Phantom Canyon Road - Penrose, Colorado

👍 Reviews 📌 Map ℹ️ Information ⏰ Hours

Address: Phantom Canyon Rd, Penrose, CO 81240, United States.

Specialties: Scenic spot, Tourist attraction.

Opinions: This company has 69 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.8/5.

📌 Location of Phantom Canyon Road

Phantom Canyon Road Phantom Canyon Rd, Penrose, CO 81240, United States

Phantom Canyon Road: A Scenic Gem in Penrose, Colorado

Phantom Canyon Road in Penrose, Colorado, is a hidden gem that offers a unique blend of history, natural beauty, and adventure. This scenic spot and tourist attraction is a must-visit for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience.

Location and Access

The road is located at Phantom Canyon Rd, Penrose, CO 81240, United States. It is a 30-mile dirt mountain road that follows the Florence/Cripple Creek Railway, which was built in the late 1800s. The road is well-maintained but can be challenging at times, with narrow sections and drop-offs.

Scenic Highlights

Fall Foliage: The road is especially beautiful in the fall, with Aspen trees changing colors, providing a stunning backdrop.
Rock Formations: The journey reveals beautiful rock formations, adding to the scenic appeal.
Adelaide Bridge: The historic Adelaide bridge, which spans the 8 Mile Creek, is a significant remnant of the Florence to Cripple Creek Railway and is still in use today.
Tunnels: The road takes drivers through two narrow tunnels, adding to the adventure.

The road is part of the Gold Belt Scenic and Historic Byway, which means it's rich in history and natural beauty.

Opinions and Reviews

Phantom Canyon Road has an impressive average rating of 4.8/5 from 69 reviews on Google My Business. Visitors rave about the stunning views, the historical significance, and the overall adventure. Some have mentioned that the road can be challenging at times but is still drivable with caution.

One reviewer aptly described the experience: "A portion of the Gold Belt Scenic and Historic Byway. Phantom Canyon Road is a 30 mile dirt mountain road that follows the Florence/Cripple Creek Railway that was built in the late 1800s. We saw lots of Aspen trees changing colors, beautiful rock formation, crossed the Adelaide bridge which spans the 8 Mile Creek and is the only remaining bridge from Florence to Cripple Creek Railway still being used and drove through 2 narrow tunnels. Most of the dirt roads were well maintained but at times the roads got bumpy and very narrow with some drop offs but still drivable."

Tips for Visitors

High clearance vehicles are recommended for this road.
Drive slowly and carefully, especially on narrow sections and around drop-offs.
Enjoy the historical and natural beauty of the road, but please follow Leave No Trace principles to preserve the area for future visitors.

👍 Reviews of Phantom Canyon Road

Lyndee D.

5/5

A portion of the Gold Belt Scenic and Historic Byway. Phantom Canyon Road is a 30 mile dirt mountain road that follows the Florence/Cripple Creek Railway that was built in the late 1800's. We saw lots of Aspen trees changing colors, beautiful rock formation, crossed the Adelaide bridge which spans the 8 Mile Creek and is the only remaining bridge from Florence to Cripple Creek Railway still being used and drove through 2 narrow tunnels. Most of the dirt roads were well maintained but at times the roads got bumpy and very narrow with some drop offs but still drivable.

Charles J. L.

5/5

Very nice back country adventure, the road is very rough pot holes can’t move to fast, but beautiful views.

Ronny M.

5/5

I really enjoy taking this route from Cañon City to Victor, it's always such a great experience.

Rachel H.

5/5

Spectacular drive as the sun's coming up. I got there around 5:30am on a Monday, drove the whole thing up to Victor CO, and there was absolutely no one on the road. I loved it cause I was stopping constantly for pictures.
I saw plenty of pull offs for camping.
I took it in my Ford Escape and certain spots on the road, a little car probably wouldn't enjoy it.
Easy to get to and worth the drive.

Audree R.

5/5

Amazing! A bit challenging but fun. I recommend a 4WD if you want to try to go off the trail onto any of the campsites or in bad weather. There is not much snow on the road itself but deep snow and crazy inclines off the trail if you want to explore.

The 2 public restroom stops are basically toilet seats above a hole in the ground, no sinks either. Not in great shape but nice to have access to along the 1 to 2 hour road.

Shawn

5/5

Simply amazing drive! Beautiful views and not very busy at all. We camped out one night here and it was super swell. Seeing the ruins of the old mining towns at the entrance was really neat and the old bridges and tunnels carved into the mountainside was also really cool to experience.

BUD H. I.

5/5

High desert alpine at its finest! This trail is a loop, high clearance vehicle recommended if you want to explore one of the many connections to offroading. This road is open to licensed vehicles only, so you can enjoy the views free of atv's & dirt bikes kicking up the dust! The trail can be accessed from Penrose, Cripple Creek, and Canon City- plan ahead to incorporate a visit to each city- the eye candy and history rich areas won't disappoint!

Robert E. H. I.

5/5

If you know, you know. Best ride up the corridors around the Rockies. Time it right and because of mountains as you change altitude about every 10 minutes… you can watch the sunset behind a different part along the way. It’s indescribably beautiful. Best part of living in CO. for me.