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Royal Gorge Area - South Central Colorado

Includes Cañon City, Coaldale, Cotopaxi, Florence, Guffey, Penrose, Texas Creek

Experience Royal Gorge, Cañon City, Coaldale, Cotopaxi, Florence, Guffey, Penrose, and Texas Creek, Colorado

The Royal Gorge Area features the Arkansas River, 2 national fossil sites, a scenic byway, the Royal Gorge Bridge and a tourist train. Cañon City has a rejuvenated downtown shopping district and the Arkansas Riverwalk Fitness Course, making this area a great vacation destination with more than 300 sunny days a year.

Canon City, Colorado
Explore the Historic Shops of Downtown Cañon City
 

The Royal Gorge Bridge, built as a tourist attraction, opened in 1929 and spans the gorge with the Arkansas River 956 feet below. The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is an amusement park along the edge of the Royal Gorge and is open daily. Be sure to stop and walk across one of the world’s highest suspension bridges! Your family will enjoy spending a day playing together: aerial gondola, plaza theater, historic artifacts, 17 minute video on the bridge and park, children’s playland, Royal Rush Skycoaster and Cloudscraper Zip Line. In summer there is a concert series.

Arkansas River, Colorado
The Arkansas River: Raft, Fish, Play
The Royal Gorge Bridge in the Canon City Area
The Royal Gorge Bridge Must be Seen in Person

 

The Arkansas River also offers great fishing in the spring and fall seasons and rafting in the summer. Cotopaxi and Coaldale are popular launching pads to rafting the Arkansas River. Cañon City Whitewater Park is along a stretch of the Arkansas River; this park attracts kayakers, rafters, boogie boarders, and tubers. There are two features to this course: Flytrap and Nessman. Beginners will want to try Flytrap at lower flows before, as it can be a little tricky. This course is home to the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival in June.

The Goldbelt Tour Scenic Byway runs all throughout this area. Some of the routes are more for the thrill seekers but there are some easier, more relaxed roads. Take the High Park Road to the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument or head to Cripple Creek.

Once a favorite camping area of the Ute Indians, both dinosaur bones and oil have been discovered here. Five miles north of the city is the Garden Park Fossil Area commemorating the 1877 dinosaur find. Another fun place to check out is the Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site. It is considered to be the best trace fossil locality in North America.

Guffey is a small mountain town less than a mile off Colorado Highway 9 surrounded by 25-miles of mountains and outdoor activities. Each 4th of July come and enjoy Annual Chicken Fly, with a "Chicken Drop," and the "Chicken Rollin' Alley."

Guffey, Colorado
Discover and Explore Historic Town of Guffey, Colorado -- A Rustic Ghost Town
The sign to the historic Gold Belt Tour in the Royal Gorge Area
See Some of Colorado's Mines of the Past Along the Historic Gold Belt Tour

 

Other fun activities in the area include hiking the Rainbow Trail and Jeeping & ATVing in Texas Creek.

Commercial air travel accommodations are handled by the Pueblo Airport. Please contact your preferred travel agent or airline for flight arrangements. The Royal Gorge Area is 45 miles west of the Pueblo Airport.

Royal Gorge Area is near: Colorado Springs Metro, Greenhorn Valley, Pueblo, Salida, & Westcliffe

Premium Royal Gorge Area Businesses

Arkansas River Tours - Family Floats to Extreme Adventures
Celebrating 50 years, 300,000+ happy river guests! ART offers tours for timid beginners to experienced veterans on the Arkansas River. In Cotopaxi, between Salida and Cañon City. Families are our specialty!

 Email link icon Web page link icon Photos on page icon Family Friendly White-water Rafting and Kayaking 


Indian Springs Ranch, LLP and Campground
Unique, family friendly and Geological destination Campground. A NATIONAL NATURAL LANDMARK FOR FOSSILS - Tours by Appointment! Working Cattle Ranch 10 miles to Cañon City. We LOVE Groups!

