Skyline Drive in Colorado: You're Literally on a Little Strip of Roadway on Top of a Mountain
Skyline Drive is one of Colorado’s hidden gems. It’s a one-way, narrow road with precipices on one side, the other, or both at all times.
Where is Skyline Drive?
The road is located to the west of Cañon City, in Fremont County, in the central part of Colorado.
How long is Skyline Drive in CO?
Skyline Drive is one-way and entirely paved. It's 4.1 km (2.6 miles) long and runs west-east from U.S. 50 to Floral Avenue, in a residential neighborhood of Cañon City. Skyline Drive is free to access.
When was Skyline Drive in Colorado built?
This single-lane road atop a knife-edge hilltop above Cañon City was built in 1905 by inmates from the nearby prison to provide residents and visitors unparalleled views of the city. Sixty inmates of the Territorial Prison began work on the road under the direction of Warden John Cleghorn. For every month the convicts worked on the road, they were awarded 10 days off their sentence. Funding for the project was provided by the project’s committee, which raised more than $2,000 for the effort.
Is Skyline Drive in Colorado dangerous?
The road is quite demanding. Be aware that this drive is not for timid drivers or those afraid of heights. It's not suitable for those who have never experienced a high road with cliff edges. Along the way, you'll drive on a road that ascends and follows the top of a ridge. This road is quite narrow, and the drop-offs (450 ft) on each side can be intimidating, so it should not be attempted by large vehicles like motorhomes. It's a very steep drive with room for only one car to go up. There is no turning around if you change your mind. There are no guardrails, and at some points, it slopes down on both sides. You are literally on a little strip of roadway on top of a mountain. It may be closed for bad weather or ice. Vehicles over 20 feet are not allowed.
How long does it take to drive Skyline Drive in Cañon City?
It’s a short scenic drive across a razorback ridge in Cañon City. To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 12 and 15 minutes. Its panoramic views of Cañon City and the Arkansas River Valley are breathtaking, so allow about one hour to explore Skyline Drive with stops. There are many places to stop off and take in the incredible scenery as well as photographs. Dinosaur footprints were discovered along it in 2001. You can see a series of Cretaceous Ankylosaur tracks made by a group of dinosaurs walking side-by-side through mud.