Gilpin County is Colorado’s second-smallest county, tucked into the mountains west of Denver. It is best known for the historic casino towns of Black Hawk and Central City, where former mining communities have become popular gambling and entertainment destinations.

The county covers only about 150 square miles and is dominated by steep, forested mountain terrain. Outside the casino communities, much of the area remains rural, with hiking and other outdoor activities available in the surrounding national forest.

With a population of around 6,000 people, Gilpin County is small but can become much busier with tourists and visitors on weekends. Despite the casino activity, much of the county retains a peaceful mountain-town atmosphere.