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Originally Posted by jbage007
First, the drive sucked. And the weather was decent. Can only imagine what it's like to face inclement weather. Basically a one-hour drive minimum from south Denver (DTC).
Regarding the drive. It's pretty scary if you're not used to mountain driving, especially if you take US Highway 6 through Clear Creek Canyon. It's a very curvy two lane, with a rock wall on one side and a big drop into the creek on the other side. Uphill, there are a couple of short stretches with passing lanes, and hardly any safe places to pass otherwise, and usually too much traffic going the other way to even think about passing in the few safe places. Usually you are limited to the speed of the slowest car ahead of you.
The canyon can get really scary if the road is slick. One idiot taking a curve too fast and sliding into the oncoming lane is all it takes to kill you. Fortunately, the Highway department usually does a pretty good job of plowing and dousing the road with mag chloride so it doesn't get too slick. Just be sure not to run out of windshield washer fluid or the mag chloride will have you driving blind in just a few minutes.
It should be noted that if you are going to Blackhawk/Central City from the south end of Denver Metro, the best way to get there is to take I-70 rather than Highway 6, getting to I-70 via C-470 or via I-25 and W. 6th Avenue. From I-70, you can either take the Central City Parkway, or you can take eastbound Highway 6 down the canyon (just 4 or 5 Miles) to Highway 119. If you are going to Central City, the first option is a no-brainer. If you are going to Blackhawk, it's pretty much a tossup which is best.
From the north end I-70 to Colorado Highway 58 (past the Coors Brewery) to Highway 6 is usually the quickest route, as I-70 swings quite a bit south before heading into the mountains. However, the I-70 route works from there if you want to avoid the canyon.