Open in App
Upload to Gaia GPS
Please wait - Uploading to Gaia GPS
Oh-My-God Road (Virginia Canyon)
Idaho Springs,
Colorado
(ClearCreek County)
Last Updated:
07/31/2023
Trail Information
Highlights
Officially called Virginia Canyon Road, the Oh-my-God Road connects Idaho Springs to Central City, although the road can be run in either direction. It is a steep, winding, scenic shelf road with plenty of hairpin turns and few guardrails earning it its nickname. Built to connect these two major mining centers, Virginia Canyon Road displays many remnants of the region’s rich mining heritage. Tailing piles dot the hillsides, their red-brown dirt contrasting with the deep green of the pine forest. Perhaps the climax of this mining history is the historic ghost town of Russel Gulch. Many of the town’s largest and most significant buildings are still standing along with many residences, some of which are still occupied.
Trail Difficulty and Assessment
Start your next adventure on Oh-My-God Road (Virginia Canyon)
Upgrade your Membership
Unlock all of the details on every Trail Guide and Scout Route.
Start a 7-day Free Trial
Bill Andrews
Official Crew
Trail Navigation
Trail Reviews
Open
Visited: 09/23/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Easier
Some fall color starting, beats the highway!
Open
Visited: 09/23/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Easier
It's a road, there's some scenery and fall color, beats the highway.
Open
Rated
3/5
Visited: 09/18/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Easier
The views are nice and a car could easily drive this route. The road is maintained at a good width for full size vehicles, with room to pass in many areas, and paved at the highest point. It should probably be renamed to 'Well, that wasn't too bad' trail.
Open
Rated
4/5
Visited: 08/23/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Spot On
I realize when I post a review I’m admitting that I’ve run this, intentionally, but it is fun, provides great views and gives you an idea what it took to make a living 150 years ago. Could be run in a Corvette if you had to, but gets you access to many non-Corvette trails. I’d give this a trail rating of 0.5 if there was such a thing, your average ski-area parking lot has more texture, but let’s round it up to a 1.
Open
Rated
3/5
Visited: 08/16/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Spot On
essentially an unpaved county mountain road. super dusty and you'll want to roll your windows up any time you pass or trail another vehicle. there's a great climb in vertical, from start to finish and some cool mining remnants to see on the way. great views every direction, once you're high up. this is a good road to take your off-road averse, city-slicker family & friends on, who might be scared of more adventurous trails.
From the Community
Start a free trial and get this level of detail on every trail
guide
Start Free Trial
Purchase
Company
Community
