MTB Project Logo

A scenic dirt road trail along the historic path of the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroads.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

30.3

Miles

48.7

KM

Doubletrack

9,723' 2,964 m

High

5,465' 1,666 m

Low

94' 29 m

Up

4,339' 1,322 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

10%

Max Grade (6°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Description

Phantom Canyon Road is a 30-mile, scenic dirt road trail along the historic path of the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroads and part of the Gold Belt Scenic Byway. The road may be accessed from either Highway 115 at the south or Highway 67 at the north.

The road begins at 9,500 feet just outside of Victor and is relatively flat for the first three miles. The remaining ~27 miles are a gentle grade down to 5,800 feet.

The road winds through the narrow canyon, passing through the ghost towns of Wilbur, Adelaide and Glenbrook which were abandoned after the railroad closed in 1912. It is rumored that the ghost of an executed prisoner from the 1890s wanders the canyon at night, giving the road its eponymous Phantom name.

Phantom Creek Road passes over the Adelaide Bridge, at mile 16.7, which passes over Eightmile Creek. The bridge is an official site of the National Register of Historic Places and is the only remaining bridge from the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad. It also passes through two tunnels, carved out by miners for the railroad at mile 19.5 and mile 23.

Multiple spots to pull off the road exist along the way. It can be ridden either with a shuttle or down and back.

Shared By:

Allen Tanner

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 5 votes

#14270

Overall
  3.8 from 5 votes
5 Star
20%
4 Star
40%
3 Star
40%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1,444

in Colorado

#14,270

Overall
12 Views Last Month
4,299 Since Feb 19, 2017
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

50%
25%
25%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

Phantom Canyon Road is hard packed
Aug 19, 2017 near Florence, CO
Top of Phantom Canyon ~100 miles
Apr 23, 2019 near Cripple…, CO

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.