COME TO LIFE / High-Flying Adventure HIGH-FLYING ADVENTURE IN THE ROYAL GORGE REGION COLORADO The 10-mile-long Royal Gorge sports the nation’s highest suspension bridge, dangling more than 1,000 feet above the crashing Arkansas River below, but that’s not the only reason to visit Cañon City. 1 2 the world’s longest single-span aerial gondola and the Cloud-scraper Zip Line. For another scenic excursion, enjoy lunch or dinner in the glass-topped Vista Dome cars of the Royal Gorge Route Railroad (2) . Walkable downtown Cañon City has shops, restaurants, cafes and a public-art program that make it a pleasant space to while away the day. The Fremont Center for the Arts hosts exhibits and events exploring local arts and history. Or experience the region’s delicious apples and other local bounties at farmers’ markets and farm stores. Treasure hunters beeline to Florence , a lovely nearby town with extensive antique shopping, art galleries and specialty shops. Legends of gold rushers, agricul-ture pioneers and even dinosaurs abound in the region. Self-guided Fremont County Heritage Tours offer opportunities to discover the history. And learn about the architecture of historic structures like the Colorado Territorial Prison on the Cañon City tour; or investi-gate dinosaur tracks and ancient fossils on the Skyline Drive tour. With a growing reputation as a homebase for epic rock climbing, mountain biking, ziplining, fishing and river rafting, adventure-seekers are increasingly drawn to this area. The new South Cañon Trail System , which you can catch right in town, offers 10 miles of trails that connect the Arkansas Riverwalk , Ecology Park , the Section 13 trail system and Grape Creek to thousands of acres of BLM-managed public land. And some of the best fishing in the state can be had on the Arkansas’ Gold Medal trout waters , including the area around Parkdale (just above the Royal Gorge). Since the area’s temperatures are typically more temperate than other parts of the state, many of these activities are available year-round. For family explorers, Tunnel Drive is a flat, two-mile stroll along an old railroad bed that offers a bird’s-eye view of the Arkansas River and spectacular views of the surrounding canyon. The crushed gravel trail travels through three granite-blasted tunnels and caters to walkers, runners and bikers. The Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience brings ancient history to life with science-focused inter-active displays, full-scale dinosaur fossil casts and hands-on exhibits with real dinosaur fossils. Towering above the Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge (1) is America’s highest suspension bridge. Navigate the rapids beneath it on a whitewater raft trip, slide along sky-high cables with Royal Gorge ZipLine Tours or find thrills at the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park ’s attractions, including a new visitor center, STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Cañon City (page 193), Coaldale (page 194), Cotopaxi (page 194) Cripple Creek (page 195), Florissant , Florence , Penrose , Texas Creek QUICK TIP 182 / For a great souvenir, head to the Gold Mine Rock Shop , frequented by rockhounds, jewelry makers, arrowhead hobbyists, fossil fans and landscapers. It is considered the place to purchase rocks and gems of superior quality. 1-800-COLORADO FROM LEFT: ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE AND PARK, JIM DAVID; ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILROAD, ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE AND PARK.
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2019: Page 182
