Entry No. 97 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: ruins
American Eagles Mine
Originally situated on Bull Hill at an elevation of 10,750 feet, the American Eagles Mine was the highest underground mine in the Cripple Creek District, operating from 1895 until 1940. Due to modern open-pit mining expansion, its historic 19th-century structures—including a 60-foot wooden headframe and a blacksmith shop—were relocated to the Little Grouse Mountain Trailhead. Today, these preserved relics sit alongside a scenic overlook and the whimsical 'Rita the Rock Planter' troll sculpture.
The story
Between us, the original Bull Hill where the American Eagles Mine sat isn't somewhere you can visit anymore—active open-pit mining operations expanded right over it. Back in 1895, gold tycoon Winfield Scott Stratton bought the property at an elevation of 10,750 feet, making it the highest underground mine in the entire Cripple Creek District. Stratton was obsessed with a theory that the region's gold veins converged deep underground like the stem of a giant wine goblet inside an extinct volcano. By 1902, miners had driven the main shaft down 1,540 feet into the mountain, making it the deepest shaft in the district at the time, before operations finally ceased in 1940.
Rather than letting the historic 19th-century timber get swallowed by modern machinery, the mine's preserved relics—including its towering 60-foot wooden headframe and blacksmith shop—were relocated to a scenic ridge at the Little Grouse Mountain Trailhead. Right alongside these historic ruins sits another oddity: 'Rita the Rock Planter,' a 21-foot-tall giant troll sculpture built in August 2023 by Danish artist Thomas Dambo out of 100% recycled wood pallets. She sits on her hands and knees overlooking the surrounding mountains, quietly pushing stones back into the earth to 'tidy up' the holes left behind by 1890s gold prospectors.
What it's like
Arriving at Little Grouse Mountain, you can park at the lower lot for an 0.8-mile hike up the ridge or take Overlook Road to the upper lot for a quick 0.2-mile walk. The high-altitude wind cuts sharp across the ridge, and standing beneath the skeleton of the 60-foot headframe gives you sweeping views of the active open-pit gold mine below—a bizarre collision of 19th-century timber and modern industrial earth-moving. Visit on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend foot traffic, bring a windbreaker regardless of the season (you're nearly two miles above sea level), and stick strictly to the marked trail, as active mine boundaries are heavily secured.
The move: Hike the scenic Little Grouse Mountain Trail to view the towering wooden headframe and historic blacksmith shop, then take photos with the giant recycled-wood troll sculpture, Rita the Rock Planter.
📍 Before you go The original mine site is closed and off-limits due to active open-pit mining operations, but its historic structures were relocated to a public overlook on the Little Grouse Mountain Trail where they can be safely viewed from the path.
- 📍 Cañon City
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: PR5M+V4, Cañon City, CO 81212, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill — Winfield Scott Stratton used his fortune from the Independence Mine to buy the American Eagles in 1895, making these two high-altitude mine sites connected chapters in the exact same gold rush story.
- Cripple Creek Wild Donkey Herd — These free-roaming burros are direct descendants of the working pack animals left behind when 1890s gold operations like the American Eagles closed down.
- Horsethief Falls Trail — Trade the wind-whipped, high-country mine overlooks and giant wooden troll on Little Grouse Mountain for a quiet forest hike past an old 1890s railroad tunnel.
- Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge Swimming Hole — Wash off the high-altitude mine dust with a cool leap into this hidden granite canyon swimming hole down the mountain.
Good to know
Can you visit the original American Eagles Mine site?
No. The original Bull Hill site is closed and off-limits due to active open-pit mining. The historic wooden headframe, blacksmith shop, and relics were relocated to a public overlook on the Little Grouse Mountain Trail.
How do you reach the relocated mine headframe and Rita the troll?
Drive Highway 67 between Cripple Creek and Victor to the Little Grouse Mountain trailhead turnoff. You can park in the lower lot for an 0.8-mile uphill trail walk or use the upper lot off Overlook Road for a shorter 0.2-mile path.
What is 'Rita the Rock Planter' made of?
The 21-foot sculpture was created in 2023 by recycled-art activist Thomas Dambo using 100% recycled wood pallets and salvaged timber.
Do you need tickets or reservations to view the site?
No tickets or reservations are required for the public trail and overlook, though you should confirm access before heading out as trail conditions can change.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: westernmininghistory.com · visitcos.com · pikespeakregion.com · cbsnews.com
last checked: 2026-07-20