Constructed by local prison labor in 1903, Skyline Drive begins its gradual ascent halfway up the ridge, just a short 3 miles out of town by way of Highway US-50; only really a couple of thousand feet from town, by foot.
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| The narrow roller coaster ride along Skyline Drive |
There are a couple of pullouts along the gradual ascent to the top. Visitors can take in views of YMCA Mountain and Fremont Peak to the west, and the Twin Mountains to the north, or inspect excellent rock exposures of the ridge itself, known to be fossiliferous.
Reaching the top, another pullout provides a full 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape; the previously mentioned mountains to the north and the west, and all of Cañon City to the east.
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| Cañon City from Skyline Drive |
This panoramic view continues virtually uninterrupted for the remainder of the seemingly perilous one-mile roller coaster ride across the top of the ridge. There is not much room for error along this portion of the route, and no further pullouts until near the end of the ridge.
Near the end of the ridge, Skyline Drive switches back to the north and begins its gradual descent to the smaller “Hogbacks” separating the ridge from the town, switches back once more, then empties into a residential area.
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| Smaller Hogbacks below Skyline Drive |
There have been numerous new dinosaur fossil finds along the ridge and Skyline Drive over the years, one as recent as 1999. While out for a Sunday drive in 1999, a paleontology student from the University of Colorado discovered dinosaur tracks along the ridgeline. They had apparently been visible for years, but to the untrained eye, just another bunch of rocks.
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| Closeup of the limestone along Skyline Drive |
Excavating the ancient track lines during early 2000, a local crew took molds for display at the local Dinosaur Depot Museum, along with other fossils discovered at that time, including tree roots and branches. Most of the discoveries throughout the years are also on display there. Various signage along the route indicates the location of these finds and explain their history and relevance to the region in detail.
