Royal Gorge Area
4218 Co Rd 3A, Cañon City, CO
Cañon City, CO
A dizzying gorge where the Arkansas River runs a thousand feet below a swaying suspension bridge, in the sunny canyon country of southern Colorado.
The Royal Gorge is one of Colorado's classic wonders, a narrow, sheer-walled canyon where the Arkansas River has sawn down through ancient granite to run more than a thousand feet below the rim. Spanning that dizzying gap is the Royal Gorge Bridge, long famous as one of the highest suspension bridges in the country, offering a heart-in-throat walk high above the river.
Around the bridge, the area offers some of the best river adventure in the state. Whitewater raft trips run the canyon's rapids, a scenic railroad clings to the riverbank at the very bottom of the gorge, and the surrounding sunny canyon country of Cañon City rewards exploring. It is a place built on the drama of deep rock and rushing water.
What Guests Love
- The Royal Gorge Bridge suspended high above the river far below
- Whitewater rafting through the canyon on the Arkansas River
- The scenic railroad running along the river at the bottom of the gorge
- Big views, warm sun, and a sense of dizzying depth
Worth Knowing
- The bridge and park are a ticketed attraction; the rafting and railroad are run by separate outfits
- The canyon can be hot and sunny, so bring water and sun protection
- Rafting ranges from gentle floats to serious whitewater, so match the trip to your group
- Cañon City nearby has lodging, dining, and a prison history museum
Details
Cañon City, CO
Learn about Royal Gorge Area
The gorge and its bridge
The Arkansas River has spent millions of years cutting the Royal Gorge, a slot canyon so narrow and deep that its granite walls rise sheer from the water to the rim high above. The rock is some of the oldest in Colorado, and the river's patient work has exposed it in dramatic fashion.
The Royal Gorge Bridge, built in the late 1920s, hangs across the canyon near its rim and has long been celebrated as one of the highest suspension bridges anywhere. Walking across it, with the river a thin ribbon far below and the deck gently moving, is an unforgettable and slightly vertiginous experience. A park around the bridge adds gondolas, gardens, and overlooks.
Rafting the Arkansas
The Arkansas River through and around the Royal Gorge is one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the country. Fed by mountain snowmelt, it offers everything from gentle family floats to churning rapids in the canyon itself, run by many outfitters based in the area.
A raft trip through the gorge gives a completely different view of the canyon, looking up at the towering walls and the tiny bridge far overhead while the current sweeps you along. It is thrilling, scenic, and a highlight of a visit for those ready to get on the water.
The railroad at the bottom
A scenic railroad runs right along the Arkansas River at the floor of the gorge, threading the narrowest part of the canyon where road cannot go. From open-air and enclosed cars, riders gaze up the sheer granite walls to the bridge and rim high above.
The route follows a historic rail line whose construction here was once the object of a fierce rivalry between railroad companies competing for the narrow canyon. Today it is a relaxed, spectacular way to experience the gorge from water level, a fine complement to the view from the bridge above.
Cañon City and the canyon country
Cañon City, just east of the gorge, is a sunny, historic town that makes a good base, with lodging, dining, wineries, and a museum housed in a former territorial prison that reflects the town's role in Colorado's penal history. The mild, dry climate makes the area pleasant much of the year.
This canyon country lies within the traditional lands of the Ute people, whose homeland spanned much of Colorado's mountains. Spring through fall is the prime season for the bridge, rafting, and rail, while winter is quieter and mild in the low canyon, when the river runs clear and the crowds thin.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Cañon City
Cañon City
About 8 miles east
A sunny historic town with lodging, wineries, and a prison history museum.
Arkansas River rafting
In and around the gorge
Whitewater trips from gentle floats to big rapids, run by local outfitters.
Bishop Castle
About 35 miles southwest
An astonishing hand-built stone castle rising from the forest, one man's lifelong project.