|
Phantom
Canyon Road
Attractions/Sights
//
Communities // Back
to the Road Map
Phantom
Views
This road is one of the
most scenic and historic drives in Colorado. The route increases in elevation
from 5,500 to 9,500 feet and offers the chance to see a wide range of plants
and wildlife in their natural setting. The gravel road follows the route
of the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad built in 1894 as a connection
from Florence to the goldfields of Cripple Creek and Victor. The unique
bridges and tunnels offer a visual link to the area's historic past.
Phantom
Canyon Road
The road condition and narrow
bridges encourage people to slow down and view the scenery. Twelve
stations were established along the F&CC Railroad grade to service
the trains hauling coal and supplies upgrade and gold ore downgrade to
Florence's smelters. As you drive the route, interpretive displays and
signs designate the historic sites along the Gold Belt Line.
In
the Old Days
Mining
Past and Present
Between Cripple Creek
and Victor are the remnants of hundreds of historic mines and an operating
modern gold mine. Over 500 mines once operated in the district, each
with its own colorful past. At the Cresson Mine on November 24, 1914, miners
uncovered a large chamber with walls completely covered in gold crystals
as large as thumbnails. The owners installed vault doors, and armed guards
escorted the ore to the mills. Today's gold mining operation focuses on
removing and concentrating gold from low grade ore that was not able to
be processed efficiently with historic mining methods. Large amounts of
rock are crushed and treated with a dilute cyanide solution to remove any
remaining gold. This process is known as heap leaching. The Mining District
is primarily on private land. For your safety, please stay on public roads.
*All
services are available only at either end of the route.
Historical
photo courtesy of Cañon City Municipal Museum |
