Flooded creeks limit travel in Fremont County

Two roads linking Fremont and Teller counties have been affected by flooding and may not reopen for weeks, officials said.

A midweek storm left parts of Phantom Canyon Road in Fremont County severely eroded by Eight Mile Creek, and littered with debris and rocks from falls and slides.

“You can still get through but just barely in some places,” said Jeff Davis, who surveyed the damage Sunday.

The same storm left Four Mile Creek flowing two feet above a low water crossing on Shelf Road on the Fremont side of the Teller County line.

Both roads, especially Phantom Canyon, are primarily dirt roads used by drivers as shortcuts back and forth.

“It’s about 25 to 30 miles long,” Davis said of Phantom Canyon. “People use it to get from the mines near Cripple Creek to Caon City. Without it, you might have to take a long detour through Colorado Springs.”

Davis said it’s been 15 to 20 years since he’s seen so much rain in a season.

Authorities have posted closure signs at all ends of the closures and said people who enter do so at their own risk.

Officials said workers can’t conduct more damage assessment and repair until dry weather arrives and creek levels decline.