Gold Camp Road has become my white whale, so to speak. It’s located west of Colorado Springs in a popular hiking area, and the urban legends surrounding it are well known throughout Colorado. This historic mountain road has built up a reputation for hauntings, strange encounters, and eerie energy that draws in paranormal explorers from everywhere.
A Brief History of Gold Camp Road
The road was originally built as a railroad in the 1800s during the gold rush for miners and suppliers. In the 1920s it became a toll road, and in the 1930s it opened for public use. Part of the road has been closed to cars since 1988 when Tunnel #3 collapsed. The history alone sets the tone for the legends tied to the area. More on the history here.
Driving on Gold Camp Road Today
Gold Camp Road today can be visited by car, but in my experience, it’s nerve-racking. There are no guardrails, and you are deep in the Rocky Mountains. Many parts of the road are only one lane, and the proper way to handle this is to honk your horn to alert drivers coming the opposite way.
Hikers and bikers are also allowed, and honestly, it feels like the road is meant for them. Many of the tunnels are now inaccessible, but each one carries a spooky atmosphere. Considering these tunnels were built in the 1800s for miners, it’s not surprising people feel something lingering.
Exploring the Tunnels on Gold Camp Road
The easiest tunnels to access are on the portion of the road still open to cars. If your goal is ghost hunting, driving is the most efficient way to explore. Hiking to the more remote tunnels can take hours and won’t get you very far without a full day’s commitment.
There are small pull-off areas where you can stop and walk through the tunnels that remain open. Even with low paranormal activity, these tunnels offer a liminal, almost dreamlike experience.
The Liminal Atmosphere
Looking for ghosts on a busy road is tricky. There will be hikers, bikers, and drivers around, which can make it hard to focus. The road stays open until 9 PM, so going later in the day helps.
Even when nothing paranormal happens, these tunnels give off a liminal feeling that’s hard to describe. Since starting this blog, I’ve come to love liminal spaces. The word liminal has even become my favorite adjective. In an increasingly digital world, going somewhere that pulls you fully into the moment feels important.
Hauntings of Tunnel #2
A popular way locals experience the hauntings is by visiting Tunnel #2 at night. People park their cars inside the tunnel and turn off the engine. Some claim that small handprints appear on their windows. Others say the car begins to move on its own, as if something is pushing it.
Rarely, people report seeing a shadow figure walking toward the car in the rearview mirror. When I lived in Colorado, friends and guests from my Denver ghost tour told me they had experienced these same phenomena.
The Legend of Tunnel #3
Legend says Tunnel #3 is the most haunted of the nine tunnels. It’s also the hardest to reach. The most well-known story claims that in 1988 a school bus was inside when the tunnel collapsed, killing many children. There is no record of this happening, so most people treat it as speculation.
Other stories claim that construction workers died while building Tunnel #3, but again, I couldn’t find evidence. The stretch of road leading to Tunnel #3 can’t be accessed by car, and finding the correct trail is a challenge.
Finding Tunnel #3
It took me three separate trips to finally reach Tunnel #3. Most of the tunnels sit right along Gold Camp Road, but Tunnel #3 is accessed via St. Mary’s Falls Trail. Write that down, because it will save you a headache.
When you reach Tunnel #3, you’ll feel it immediately. The energy is heavy, tense, and far from welcoming. Whether or not the story about the children is true, something about the place feels angry. Something bad happened here. You can sense it.
Inside the Most Haunted Tunnel
The tunnel is blocked off with metal bars, grates, and chains. Graffiti covers every surface. The contrast is surreal, pristine nature surrounds a tunnel that looks like it was ripped straight out of an urban landscape.
When I arrived, a storm started rolling in. It felt like something didn’t want me there. My EMF reader began acting strangely. Every noise from inside the tunnel made my heart jump. What was in there? And did it have a negative opinion of me?
My spirit box and EVP sessions didn’t pick up much activity, and I had to cut them short because of the weather. Once the rain started, I had no cover and had to leave.
Paranormal Reports From Tunnel #3
Aside from the bad vibes, I didn’t experience much at Tunnel #3. Others have reported hearing children’s laughter echo through the tunnel. Some claim to have left with small scratches on their skin, the size of marks a child might leave.
Dark Rituals and Regional Lore
In my research, I also came across stories about devil worshipers. This seems to be an ongoing theme with many of the haunted places I’ve visited. Check out my blog on Riverdale Road — satanic activity is part of that lore too.
It makes you wonder. Did something dark happen here that sparked the hauntings? Or did the hauntings attract people interested in dark rituals?
Final Thoughts on Gold Camp Road
Whatever you believe, Gold Camp Road is worth checking out. Exploring urban legends is fun on its own, but even without paranormal experiences, you’ll still get a beautiful hike and some incredible mountain views.
Happy hunting.
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