-6 E (signs for US-40 E/CO-119 E)
- Turn left onto CO-119
- Turn left onto Mill St
- Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
- Continue onto Bobtail Rd
Traveling East from the Mountains
Beginning at Silverthorne, CO
- Head east on Willowbrook Rd toward Blue River Pkwy
- Take the 1st right onto Blue River Pkwy
- Turn left to merge onto I-70 E
- Take the exit on the left toward I-70 E/Denver
- Merge onto US-6 E
- Turn left onto CO-119
- Turn left onto Mill St
- Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
- Continue onto Bobtail Rd
Traveling Southwest from Boulder, CO
Starting in Downtown Boulder (19th and Arapahoe)
- Head south on 19th St toward Arapahoe Ave
- Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Arapahoe Ave
- Turn left onto CO-93 S/Broadway
- Turn right onto US-6 W/Clear Creek/Clear Creek Canyon Rd
- Continue straight onto CO-119
- Turn left onto Mill St
- Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
- Continue straight onto Bobtail Rd
Traveling South from Fort Collins, CO
Beginning at Fort Collins, CO
- Turn right onto S College Ave
- Turn left onto E Mulberry St
- Merge onto I-25 S via the ramp to Denver
- Take exit 216B to merge onto I-76 W toward Grand Jct
- Merge onto I-70 W
- Take exit 265 to merge onto CO-58 W toward Golden
- Continue onto US-6 W/Clear Creek/Clear Creek Canyon Rd
- Continue onto CO-119
- Turn left onto Mill St
- Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
- Continue onto Bobtail Rd
Traveling North from Colorado Springs, CO
Starting in Downtown Colorado Springs (N Nevada Ave and E Bijou St.)
- Head west on E. Bijou Street
- Merge onto I-25 N via the ramp to Denver/Fort Collins
- Take exit 209B for US-6 W/6th Ave toward Lakewood
- Keep left at the fork, follow signs for US-287 N/Colorado Country 88/Federal Blvd and merge onto US-6 W
- Take the exit onto I-70 W toward Grand Jct
- Take exit 244 for US-6 E toward Golden
- Slight right toward US-6 E
- Turn right onto US-6 E (signs for US-40 E/CO-119 E)
- Turn left onto CO-119
- Turn left onto Mill St
- Continue onto Miners Mesa Rd
- 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 (DEN) 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
Stay The Nest At Black Hawk (The Nest)
The Nest at Black Hawk was created as a basecamp for experiencing the Colorado Rockies. Positioned high above the town of Black Hawk, it gives guests easy access to scenic drives, mountain towns, hiking trails, outdoor adventures, nearby ski resorts and the unique energy of Black Hawk itself. Just a 40 minutes from Denver, The Nest is designed for memorable Colorado weekends — mountain air, changing weather rolling through the valley, quiet nights under the stars and a stay that feels different from the usual hotel experience.
Eat
Some of the casinos offer all-you-can-eat buffets, and several of the town's restaurants are found inside of a casino.
Eat Crooks Palace
Has really great food and will deliver Pizza and homemade Ice Cream to any of the local hotels
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.
Nearby
Central City
City / town · 10 listings · 1 mi away
Idaho Springs
City / town · 47 listings · 4 mi away
Nederland
City / town · 3 listings · 11 mi away
Georgetown
City / town · 13 listings · 12 mi away
Evergreen
City / town · 8 listings · 14 mi away
Golden
City / town · 32 listings · 15 mi away
Winter Park
City / town · 17 listings · 16 mi away
Boulder
City / town · 59 listings · 19 mi away
My experience
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