Where is Phantom Canyon Road?
Usa, north-america
47.63 km
2,896 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Phantom Canyon Road, a totally epic and historic drive right here in Colorado! You'll find it snaking between Cañon City and Victor, smack-dab in the middle of the state, running through Fremont and Teller counties.
This isn't your average highway; we're talking about following the old route of the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad, built way back in 1894. It’s almost 30 miles of pure scenery, climbing from 5,500 feet to a lofty 9,500 feet. As part of the Gold Belt Scenic Byway, get ready for a slow and steady climb.
Now, heads up: it's unpaved, which adds to the adventure! You'll be cruising through hand-cut stone tunnels and over cool, old wooden bridges. The road gets narrow in spots, and yeah, it's popular with mountain bikers and off-roaders, so keep an eye out. No vehicles over 25 feet allowed.
Driving it isn't too tough, but some sections can get a little…intense. Think narrow passes with steep drop-offs and canyon views for days. The road tops out at almost 9,750 feet, and winter maintenance is limited. It’s a well-maintained dirt road that slithers through some seriously stunning scenery. Even though it's two-way traffic, some spots are only wide enough for one car!
Most cars without trailers are good to go, just take it easy on the gas pedal and watch out for rocks.
Plan about 2 hours for the drive. Weekends can get busy, and being a dirt road, expect some dust. It's all about slowing down and soaking in the views. And trust me, there are photo ops galore. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife – you never know what you might see!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 47.63 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,896 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
moderateHow To Have The Ultimate Road Trip To Lagunita Saddle
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! Lagunita Saddle in New Mexico's Taos County is calling your name! This isn't your Sunday drive – we're talking serious elevation here, topping out at 10,557 feet! Think of it as one of the state's rooftop experiences. Heads up: the road to the top is a rugged mix of gravel and rocks, so leave your low-riders at home. Winter? Forget about it – this pass is snowed in tight. If unpaved, steep mountain roads make you nervous, this might not be your jam. But, oh, the views! Being so high up is worth the journey. Get ready for panoramic scenery that'll make your jaw drop. Just take it slow, enjoy the ride, and soak in that New Mexico beauty!
hardWhere is Sitgreaves Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Sitgreaves Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,096m (3,595ft) above sea level, located in Mohave County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. Very few guardrails give you no leeway for error. Where is Sitgreaves Pass? The pass is located between Kingman and Oatman, in the northwestern corner of Arizona, high in the Black Mountains. Why is it called Sitgreaves Pass? The pass was named for Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves, of the Corps of Topographical Engineers. How long is Sitgreaves Pass in Arizona? The road to the summit is entirely paved. It’s called , part of Historic U.S. 66 W. The pass is 35.40km (22 miles) long, running from Oatman to Walnut Creek. The summit is about 3 miles west of Ed's Camp. Is the road to Sitgreaves Pass dangerous? The road is pretty narrow, very curvy, with lots of blind hairpin turns and no shoulders. It’s a fabulous drive if you are not scared of heights or of tumbling down a mountainside. In many places, there are only a few wooden fence posts and a piece of chain between you and the drop over the edge of the mountain. Make sure to look for the old cars off the road near the hairpin curves. This road is built like a bobsled run, with crazy switchbacks and steep drop-offs plunging thousands of feet down. It is slow going, with some of the winding sections slowing down to 20mph. The road is steep, hitting a 12% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. You'll be fine in normal vehicles, but larger RVs are going to have serious issues. Don’t take this road in bad weather, and do not attempt it after dark. Is the road to Sitgreaves Pass in AZ worth it? Plan about 45 minutes to complete the drive without any stops. However, the drive will take longer due to its beauty. Take your time; it's well worth the drive. There are plenty of pull-offs for you to get out and take pictures, so don't try to take pictures while you are driving. A lot of mining took place along the stretch of road between Oatman and Cool Springs. There are some historical buildings, or rather remains of historical buildings, along this route. A road trip to Lobdell Lake in California is truly epic Rim of the World is a Scenic Byway in Southern California Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
hardCamino a Ozolotepec
🇲🇽 Mexico
This backroad adventure in Oaxaca is not for the faint of heart, but the views? Totally worth it (maybe!). Starting near El Pacifico at a lofty 2530 meters, you'll climb even higher to 3030 meters before diving into a wild ride connecting Santo Domingo Ozolotepec (2330m), San Juan Ozolotepec (2100m), and San Francisco Ozolotepec (1990m). The stretch between Santo Domingo and San Juan? Edge-of-your-seat stuff. Think super-narrow roads clinging to the canyon rim, barely wide enough for one vehicle. And hold on tight for those steep switchbacks near San Francisco as you plunge to the canyon floor. The road bottoms out at 1350 meters where it abruptly ends in a river. Word on the street is they’re trying to extend it towards San Felipe Lachilo (960m) and eventually the coast. Even cruising through the towns isn’t exactly smooth sailing. The roads are still rough, and you've got to watch out for pedestrians and potential brake failures on trucks. Plus, the area is prone to earthquakes, so landslides, falling rocks, and even fissures in the ground are real possibilities. Oh, and did I mention you’ll be driving near Cerro Nube Flan, Oaxaca's highest peak at 3750 meters? Access to that beast is from Santiago Lapaguia. This route is an unforgettable, if slightly terrifying, experience.
moderateWhen was Lands End Observatory built?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're in western Colorado, about to hit up Lands End Observatory. This place is perched way up high in Mesa County, at almost 10,000 feet! You'll be cruising along Lands End Road (aka Forest Road 105), which is about 11.5 miles long. It's mostly gravel and paved, so your average car should be fine, especially when the weather's good. Just start from Colorado State Highway 65 (Grand Mesa Scenic Byway). Word to the wise: this road's usually snowed in during the winter, so plan your trip accordingly. Lands End Observatory itself is this cool historic building built way back in the 30s. While the observatory isn't used anymore, the views are totally worth the drive. Seriously, they're insane! You can see the Book Cliffs stretching all the way into Utah. Then, spin around and BAM – the San Juan Mountains and the Uncompahgre Wilderness are right there. You can also spot the Colorado National Monument, Big and Little Dominguez Canyons, Unaweep Canyon, and a bunch of those epic 14,000-foot peaks. Just past Land's End the road begins a harrowing hairpin-turn descent of 6,000 feet to the valley below. Get your camera ready!