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon Tent Camping RV Parks and Resorts Pool on site National Parks Scenic Byways and Drives Activities and Fun Things to do 


Play Dirty ATV Tours - Mountain Trail Riding
Mountain ATV Trail Riding is exciting and fun! Texas Creek is the ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE CAPITAL of Colorado. WE PLAY DIRTY. Tours are a 15 minutes drive from Cañon City; 1 hour from Pikes Peak Area.

 Email link icon Web page link icon Photos on page icon Family Friendly Groups and Reunions ATVing, UTVing, and Offroading 


Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience: Dinosaur Museum and Activity Center
The Dino experience in Cañon City with interactive dinosaurs, museum activity center, ropes course and dinosaur wild walk. The Royal Gorge region's first fossilized bones were uncovered in Garden Park.

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon New Colorado business icon Activities, Tourist Attractions Activities and Fun Things to do 


Royal Gorge Rafting, Zip Line Tours, Vacation Rentals, White Water Bar and Grill
Colorado's #1 Royal Gorge Outfitter and Zipline Tours. Royal Gorge Rafting, Zip Line Tours, White Water Bar and Grill - One Location - 100% FUN! Between Salida and Cañon City along the Arkansas River.

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon White-water Rafting and Kayaking Restaurant 



Featured Royal Gorge Area Businesses

Anderson Jeep Rentals and Tours
Serving Salida and Royal Gorge: Jeep rentals and trail maps. Anderson will get you off the beaten path to play in the Collegiate Peaks. Guided Jeep Tours: Discover private mines, rock hounding claims.

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon ATVing, UTVing, and Offroading Jeeping and Offroad Vehicles 


Arkansas River Tours - Family Floats to Extreme Adventures
Celebrating 50 years, 300,000+ happy river guests! ART offers tours for timid beginners to experienced veterans on the Arkansas River. In Cotopaxi, between Salida and Cañon City. Families are our specialty!

 Email link icon Web page link icon Photos on page icon Family Friendly White-water Rafting and Kayaking 


Cabins on the Ranch - Escape to the Peaceful Wet Mountain Valley
A private get-a-way, off-the-beaten-path, 15 minutes from Westcliffe, Cabins on the Ranch is your escape in the ranch lands of the Wet Mountain Valley, Sangre de Cristo mountains, and dark night skies above.

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon New Colorado business icon Cabins, Glamping and Cottages Activities and Fun Things to do 


Clear Creek Rafting Co.
Something for everyone! 1/3-day to multi-day CO rafting tours. Whitewater trips in 2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: Idaho Springs and Cañon City! On 2 GREAT RIVERS: Clear Creek and the Arkansas River!

 Email link icon Web page link icon Photos on page icon Family Friendly National Parks Scenic Byways and Drives White-water Rafting and Kayaking 


Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad
A 4-mile round-trip ride on the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad from our 1894 vintage depot and gift shop. Enjoy rich gold mining history a short drive from Colorado Springs and Cañon City.

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon Scenic Byways and Drives Activities, Tourist Attractions 


Echo Canyon River Expeditions - Day Trips
FAMILY and ADVENTURE Rafting. Echo Canyon is an hour from Colorado Springs near the Royal Gorge Bridge. 45 years of experience in providing RAFTING ADVENTURES. A Vacation MEMORY to Experience.

 Web page link icon White-water Rafting and Kayaking Activities, Tourist Attractions 


Floyd's RV Park - Camp in the Pines
Classic CO RV Park; camp in pines! Floyd's is 25 miles E of Royal Gorge Bridge; 40 miles NW of Cripple Creek Gaming on Phantom Canyon. BIG RIG FRIENDLY! 15 miles to Pueblo Reservoir: fish, boat, hike.

