Gold Belt Byway - The Shelf Road

Driving the Shelf Road - from the byway association

First Oil Well

The first oil well west of the Mississippi River is located in the Garden Park Fossil Area.  The location is commerated by this plaque that was placed here by the Canon City Geology Club!

Marsh Felch Dinosaur Quarry

The Marsh Felch Dinosaur Quarry is one of the most significant dinosaur quarries in North America with three almost complete dinosaur skeletons on display today at the National Natural HIstory Museum (Smithsonian) in Washington D.C.  This quarry has a trail six miles north of Canon City that goes to this same overlook where you can see the quarry, 120 years after the major exavation period of 1882-1887.

Cleveland Dinosaur Quarry

A second interpretive stop in the Garden Park Fossil Area is located at the Cleveland dinosaur quarry and a plaque commemerating the oldest oil well west of the Mississippi River is located about a mile south of the Marsh Quarry.

Red Canyon Park

Located about 10 miles north of Canon City features erosional remnants of deposition that took place when the ancestral Rocky Mountains eroded 300 million years ago!  The park is now owned and managed by the City of Canon City.

Garden Park

Historic Ranches and farmland.

Shelf Road

The shelf road climbing area is located near the Shelf Road.  This is a view of the road looking southwest.