Outside Manitou Springs is an abandoned railroad for the Colorado Midland Railway, which was constructed in 1883 through Ute Pass from Colorado Springs to Leadville. It consists of 8 tunnels blasted into the red rocks surrounding Manitou Springs. Abandoned in 1949, the rails were yanked from the ground and the tunnels are all that remain to tell the story. Several of the tunnels are quite long and without a flashlight you can’t see your hand right in front of your face, adding to the eeriness of the lonesome tunnels.
The scenery is breathtaking and it’s easy to imagine those old locomotives chugging up the mountains and passing through the tunnels. You can even still see the stain of coal on the tunnel ceilings. A great hike!
Historical Photos
Hike Photos
