Eleven Mile Canyon cuts through Pikes Peak granite below the dam

Near Lake George, in the southeast corner of South Park, the South Platte River leaves Eleven Mile Reservoir and drops into a steep, rocky gorge: Eleven Mile Canyon. The walls here are Pikes Peak granite, part of a huge body of igneous rock called the Pikes Peak batholith. Over time the river cut down through it, and in places the gray, polished walls rise hundreds of feet above the water.

The narrow road through the canyon has its own history. It follows the old grade of the Colorado Midland Railroad, built before the dam and reservoir upstream. Today the canyon is a Forest Service recreation area used for fishing, picnicking, camping, and rock climbing on those granite walls.

A few practical notes. There is a day-use fee to enter, so bring a way to pay. The road is narrow and shared by cars, anglers, climbers, and cyclists, so speeds are low and patience helps. And because the canyon sits right below a dam, the river’s flow can change; a quiet stretch can rise, so keep an eye on the water if you are wading or have children near it.

For current access, the day-use fee, and conditions in Eleven Mile Canyon, start with the Pike-San Isabel National Forests’ South Park Ranger District.