Level V — maximum security (men) · Correctional Facility · CDOC

Centennial Correctional Facility

Cañon City, Fremont County, Colorado

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (719) 269-5572 Info last verified: June 2026

A Level V maximum-security men's prison on the East Cañon Complex near Cañon City; one part houses a residential mental-health treatment program.

Statewide rules that apply at every Colorado state prison

These rules are set by CDOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Colorado.

Dress code

No clothing that is solid green, gray, orange, white, yellow, or camouflage, or that otherwise resembles what incarcerated people wear — Colorado prison uniforms are green.
Pants, skirts, and dresses must reach at least the top of the knee; no shorts of any kind and no cargo pants, and nothing tight or form-fitting such as leggings, spandex, or yoga pants.
Nothing sheer, ripped, or revealing — no exposed cleavage, back, or midriff when standing, sitting, or bending, and no spaghetti- or thin-strap tops; appropriate undergarments are required and must not be visible.
No hats, hoods, gloves, scarves, or coats in the visiting room (religious head coverings excepted), nothing showing gang, drug, profane, or offensive images, and jewelry limited to a wedding set, one religious medallion, and medical-alert items.

ID: Every visitor 18 or older shows a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID — the physical card, not a photocopy or digital ID — and must already be on the incarcerated person's approved list, which is capped at 12 adults (minors do not count).
What to bring: Almost nothing comes into the visit room. The only item allowed for purchases is one debit or credit card for the vending machines — no cash or coins — and phones, watches, and other electronics are prohibited; prescription medication must be in its original labeled container.
Scheduling: Each visitor applies to the facility where the person is held, and visits are generally by appointment, with days and hours set by that prison — there is no single statewide schedule, so confirm the facility's process and book ahead before traveling.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Colorado

Overview

Centennial Correctional Facility is a Level V maximum-security men’s prison on the East Cañon Complex, about two miles east of Cañon City in Fremont County. It opened in 1980 and served as Colorado’s maximum-security prison until Colorado State Penitentiary opened in 1993. Centennial’s north side holds most of its beds for a Residential Treatment Program for men with serious mental illness, plus an Intensive Treatment Community; its south side (decommissioned in 2012 and reopened in March 2020) holds two housing towers and restrictive housing. CDOC’s January 2026 report listed about 900 men at the facility.

What Makes Centennial Different

It is one of Colorado’s two Level V maximum-security men’s prisons (the other is Colorado State Penitentiary).
Part of the facility is a residential mental-health treatment program for men with serious mental illness.
Visiting format depends on housing — in-person, non-contact, or video — so confirm before traveling.
It is on the East Cañon Complex, a cluster of state prisons east of Cañon City.

Visiting

The statewide CDOC rules above — the approved list, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at Centennial. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Colorado.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on the East Cañon Complex, off U.S. 50 east of Cañon City.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Cañon City has the nearest gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is St. Thomas More Hospital in Cañon City.

Mail

Personal mail goes to the facility, addressed with the person’s commitment name and DOC number. Centennial is one of the CDOC facilities that photocopies incoming personal mail, delivers the copy, and destroys the original — so do not send originals you want returned. Legal mail is opened only to inspect for contraband, in the person’s presence. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Colorado state prison:

Visiting in Colorado — the approved list, the dress code, and ID rules
Mail & Packages — the DOC number, photocopying, and publisher-only books
Phone & Video Calls — free calls, Securus, and tablets
Sending Money — CorrectPay deposits
Medical & Mental Health — the co-pay, HIPAA releases, and Constituent Services
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, the locator, and VINE

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.