Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (2024)

Cañon City is a city in Colorado. It is the gateway to Royal Gorge, a cavernous canyon of the Arkansas River.

Get in

[edit]

By air

[edit]

Pueblo is the closest city with an airport. It is served by Southern Airways Express.

Colorado Springs Airport is the closest full-service airport.

Cañon City is directly linked to Pueblo by US Route 50. From Colorado Springs, go south on State Route 115, then west on US Route 50.

Get around

[edit]

Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (1)

Map of Cañon City

Cañon City's main road is Royal Gorge Boulevard, which is part of US Route 50.

See

[edit]

  • 1 Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, 4218 County Rd 3A, +1 719 275-7507, toll-free: +1-888-333-5597. The world's highest suspension bridge, aerial cable car, and many more attractions. Don't miss the SkyCoaster! Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (2) Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (3)
  • 2 Royal Gorge Route, +1 719-276-4000, toll-free: +1-888-724-5748. Train ride through the floor of Royal Gorge, with specialty excursions featuring lunch, and murder mystery and wine-maker dinners. Closed for the Winter check the schedule to see when opens usually around middle of March. Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (4) Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (5)
  • 3 Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center, 612 Royal Gorge Blvd, +1 719 269-9036. Come see amazing fossils of dinosaurs and also a complete Stegosaurus. Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (6)
  • The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, 3011 East Highway 50, +1 719-276-5191. The tasting room and gift shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10AM-6PM, and on Sundays from noon-5PM.
  • 4 Museum of Colorado Prisons, 201 N 1st St, +1 719 269-3015. The Museum of Colorado Prisons, located on the grounds of the "Old Max," a prison still in operation, tells the story of Canon City's colorful prison history. See old photographs and prison implements, including the old gas chamber Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (7) Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (8)

Do

[edit]

  • Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours, 45045 Hwy 50 West, +1 719 275-7238.
  • Skyline Drive. a one-way road, and the entrance is about 3 miles west of Canon City on U.S. Highway 50. The 3-mile drive, constructed by inmates from the state prison in the early 20th century, takes you hundreds of feet up a ridge overlooking Canon City and the Arkansas River Valley Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (9) Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (10)
  • Tunnel Drive. Beautiful walking trail next to the Arkansas River.

Rafting

[edit]

  • 1 American Adventure Expeditions, 41746 W US Hwy 50, +1 719 395-2409. Offering white water rafting trips on the Arkansas River for all ages and skill levels. Enjoy the intense rapids of the Royal Gorge Canyon or the beautiful bighorn sheep in Bighorn Sheep Canyon. The only outpost on the river in the Royal Gorge. Overnight and full day trips available. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 2 River Runners Royal Gorge Rafting Center (Rafting Canon City, Colorado), 44641 US Hwy 50 (8 miles west of Canon City, Colorado on US Hwy 50), toll-free: +1-866-945-3420. Since 1972 River Runners has been providing fully guided family friendly whitewater rafting trips daily at their Riverside Rafting Resort in Buena Vista, Colorado and Royal Gorge Rafting Center in Canon City, Colorado. Raft the Royal Gorge and Bighorn Sheep Canyon on the Arkansas River.
  • 3 Lost Paddle Rafting, 1420 Royal Gorge Blvd, +1 719-275-0884. Half-day to multi-day overnight trips on the Arkansas River. Daily trips through the Royal Gorge. (updated Jan 2018)

Buy

[edit]

  • 1 The Gold Mine Rock Shop, 44864 W US Hwy 50, +1 719 276-9353. a great place for rock hounds to get all different types of rocks and different qualities.
  • 2 New Horizons Thrift Store, 3170 E. Main St, +1 719 276-2676. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 3 Tailored West, 502 Main St, +1 719 371-2244. A unique shop for women's clothing, footwear, and accessories. (updated Jan 2018)

Eat

[edit]

Drink

[edit]

Sleep

[edit]

  • 1 Best Western Canon City, 110 Latigo Ln, +1 719 275-2400, toll-free: +1 800 780-7234. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Jan 2018)
  • The Royal Gorge Inn, 217 N. Raynolds, +1-866-495-8403.
  • 2 Hampton Inn Canon City, 102 McCormick Pkwy, +1 719 269-1112, fax: +1 719 466-5065. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 3 Super 8 Canon City, 209 N 19th St, +1 719 275-8687, toll-free: +1 800 536-1211. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 4 Quality Inn & Suites, 3075 E. US 50, +1 719 275-8676, fax: +1 719 275-8675. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Jan 2018)

Go next

[edit]

Routes through Cañon City

Grand JunctionSalidaWCañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (11)EPuebloDodge City
This city travel guide to Cañon City is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.

