30 Miles, One Way 5500-9800 Altitude

This long winding canyon, south of Cripple Creek, is a breathtaking ride through the most remote country in this region. It starts in the green trees and meadows near Cripple Creek and ends in a rugged rocky canyon near Canyon City. The dirt road is in good shape, lightly traveled and downhill the whole way.

Like a lot of dirt roads in the area, this one is an old railroad bed and it's not too steep. It has two tunnels, two rest areas and fifteen bridges. The ride starts out in the beautiful green high country south of Cripple Creek, where meadows, trees, creeks and ponds give the area a look like the Wisconsin hills. Mornings are cool and invigorating, probably needing a jacket, but the end of the ride will be hot and dry.

The first seven miles is on the green plateau, and then the road makes a giant "S" curve as it drops down into the canyon. The terrain suddenly changes from green fields to rocky cliffs, although the canyon is still heavily forested for the next ten miles.

The road follows the creek and canyon the rest of the way down, and there are several side canyons along the way, which could make for some interesting exploring. There is usually a sprinkling of campers and picknicers in the canyon, hidden in the trees along its length. The trees thin out in the last few miles, but the hot, dry canyon is still rugged looking till the very end at mile 27.

This road has more bridges than any road in Colorado - fifteen bridges in sixteen miles. Some are quite high, some are scenic. Near mile 15 (from Victor) is a wooden bridge that's fifty feet above the creek. Near mile 22 is a long curving bridge with rickety timbers and a historical kiosk telling about train wrecks in the area. Because of the popularity of the canyon, there are two new rest areas along the road, at miles 11 and 23, complete with restrooms. There are also two tunnels on the road, at miles 20 and 23, the second one long enough that it's too dark to see the ground.

Phantom Canyon got its name fifty years ago when travelers reported the ghost of some cowboy in the canyon. Spend the night half way down and see for yourself.

To find Victor, either drive up the canyon from Penrose or go 25 miles west on Route 24 to Divide, then drive south on Route 67 for 20 miles to Cripple Creek. In mid town, turn south on Route 67 and go six more miles to Victor and park at the east end of town. Ride east out of town, then south on Phantom Canyon Road (Route 67). The dirt road is a little bumpy in a car but not bad on a bike. Both will average about 20 mph.