Ride 3 old Railroad lines around Pikes Peak.
Ride outstanding Adventure loops that include these old Railroad lines.
- The Colorado Springs Short Line to Cripple Creek.
- The Colorado Midland
- The Florence & Cripple Creek
Ride these old RR Lines at the Top of the Rockies Continental Divide Adventure Ride, from X-Roads Buena Vista and from the Hartsel Lodge Adventure Rendezvous.
Cripple Creek & Victor – Around Pikes Peak
- Better transportation than wagons was urgently needed to access the newly formed Cripple Creek & Victor Gold mining district in the late 1800s.
- By the early 1900’s the Gold Mines of Cripple Creek & Victor had 3 railroads providing access for passengers and products to and from the Gold mines.
In 1894 a 3 ft narrow-gauge line, known as the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad (FCCRR) was built up narrow Phantom Canyon from the South.
- The Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad extended forty miles and reached the district from the Arkansas River and the south.
- This route in Phantom Canyon today still has it’s curved old Railroad bridges.
- And is an outstanding ride.
Phantom Canyon was quickly followed by the standard gauge Midland Terminal Railway from Divide.
- The connection with the Colorado Midland Railway came from Divide in the north to Cripple Creek.
- This Route was 30 miles long and came across the West side of Pikes Peak from the town of Divide .
- The two railroads, competitive at first, then joined forces, forming a monopoly.
The Short Line
Mine owners with mills in Colorado City adjacent to Colorado Springs then organized against the monopoly .
- The Mine & Mill owners built the Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek & Victor Railroad.
- Or “Short Line” traversing the southeastern slope of Pikes Peak.
- They had reasoned that it was less expensive to ship ore from Cripple Creek than it was to ship coal to Cripple Creek to power a mill in the mining district.
- Constructed in 1900, the route began as the Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railway.
- The CS&CC&V District railroad was able to force freight rates downward, accelerating mine production.
The Midland Terminal Railway operated ten trains a day at peak capacity.
- One train carried parlor cars and sleepers and offered champagne dinners on overnight excursions from Denver.
- Freight cars hauled coal, lumber, explosives, machinery, fruit, and other luxuries.
- Outbound, the same cars carried ore for delivery to reduction mills, such as the Golden Cycle, Standard, Telluride, and Portland mills at the western edge of Colorado Springs.
- Of all the Mills, only one Smokestack and the tailings pile from the Golden Cycle Mill still stands today.
- The Tailings pile at the Golden Cycle Mill today has been turned into a housing development.
W.D. Corley, a Colorado Springs coal mine owner, and cattle breeder, bought the bankrupt Short Line in 1920.
It was renamed the Corley Mountain Highway at that time.
- Corley removed all the tracks and installed toll booths at both ends.
- He opened the Corley Mountain highway in 1926.
- This breathtaking mountain highway became a popular tourist attraction.
- Corley made $400 per day from the $1 per car toll that he charged.
- Corley operated his toll road on a Special use permit from the Pike national forest.
- When this permit expired in 1939, the road was turned over to the federal government.
- That year the Federal Government changed the name to the Gold Camp Road.
- This same old railroad that was converted to the Corley Mountain Highway has been called Gold Camp Road ever since 1939.
Gold Camp Road is a extremely scenic route that extends from El Paso County into Teller County.
- The historic origins of the rail line and the toll road are evident along the route, and it continues to be a popular attraction for local residents and tourists.
President Theodore Roosevelt rode the train to Cripple Creek back in the Day.
Roosevelt said “The beauty of this route Bankrupt’s the English Language”.
See this clickable map for further insight.
X-Roads Buena Vista is a 6 Day Ride with Multiple Loops from the very Heart of the Rocky Mountains.
- Stage & camp on the Arkansas River off Trout Creek Pass.
- From X-Roads BV you can ride a loop to, up and around Pikes Peak.
- In Mid-August
The Colorado Midland Railroad came right thru the Center of the Harstel Springs Ranch
The Hartsel Lodge Adventure Rendezvous in October is a 4 day ride from the very center of Colorado.
- With loops that cloverleaf on Mountain Passes in every Direction.
- Stay and play in the Heart of the Rocky Mountains and ride multiple Loops of your choice from the very center of the State.
- Ride up or around Pikes Peak and explore Cripple Creek & Victor.
- Hartsel Lodge Adventure Rendezvous.
- The first weekend in October