 RV Parks and Resorts Pets Welcome Scenic Byways and Drives Activities and Fun Things to do 


Indian Springs Ranch, LLP and Campground
Unique, family friendly and Geological destination Campground. A NATIONAL NATURAL LANDMARK FOR FOSSILS - Tours by Appointment! Working Cattle Ranch 10 miles to Cañon City. We LOVE Groups!

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon Tent Camping RV Parks and Resorts Pool on site National Parks Scenic Byways and Drives Activities and Fun Things to do 


MoonShadow Ranch
In summer and winter gear up for fishing or ATVing -- MoonShadow is a Family Vacation Home -- 4 bedroom Ranch. Between Salida and Cañon City, in the Royal Gorge Region. Mild Weather Year Round.

 Vacation Homes Family Friendly 


Mountain View Resort: RV Sites, Glamping Domes, Camper Cabins
Our resort is between Cañon City and the Royal Gorge with mountain views, luxury RV Sites (50 amp, concrete pads, room for slideouts). Glamping domes and camper cabins with microwave & mini fridge.

 Web page link icon New Colorado business icon Cabins, Glamping and Cottages RV Parks and Resorts Groups and Reunions 


Play Dirty ATV Tours - Mountain Trail Riding
Mountain ATV Trail Riding is exciting and fun! Texas Creek is the ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE CAPITAL of Colorado. WE PLAY DIRTY. Tours are a 15 minutes drive from Cañon City; 1 hour from Pikes Peak Area.

 Email link icon Web page link icon Photos on page icon Family Friendly Groups and Reunions ATVing, UTVing, and Offroading 


Pleasant Valley RV Park of Howard on the Arkansas River
East of Salida and West of the Royal Gorge Bridge in Howard, along the Arkansas River, away from Hwy noise, Pleasant Valley RV Park offers: full hookups on the RIVER, rec room, playground and dog park.

 Web page link icon New Colorado business icon RV Parks and Resorts Lodging by water 


Royal Gorge Cabins - Family Vacation Homes and Deluxe Glamping Cabins
Vacation near Colorado Springs, the Royal Gorge and Salida in a modern vacation home or chic canvas cabin all with incredible mountain views! On-site: 8 Mile Bar Grill and Echo Canyon River Expeditions.

 Web page link icon Cabins, Glamping and Cottages Vacation Homes 


Royal Gorge Chamber Alliance
The Royal Gorge Region offers year-round family activities: fishing (best fly fishing in the nation), rafting. bicycling, golfing, hiking, horseback riding, ATV trips, mountain climbing, shopping, dining in Cañon City.

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon Scenic Byways and Drives White-water Rafting and Kayaking Activities, Tourist Attractions Activities and Fun Things to do 


Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience: Dinosaur Museum and Activity Center
The Dino experience in Cañon City with interactive dinosaurs, museum activity center, ropes course and dinosaur wild walk. The Royal Gorge region's first fossilized bones were uncovered in Garden Park.

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon New Colorado business icon Activities, Tourist Attractions Activities and Fun Things to do 


Royal Gorge Rafting, Zip Line Tours, Vacation Rentals, White Water Bar and Grill
Colorado's #1 Royal Gorge Outfitter and Zipline Tours. Royal Gorge Rafting, Zip Line Tours, White Water Bar and Grill - One Location - 100% FUN! Between Salida and Cañon City along the Arkansas River.

 Web page link icon Photos on page icon White-water Rafting and Kayaking Restaurant 



For more travel information contact:

Royal Gorge Area Activities & Maps

National Historic Sites and Landmarks:
Garden Park Fossil Area
Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site

Scenic Byways:
Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway

Hiking Trails:
Rainbow Trail Hiking

Fishing:
Arkansas River Headwaters Fishing Map - East

Rafting & Kayaking:
Arkansas River Rafting & Kayaking

Jeep & 4WD:
Texas Creek Jeeping & ATV/UTV Trails

Local Area Maps:
Royal Gorge & Cañon City Area Map


 
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