Gold Camp Road
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Gold Camp Road follows an old rail route
between Colorado Springs and Victor. Part of
the road has been closed, due to a tunnel collapse
(see the note below). So, to
access the road, take exit 138 off I-25. Follow signs that
lead to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Instead of turning at the
entrance to the zoo, go straight--the road turns into Old Stage
Road, which turns to dirt, and eventually intersects with Gold
Camp Road. |
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Day 8 brought more of the same bad weather as the previous day.
Despite the fog, I decided to tackle a rugged, scenic road that would
circle around the south side of Pike's Peak, and eventually lead back to
Victor. For the first few miles, the road was fogged in, and not
very spectacular. Then...
...the clouds started to lift, when I reached the west side of Pike's
Peak. Suddenly, I discovered I was passing through some incredible
mountain scenery!
The wide, rough dirt road narrows down to one lane as it squeezes
through tight passes, blasted out of rock. As you drive, try to
imagine it's the early 1900's, and you're slicing through these
mountains aboard a steam engine.
Here's one tunnel that hasn't collapsed, at least yet. The
tunnel is surprisingly long, and curves in the middle, so you can't see
the end as you enter the tunnel.
At least this tunnel has been reinforced with wood
beams.
You're in for quite a treat as you emerge from the
other side of the tunnel...
This is certainly one of the most beautiful places in Colorado.
You'll find this view just west of the final tunnel.
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When President Theodore Roosevelt traveled
this route, he described its beauty as "bankrupting the English
language". |
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The old railroad cut through the middle of this valley. Both sides
are on private property.
The valley below.
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Gold Camp Road ends at Lazy S Ranch Road.
Turn left, and Victor is just a couple of miles away. |
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Kevin writes: "Hey awesome pictures.
In 2001 my family and I took a trip to Colorado Springs (we love
spending time in the mountains) and one of those days we took a
day trip to the Royal Gorge and after we left we found this road
called Gold Camp Road, and I just remember my mom saying hey
lets go down this road it looks pretty this way. Oh wow were we
in for a ride. An hour and half or maybe 45 minutes to go 25
miles lol! the road is terrible don't get me wrong it is some of
the most beautiful scenery i've ever seen in my life (i'm 22 now)
but being able to go only 20 mph and still have the road beat
the crap out of the car was terrible lol. It was bad enough that
we had to pass oncoming traffic not only once but twice and I'm
sure you know that its nothing but a so many thousand feet drop
straight down to the one side of the road. It was one heck of a
rough ride (as my dad, driving, would most certainly tell you)
but it was so spectacularly beautiful (at least for the first 45
minutes after that i was tired of sittin' in the car lol)."
Kevin, I think they've improved the road a bit since your trip, but it's
still a rough and wild adventure. --Daniel
Stan Philbrick writes:
"I have a book titled Ghost Towns of the West, by Lambert
Florin, in which it is stated that at one time the area of
Cripple Creek and Victor were served by five different
railroads."
Chris Storer writes: Hi I like
the pics of gold camp road my wife and I lived on gold camp road
with my dad James Howard Storer for some time it was great but
the winters were hard LOTS OF SNOW. We lived real close to
the tunnel, there was a train stop there and a town popped up
they named it Clyde. My dad is gone now but we have still
look back with joy thinking of the time we lived in Clyde.
David sends this
clarification on the portion of Gold Camp Road that is closed:
Actually it's not the eastern part that is closed but the
center part. If you go to Helen Hunt Falls and follow the road
up to where High Drive starts, lower Gold Camp Road is the road
on the right. It goes down and follows Bear Canyon down and
comes out on eighth street.
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Day 8
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