The "Oh My God" Road is the back way to Idaho Springs - and a drive in itself

Most people reach Idaho Springs on a paved approach, which is the easy call. But there is an older way down from Central City: Virginia Canyon Road, the route folks have long called the “Oh My God” Road. It is a roughly 7- to 8-mile unpaved shelf road that climbs over the Gilpin and Clear Creek county line, threading past closed gold mines and the leftovers of old camps from the 1860s. The county has paved a little of it over the years, but most of it is still dirt and gravel.

That is the appeal and the catch. It is steep and winding, with hairpin turns, washed-out shoulders, and few guardrails, so it earns the long looks at the edge. At the switchbacks, the local rule is simple: stay to the right.

Treat it as a plan-for-it drive, not a winter shortcut. When the road is dry, a careful driver can manage it, though good tires and some clearance help on the rough spots. It is typically open year-round, but there is no snow removal, so save it for dry days and daylight, and skip it in a low car.

Before you go, check current conditions on COtrip and read the route description on the Clear Creek County tourism site.