Guides/Overland routes/Colorado
Overland route35 mi4,500 ft gaindifficulty: easy

Phantom Canyon Road (Gold Belt Tour)

RegionColoradoAgencyBureau of Land ManagementLast verified—
Phantom Canyon Road (Gold Belt Tour) — overland route near Florence, Colorado, Colorado
Photo by Jerrye and Roy Klotz via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Trail vitals7 facts
Length
35mi
Elev gain
4,500ft
Technical difficulty
Easy
Direction
Point to point
Vehicle
Standard high-clearance vehicle. The road is graded gravel and well-maintained; vehicles longer than 25 feet are prohibited because of two single-lane railroad tunnels.
Best months
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Cell coverage
Spotty
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Phantom Canyon Road is a 35-mile graded-gravel route through a narrow Colorado canyon, the dirt leg of the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway between Victor (a historic gold-mining town) and Florence. The road follows the alignment of the 1894 Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad, including two short rock-cut tunnels and a steel bridge that have been preserved on the route.

The road is well-maintained and accessible to most high-clearance vehicles. Vehicles longer than 25 feet are prohibited because of the tunnel widths. The route climbs roughly 4,500 feet between Florence at 5,200 feet and Victor at 9,700 feet, passing through pinyon-juniper desert into ponderosa pine forest. Driving the full 35 miles takes about 2 to 3 hours.

Hazards

Read before you go

  • Vehicle length restrictions. No vehicles over 25 feet at the tunnels.
  • Tunnels. Single-lane and dark. Honk before entering.
  • Cliff exposure. Some sections have cliff faces above the road.
  • Ice in winter. Upper sections can ice up.
  • Cell coverage. Spotty.
  • Cyclists. Common on the route. Drive cautiously.
  • Wildlife. Mule deer cross the road frequently.

Location

35 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 38.467, -105.166

Trail facts

5 fields
AgencyBureau of Land Management
Nearest townFlorence, Colorado
Websitewww.blm.gov/visit/gold-belt-recreation-management-area
ClosedDec, Jan, Feb
Approx. location38.467, -105.166

Getting there

Directions

Southern access (Florence). From US-50 at Florence, drive north on Colorado-67. The pavement ends about 4 miles north of town; Phantom Canyon Road continues north as graded dirt for 35 miles to Victor.

Northern access (Victor). From Cripple Creek on Colorado-67, drive south through Victor. Phantom Canyon Road branches south off the main highway.

Approximate midpoint coordinates: 38.467° N, -105.166° W.

Photos

2 photos

Photos · 2

Field notes

Getting Oriented

The road runs in Fremont and Teller counties, between Florence (a small ranching/oil town near Cañon City on US-50) and Victor (a historic gold-mining town adjacent to Cripple Creek). The Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad operated from 1894 to 1912, hauling gold ore from the Cripple Creek Mining District to the Florence smelters. After abandonment in 1912, the rail bed became a county road and is now part of the Gold Belt Tour.

Trail Overview

From Florence, drive north on Colorado-67 (briefly paved). The road becomes the unpaved Phantom Canyon Road as it enters the canyon at 5,800 feet. The canyon walls rise hundreds of feet, with the road carved into the cliff face for short stretches. Two preserved rock-cut tunnels — Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 2 — interrupt the route. The road climbs steadily through the canyon, exits onto a high plateau, and connects to Victor at 9,700 feet.

The drive takes 2 to 3 hours one-way. With historic-site stops at the railroad bridge and the Adelaide ghost town site, plan a full day. Combining Phantom Canyon with Shelf Road and the paved sections of the Gold Belt Tour creates a 131-mile loop through five historic mining communities.

Points of Interest

  • Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 2. Rock-cut railroad tunnels from the 1894 line. Single-lane; honk before entering.
  • Adelaide ghost town site. Foundations of a former railroad station on the route.
  • Steel bridge. Preserved 1890s railroad bridge crossing a side canyon.
  • Phantom Canyon walls. Narrow rock walls rising hundreds of feet, characteristic of the route.
  • Victor. Historic gold-mining town adjacent to Cripple Creek.
  • Florence. Small Arkansas River valley town with the Florence Fossil Beds nearby.

Where to Camp

No developed campgrounds directly on Phantom Canyon Road. The Sand Gulch and The Bank campgrounds on Shelf Road (the other Gold Belt Tour dirt leg) are within 30 minutes. Dispersed camping is allowed on surrounding BLM land with the standard 14-day stay limit. Cripple Creek and Cañon City have commercial RV parks.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

  • Visit late spring through fall. Snow can close the upper section in winter.
  • Vehicles longer than 25 feet are prohibited at the tunnels. RVs and trailers should plan a paved alternate.
  • Honk before entering tunnels — they're single-lane.
  • Carry water and basic tools; the road has no services.
  • Cell service is spotty.
  • Watch for cyclists. The road is popular with road and gravel cyclists.
  • Stay on the road. Off-road driving in the surrounding BLM land is prohibited.
  • Top off fuel in Florence, Cripple Creek, or Cañon City.
  • Contact the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office at 719-269-8500 for current conditions.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Phantom Canyon Road (Gold Belt Tour)?
Phantom Canyon Road (Gold Belt Tour) is rated easy. The route runs 35 miles with 4,500 feet of elevation gain.
What kind of vehicle do you need for Phantom Canyon Road (Gold Belt Tour)?
Standard high-clearance vehicle. The road is graded gravel and well-maintained; vehicles longer than 25 feet are prohibited because of two single-lane railroad tunnels.
When is the best time to visit Phantom Canyon Road (Gold Belt Tour)?
The best months are May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Avoid Dec, Jan, Feb.
Is there cell service at Phantom Canyon Road (Gold Belt Tour)?
Spotty