Oh-My-God Road is a thrilling adventure in Colorado

# Oh-My-God Road

Ready for a heart-pounding drive through Colorado's wild side? Oh-My-God Road is calling your name. This thrilling route runs along the border between Clear Creek and Gilpin counties, stretching 12.23 km (7.6 miles) from Idaho Springs (right off I-70) up to the historic gambling town of Central City near Highway 119.

Fair warning: this is legitimately intense. The road barely squeezes in two cars side-by-side, and "side-by-side" is being generous. You're looking at a mostly unpaved track with some paved sections appearing sporadically at the top—the county's actually paving about a mile each year, so it's slowly improving. The route splits into two sections: one that's pretty manageable for most vehicles, another that'll definitely get your adrenaline pumping. Good news? You can tackle it in a standard 2-wheel-drive car when conditions are dry.

Here's what makes it genuinely nail-biting: 12% grade sections, hairpin switchbacks, zero guardrails, washed-out shoulders, and jaw-dropping cliff drop-offs that'll make your stomach flip. The road's nickname comes from exactly this—it's so narrow and exposed that it earned an exclamation. One day it's smooth sailing; the next, washboard conditions might shake you right toward the edge.

Perched at 2,855m (9,366ft) elevation, this high mountain road typically stays open year-round, though winter can sometimes force temporary closures.

But here's the magic: you're driving through actual gold rush history. The route passes Russell Gulch, a genuine ghost town, plus roughly a dozen abandoned mines and incredible remnants of 1865 mining camps. These old supply roads once bustled with horse and wagon traffic before the railroad made them obsolete. Epic views of both Central City and Idaho Springs unfold as you climb, painting vivid pictures of those wild mining-era towns. It's history, thrills, and scenery all wrapped into one unforgettable adventure.