Colorado is home to some of the most beautiful and iconic hikes in the country, but did you know that we also have quite a few walks that are eerie and creepy? If you enjoy your trails historic and spooky, you will want to check out this Colorado hike that takes you through the ruins of an abandoned mine:
Welcome to the Elk Park Trail, a moderate 4-mile out-and-back path that leads hikers to the little-known Ghost Town Hollow.
Google/Sharon Bartholomew
Nestled on Pikes Peak, the Elk Park Trail may seem like any ordinary mountain trail with its breathtaking scenery and grueling elevation (11,800 feet, to be exact), but as you walk around, you will find lots of abandoned oddities, the most prevalent, of which, is rusted old mine equipment.
Google/Sharon Bartholomew
As the story goes, mining on Pikes Peak wasn’t nearly as lucrative as companies and miners had hoped, leaving behind old, rusted equipment and dilapidated log cabins that can still be seen today.
Google/Sharon Bartholomew
While the old equipment and forgotten homes are eerie in their own way, the most unsettling part of the hike is the Oil Creek Tunnel (or Cincinnati Mine), which is said to have killed 2 miners during its construction and now boasts the sounds of dripping water and blowing wind.
Google/Sharon Bartholomew
Not only is the Oil Creek Tunnel the scariest part of the trail, but it is also the turn-around point, giving hikers a chance to re-visit the antique equipment and quiet mountain landscape.
Google/Sharon Bartholomew
Please note: Tickets are required to drive, park, and/or hike along the Pikes Peak Highway. For more information, please visit the City of Colorado Springs’ website.
Google/Lalith Chandra
The Elk Peak Trail is open year-round but is best used in late spring through early fall.
Google/Sharon Bartholomew
For even more Centennial State haunts, take The Haunted Road Trip That Will Lead You To The Scariest Places In Colorado.
Google/Sharon Bartholomew
Google/Lalith Chandra
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Address: Elk Park Trailhead, Woodland Park, CO 80863, USA