Retrieved from ""

Cañon City – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (2024)

FAQs

What is Canon City, CO known for? ›

The city is known for its many public parks, fossil discoveries, Skyline Drive, The Royal Gorge railroad, the Royal Gorge, and extensive natural hiking paths.

What is the altitude of Cañon City, Colorado? ›

A combination of unique geography and an elevation of 5,300 feet above sea level protect the city from harsh weather conditions, making Cañon City “the Climate Capital of Colorado,” with temperatures generally 10 degrees warmer in Winter than other nearby Colorado communities.

Is Cañon City growing? ›

A new business grant in Cañon City is stimulating economic growth and encouraging entrepreneurs to invest in historical downtown buildings. CANON CITY — Canon City's old downtown is experiencing renewed vitality with retail, restaurants, and places to stay.

What mountain range is Cañon City in? ›

The peaks of the Royal Gorge Hills and Grand Canyon Hills form the scenic backdrop for visitors to Cañon City from the east. These twin mini-ranges are bordered by Cañon City to the east, US Highway 50 to the east and the north, Fremont CR 3 and South Webster Park to the west and Temple Canyon to the south.

Is Cañon City worth a visit? ›

Cañon City is known for its breathtaking plant and wildlife, so make sure to look all around you as you explore the area's trails. Beginners can try the Arkansas Riverwalk, an easy route for a light stroll and a perfect site to bring out the binoculars and spend some time birding.

Does Cañon City have a downtown area? ›

Cañon City's downtown area is listed on the National Historical Register for its abundance of turn-of-the-century architecture. Immerse yourself in the ambiance of a bygone era as you enjoy local dining, boutiques, music, and art galleries.

How long is the Royal Gorge train ride? ›

The train ride follows the Arkansas River as it carves through a 1,000-foot deep gorge and usually lasts 2-2.5 hours.

What are winters like in Cañon City, Colorado? ›

As for the temperatures, in the winter Cañon City sees an average a high of 50 degrees and an average low of 19 degrees.

How far is Cañon City from Denver train? ›

The distance between Denver Union Station and Cañon City is 120 miles. The road distance is 117.1 miles.

Is Cañon City Colorado a good place to live? ›

Living in Cañon City offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many retirees live in Cañon City and residents tend to be conservative. The public schools in Cañon City are above average.

What is the poverty rate in Cañon City Colorado? ›

The average household income in Cañon City is $64,048 with a poverty rate of 15.76%. The median age in Cañon City is 44.8 years: 36.8 years for males, and 51.7 years for females.

Where does Cañon City get its water? ›

FAQs • Where does my drinking water come from? Where does my drinking water come from? Raw water is pumped from the Arkansas River to a 48 million gallon settling pond. After settling, the water is then pumped to the Water Treatment Plant located at 103 Tunnel Drive.

Why is it called Cañon City? ›

The site (elevation 5,343 feet [1,629 metres]), formerly a camping ground of the Ute Indians and frequented by other groups, was settled by gold seekers in 1859. In the late 1860s oil was discovered nearby, and Canon City (from Spanish cañon, “canyon”) developed as a supply point for the nearby mines and oil field.

Where is the Royal Gorge? ›

Royal Gorge is located west of Cañon City, Colorado, approximately 58 miles (just over an hours' drive time) from downtown Colorado Springs. Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, a theme park home to family-friendly activities and a visitor's center, is located at 4218 Co Rd 3A, Cañon City, CO 81212.

What river flows through the Royal Gorge? ›

The Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River, in Colorado, is a bottleneck for the upper Arkansas Valley; it is a deep and unusually narrow canyon which cuts across the grain of the Rocky Mountains.

What wild life is in Cañon City? ›

Cañon Wildlife
  • Mountain Lions.
  • Squirrels.
  • Black Bear.
  • Mule Deer.
  • Hummingbirds.

What is the crime rate in Cañon City? ›

Canon City Annual Crimes
ViolentProperty
Number of Crimes83498
Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents)4.8128.86

Where is Cañon City in The Man in the High Castle? ›

The town is based on the real life "Cañon City" in Colorado but was actually filmed in Roslyn Washington and has a significantly different flora and climate than the real Canon City.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Arline Emard IV

Last Updated:

Views: 6569

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arline Emard IV

Birthday: 1996-07-10

Address: 8912 Hintz Shore, West Louie, AZ 69363-0747

Phone: +13454700762376

Job: Administration Technician

Hobby: Paintball, Horseback riding, Cycling, Running, Macrame, Playing musical instruments, Soapmaking

Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.