COME TO LIFE | Cañon City, Florence beneath it on a guided 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 the world’s longest single-span aerial gondola, a zipline and via ferrata. For another scenic excursion, enjoy lunch or dinner on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad . Walkable downtown Cañon City has shops, cafes and a public-art program, and the Fremont Center for the Arts hosts exhibits and events exploring local arts and history. Or taste the region’s delicious apples and other local bounties at farmers’ markets and farm stores. Legends of gold rushers, agriculture pioneers and even dinosaurs proliferate in the region. Self-guided Fremont County Heritage Tours can help you dig in. Or investigate dinosaur tracks and ancient fossils on the Skyline Drive tour. Treasure hunters beeline to Florence , a lovely nearby town with extensive antique shopping, art galleries and specialty shops. COLORADO PIKES PEAK WONDERS ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE & PARK HIGH-FLYING AMUSEMENTS IN THE ROYAL GORGE REGION 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 . With access to epic rock climbing, mountain biking, ziplining, fishing and river rafting, as well as a scene rich in geology, archaeology and history, adventurers are drawn to this area. The South Cañon Trail System , which you can catch right in town, offers 10 miles of trails that connect the Arkansas Riverwalk , Eco Park , the Section 13 trail system and Grape Creek to thousands of acres of public land. And some of the best fishing in the state can be had on the Arkansas’ Gold Medal trout waters . Since the region is more temperate than other parts of Colorado, many of these activities are available year-round in comfortable weather. For family adventure, the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience brings history to life with interactive displays 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 DINE ALFRESCO WHILE ENJOYING LOCAL WINES AND STELLAR WET MOUNTAIN VIEWS AT THE WINERY AT HOLY CROSS ABBEY — A FORMER BENEDICTINE ABBEY. Cañon City (page 180), Coaldale (page 180), Cotopaxi (page 181), Cripple Creek , Florissant , Florence , Penrose , Texas Creek 142 1-800-COLORADO ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE & PARK/EVE NAGODE. COOK YOUR OWN OUTDOOR MEALS ON A PERGOLA-SHADED PRIVATE PATIO WITH RIVER VIEWS WHEN YOU GLAMP IN A SHINY NEW LUXURY AIRSTREAM FROM ROYAL GORGE VACATION RENTALS. Stay & Play Options
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2022: Page 142
