Phantom Canyon
Do phantoms really roam Phantom Canyon Road? Reports of apparitions abound on what used to be the railroad from Florence to Cripple Creek. In the 1890s, some saw a man in a prison uniform standing along the tracks — except he’d been executed at the nearby state penitentiary. Even today folks say spirits of miners and railroad workers haunt the way.
If ghost stories don’t scare you, Phantom Canyon Road can still send chills. Just outside Cañon City, head north. After 5 miles, the pavement ends, and the way narrows. Edge past a sheer five-hundred-foot drop off — without guardrails. Squeeze through rough one-way tunnels. Cross wooden bridges. You’ll rise over four thousand feet in elevation and emerge hours later in Victor. It’s worth it for dramatic views of rugged canyons, towering cliffs. You might also see bighorn sheep, eagles ... and perhaps, a phantom.
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