COME TO LIFE / Cañon City, Florence HIGH-FLYING AMUSEMENTS IN THE ROYAL GORGE REGION COLORADO PIKES PEAK WONDERS 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 and nearby Florence . 1 2 world’s longest single-span aerial gondola, a zipline and a new via ferrata course where you can hike and climb granite rock walls for amazing views. 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. Or investigate dinosaur tracks and ancient fossils on the Skyline Drive tour. FROM LEFT: ROYAL GORGE BRIDE & PARK, EVE NAGODE; ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILROAD, MILES/MATT INDEN. 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, 2-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 interactive displays, full-scale dinosaur-fossil casts and hands-on exhibits with real dinosaur fossils. Towering above the Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge 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 (1) attractions, including a visitor center, the STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Cañon City (page 194), Coaldale , Cotopaxi (page 195), Cripple Creek (page 195), Florissant , Florence , Penrose , Texas Creek QUICK TIP 176 / The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey is hands-down one of the loveliest places to sip some vino. The former Benedictine abbey is set on 200 acres of orchards with the Wet Mountains as a backdrop. 1-800-COLORADO
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2020: Page 176
