Walk north along the Greenhorn Trail to view interpretive panels on the Western Interior Seaway that once covered the whole state of Colorado and see the evidence of an extinction event (Cenomanian –Turonian Extinction) that occurred 94 million years ago. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 31 min to complete. Another great stop to pull over is at the Floral Avenue Trailhead on the eastern side of the hogbacks. Old Skyline Drive Trail Moderate 4.3 (85) Canon City, Colorado Photos (86) Directions Print/PDF map Length 1.0 miElevation gain 216 ftRoute type Out & back Experience this 1.0-mile out-and-back trail near Canon City, Colorado. Local resident and paleontology student Bill Kurtz discovered the dinosaur trackway in 1999. Pull over near the top to view the interpretive panel and dinosaur footprint casts embedded in the cliff face. Stop to see the Gateway Arch, an entrance marker built by inmates in 1932 using a stone from all but 3 states in America. Plenty of pullouts and parking areas make it easy to stop and enjoy the views overlooking Cañon City, Florence, Fremont Peak and the surrounding landscape. Take note of vehicle length restrictions. The road is open daily during daylight hours and may close for inclement weather.ĭirections: Head west of Cañon City on Highway 50 for two miles and turn right at the entrance to Skyline Drive under the big stone archway. With stops, allow about one hour to explore Skyline Drive. Not for the timid driver, there are points where both sides of the roadway drop several hundred feet. The descent begins with a hairpin turn and winds down the eastern side of the hogback. It travels along a narrow razorback ridge. Skyline Drive, a 2.5 mile (4 km) paved drive, lies northwest of Cañon City. View layers of red rock along the base of the ridge dubbed the Fountain Formation by geologists, and see where dinosaur fossils were found in the Morrison Formation. They finished in 1906 and the city council named designated vehicle days and horse-drawn carriage days to avoid conflicts along the narrow route.ĭeposited sand and mud flowing in from the ancestral Rocky Mountains about 105 million years ago formed what is now known as the Dakota Hogback formation. In 1905, around 60 inmates from the Colorado State Penitentiary were assigned to construct Skyline Drive. The unprecedented scenic thoroughfare would give visitors and residents dramatic Colorado views and allow them to practically touch the sky. Skyline Drive Historyĭuring the early 1900s, local leaders devised a plan to build a road over the sharp Hogback west of Cañon City. Discover our unearthed dinosaur trackway along the way. They did most everything, then we went next door for lunch and came back to finish up and do the ropes course again.Travel this one-way ridgetop, Skyline Drive, for sweeping Royal Gorge Region vistas, and spectacular geological wonders. They enjoyed the dinosaur walk, but some of those Dino’s need plastic surgery, thru are obviously worn. It was hard to narrow down which to put in their bags, but they did it. They loved the dig area finding a couple fossils and lots of sharks teeth. The kids loved the ropes course Two of them did the more “adult” course and one did the smaller kids course. I went with my daughters family with kids ages 2-7 and had a great time! The weather was cooler( unusual for Canon City at the end of June) and one of the museum supervisors was very engaging, explaining exhibits and conversing with both the adults AND the kids her name is Alexa and she’s awesome! All the employees were extremely nice. He was 2 1/2 and did the little ropes course and enjoyed the dig, but the heat made the walk almost unbearable.įast forward to today. It was fiery hot that day and I wasn’t impressed. The first time was three years ago with my grand daughter and her son.
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